See Below [NEW photos posted 13 Nov.]
Notes on the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Glossy Ibis
Posted 3:15 p.m. Sunday 5 November 2000
Ann and Dwight Chasar, found a plegadis sp. Ibis earlier today. I
arrived about 12:50. After careful study with excellent light, from
about 30 yards, this bird appears to be a Glossy Ibis, for the
following reasons:
- 1. Iris color is dark, not red.
- 2. Bill color is brownish, not gray.
- 3. The edges of the skin running from the eye to the bill are whiteish, or at least lighter than the skin not on the edges. This shows up clearly as the bird turns it's head and the light hits the face at the proper angle
Several guides were consulted during this observation including Kenn Kauffman's Advanced Birding Guide, and The Sibley Guide
I took about a dozen pictures. But with a 500mm lens, the detail was not nearly as clear, and the image not nearly as large, as at 32X through the scope. At this distance and power the detail through a scope is great.
Photos
I'd like to thank the photographers for the speed with which these images were made available.
Courtesy Scott Wright, Copyright © 2000.
Courtesy Gordon Demars, Copyright © 2000.
Please compare these images with that of a White-faced Ibis in northeast Ohio from the autumn of 1991
Directions
To find this bird:
I271 to S.R. 8
Take S.R. 8 south to the first traffic light, which is Highland Rd.
Right (west) on Highland.
Highland jogs right onto Olde 8.
Highland jogs left off of Olde 8.
Continue on Highland.
Highland turns into Vaughn and ends at Riverview.
Right (north) on Riverview 0.2 mile. A new guard rail follows a curve along the right side of the road. About 1/3 of the distance around the curve a diagonal yellow and black caution sign has been propped face down against the outside of the guard rail. This is the spot. Continue past this spot turn around and park on the other side of the road. The bird is in the wet area before the tall cattails about 30 yards from the road.
Haans Petruschke
Kirtland, Ohio