11.21
I really thought this was an Ibis. Apparently many other folks have made the same mis-identification. At least according to the information I could glean when I went to identify what kind of an Ibis this was.
I had a vexing time with the wide variety of Ibis, this looking much like a Sacred Ibis, but what had me looking further, is the description of the immature or young Sacred Ibis as being white. This adult had a nearly all gray (at least that is the color I saw) youngster following it around, doing it’s own foraging for food.
Upon further review, as is a phrase more common these days in televised professional sports than I care to hear, I discovered the Wood Stork, (Mycteria americana), formerly called a Wood Ibis, although it is not really an Ibis.
Got that? Right.
Well, I was happy to see such a large bird, in the Jarvis Creek Park on Hilton Head Island. I was surrounded by a cloud of insanely small flying insects known as noseeums or biting midges, when I turned away from them and caught sight of this bird on the hunt. At one point, it leaned to the right on one leg and extended it’s left wing out for balance, while picking up some bit of food. I resemble that same posture when bending down to pick up something just beyond my normal reach. I found that similarity faintly humorous. Me, and a bird, quite the odd pairing indeed.
I may have a few welts left behind by the biting midges, but I have this lovely image of a wonder of nature that will last long beyond the itching.
A fair trade.
LOL – well if it’s any consolation you don’t look a thing like an Ibis or a Wood Stork. =) I have to admit though, I would have thought it to be an Ibis too based on the shape of the beak though it does look slightly thicker (for lack of a better word) than the Ibis that I have seen.
Regardless, beautiful shot as always. Grab a bottle of Campho-Phenique. It’s what saved me this summer when I got caught by those evil no see-ums. =)
Welcome home (?) if you are back already.