White-faced Ibis Close Up

White-faced Ibis close up in fall – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I’d almost forgotten about this White-faced Ibis close up photo that I took at the end of last month in the wetlands of Farmington Bay WMA. I was sitting in my Jeep using it as a mobile blind and photographing  Snowy Egrets when the ibis walked up below me. The long-billed ibis was so close that I opted to take portraits of it and I am glad that I did.

In the entire twelve years that I have been in Utah this was only the second time I had been close enough to take portraits of this species. That isn’t for lack of desire but more for lack of opportunity.

I’d say that the reason I was able to take this portrait is because I had been parked in one spot inside my mobile blind for more than fifteen minutes and that the birds in the area including this ibis had become accustomed to seeing my Jeep sitting there. Having patience is a big plus when it comes to bird photography.

This White-faced Ibis was in nonbreeding plumage. I like how this image shows the red eye that we see in this species. I’d love an opportunity to take portraits of White-faced Ibis in breeding plumage to compare the differences.

In Utah we are fortunate to have one of the largest breeding colonies of White-faced Ibis in the world. They are a migratory species but it isn’t uncommon to find a few of them in and around Utah during the winter.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my White-faced Ibis photos plus facts and information about this species.