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Glossy Ibis


Glossy Ibis
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-03-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-03-13 8:59
Viewed: 2934
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This photo I made not far from the airport of Faro in Quinta do Lago on the edge of a golf course. In the same lake where I saw the Purple Swamphen, I photographed this Glossy Ibis.

The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.
The Dutch name is Zwarte Ibis, Black Ibis. You can see that this name is not correct.

Distribution
This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas. It is thought to have originated in the Old World and spread naturally from Africa to northern South America in the 19th century, from where it spread to North America. This species is migratory; most European birds winter in Africa, and in North America birds from north of the Carolinas winter farther south. Birds from other populations may disperse widely outside the breeding season. While generally declining in Europe it has recently established a breeding colony in Southern Spain, and there appears to be a growing trend for the Spanish birds to winter in Britain and Ireland, with at least 22 records in 2010.

Behaviour
Glossy Ibises undertake dispersal movements after breeding and are very nomadic. The more northerly populations are fully migratory and travel on a broad front, for example across the Sahara Desert.

Populations in temperate regions breed during the local spring, while tropial populations nest to coincide with the rainy season. Nesting is often in mixed-species colonies. When not nesting flocks of over 100 individuals may occur on migration, and during the winter or dry seasons the species is usually found foraging in small flocks. Glossy Ibis often roosts communally at night in large flocks, with other species, occasionally in trees which can be some distance from wetland feeding areas.

Habitat
Glossy Ibis feed in very shallow water and nest in freshwater or brackish wetlands with tall dense stands of emergent vegetation such as reeds, papyrus or rushes) and low trees or bushes. They show a preference for marshes at the margins of lakes and rivers but can also be found at lagoons, flood-plains, wet meadows, swamps, reservoirs, sewage ponds, paddies and irrigated farmland. It is less commonly found in coastal locations such as estuaries, deltas, salt marshes and coastal lagoons. Preferred roosting sites are normally in large trees which may distant from the feeding areas.

The nests are usually a platform of twigs and vegetation positioned at least 1m above water, sometimes up to 7 m in tall, dense stands of emergent vegetation, low trees or bushes.

Diet
The diet of the Glossy Ibis is variable according to the seaonand is very dependant on what is available. Prey includes adult and larval insects such as aquatic beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, crickets, flies and caddisflies, Annelida including leeches, molluscs (e.g. snails and mussels), crustaceans (e.g. crabs and crayfish) and occasionally fish, amphibians, lizards, small snakes and nestling birds.

Description
This species is 55–65 centimetres (22–26 in) long with an 88–105 centimetres (35–41 in) wingspan. Breeding adults have reddish-brown bodies and shiny bottle-green wings. Non-breeders and juveniles have duller bodies. This species has a brownish bill, dark facial skin bordered above and below in blue-gray (non-breeding) to cobalt blue (breeding), and red-brown legs. Unlike herons, ibises fly with necks outstretched, their flight being graceful and often in V-formation.

Sounds made by this rather quiet ibis include a variety of croaks and grunts, including a hoarse grrrr made when breeding.

Conservation
The Glossy Ibis is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. Glossy Ibises are threatened by wetland habitat degradation and loss through drainage, increased salinity, groundwater extraction and invasion by exotic plants. It is also threatened locally by hunting, disturbance and pesticides.

Source: Wikipedia
thijs, marius-secan, maaciejka, andrzej, cobra112, Marco2010, CeltickRanger, joska, josediogo1958, Hussain58, Pitoncle, uleko, jusninasirun, Jakkals, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ana974: airportPeterZ 1 03-14 05:41
To Belgerdy: Gespikkelde kopPeterZ 2 03-13 14:11
To thijs: AlgarvePeterZ 2 03-13 12:07
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2012-03-13 9:03]

Hello Peter,
Nice to be your neighbour!
A fine sharp capture of a feeding Glossy Ibis,
The low lateral POV is great and shows its feaures with fin natural colours against the natural BG in a pleasing composition.
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

Hallo Peter
Super scherpe foto van deze Zwarte Ibis
ner veel details en leuke compositie zo zoeken in de modder
Ik heb ze ook gezien in het voorjaar in Griekenland,maar ik heb geen telelens
de lens die ik heb was niet voldoende
groet lou

barthatibor
Hello Prter,
Very beautiful photo of this Ibis,in great sharpness and details.Splendid natural colours and a pleasing compozition.
Best regards
Tibi

  • Great 
  • thijs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 82 W: 1 N: 104] (529)
  • [2012-03-13 9:26]
  • [+]

Hoi Peter

Erg gave soort om eens tegen te komen zeg!
Je hebt deze erg fijn foeragerend vast weten te leggen. Mooie pose. Je had alleen niet erg veel geluk met de achtergrond.
Vind jij Portugal een aanrader? Ik zit er aan te denken om er eens heen te gaan, maar weet nog niet zo goed wat ik er kan verwachten... Groeten!

Thijs

it is wonderful bird, beautiful environment situation, very nice pose and your great color performance!
regards Peter
Nasos

Hello Peter,
A masterpiece from close range.....with excellent sharpness. What a splendid capture. Perfect details and natural colors.
The composition, the light and exposure are perfect.
Thanks for sharing!
Marius.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2012-03-13 10:11]

Hi Peter,this is maybe the best pic seen till now from your trip in Portugal,a magnificent black ibis takn whit the best quality despite the difficult light,great colors and plumage details,very elegant position too.Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Hi Peter,
what an interesting photo of this bird! Excellent point of view. Great sharpness and details.
Have a nice evening,
Maciek

Hoi Peter,

wat heeft ie een rare gespikkelde kop?
Mooi actie plaatje toch :)

gr
JEroen

Hi Peter,
Good shot,great clarity picture,superb sharpness and clear details.
TFS
Regards
Andrzej

Ciao Peter. Even ei if difficult light you've obtained so amazin metallic reflections. very good DOF and sharp.

Roberto

Ciao Peter.
Splendida cattura di questo ibis,con dei colori magnifici,eccellente nitidezza con ottimi particolari,
molto bene la composizione,complimenti.
Ciao Marco.
Grazie della condivisione.

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2012-03-13 13:26]

Hello Peter.
Fine capture of this Glossy Ibis.Excellent feather details and colorand a very good composition.Best regards Siggi

Ciao Peter, lovely Ibis with fantastic colors, splendid sharpness and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Hello Peter

Excellent close-up photo of the Glossy Ibis,
i love the natural background, fine POV & framing,
great focus sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hello Peter,
Splendid photo of this Plagadis, great colorful details and composition, TFS!

Bom dia Peter
Great capture of this Ibis.Fine POV and composition,wonderful colors and sharp details.
Thank You for the note.
Best regards
J.Diogo

Hello Peter!
A pic taken from an airport...hummm! You wasted no time!!!Good for you,my friend! Lovely bird with nice sharpness and natural colors.
Thanks for sharing and also thanks for visiting my gallery! I appreciated it so much!
Best wishes from,
aNa

Hello peter,

Hope you are well and probably back from your very fruitful trip as far as wildlife goes....smile. This is an excellent shot despite the fact that the head of the bird was in movement and this is what I call skill and vision. You are an excellent photographer, Peter. The focus is sharp and the detail of plumage and bird as a whole is splendid. The typical habitat lends a particular touch to this beautiful photo....thanks a lot for sharing.....take care....warmest regards/Abid

Bonjour Peter,
Agréable valorisation du sujet dans une belle lumière et sous une excellente profondeur de champ permettant d'apprécier la délicatesse des couleurs et la finesse des détails.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2012-03-14 10:07]

Hello Peter,
A great capture of a Glossy Ibis in wonderful colours! I like the timing, the low POV and the fine sharp details.
I've heard the the Algarve should be good for birding. We only had a
quick view of it as we once stopped for refuelling on our way from Lanzarote to Sweden. We could then see all the inlets and ponds quite well.
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

Hello Peter,
Another fine bird shot from you. Love the close framing with vivid sharp details. Nice exposure control and thanks for sharing.
Kind regards.
Jusni

Hi Peter,
Superb picture..Very good picture of this Ibis,the details and composition is amazing
Sharpness is great,
Georg

Hi Peter,
Beautiful detailed capture in splendid sharpness and focus. The definition of different colours are amazing. Good low POV and DOF is great.
Best regards,
Carl

Hallo Peter,
a very good capture of this interesting species, fine details on the plumage and splendid metallic colours, excellent point of view
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2012-03-21 6:59]

Hello Peter,
Missed this bird-picture you have taken in Portugal. I didn't know that the Glossy Ibis was leaving in Europe. It has a most beuatiful plumage, amazing all the tints visible on your shot. Picture taken in a natural surrounding, whch I appreciate a lot too.
Thanks also for the note
Anne

Thanks for identifying the Great Barbet for me, Peter! I'm obliged.
What a pleasure to look at this magnificent picture of a Glossy Ibis I missed earlier due to my erratic presence here on TN. As usual, it is a flawless and extremely beautiful image of this graceful bird.
Regards,
Ram

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2012-04-13 0:57]

Hello Peter,
such a lovely ibis with special pattern on the head and the neck. Excellent presentation of clarity and sharpness. The surroundings of running water is also lovely and pleasant.
Exciting composition.

Regards,
Foozi

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