I did not have my camcorder along in the car when I got the call from Arlene Koch that a former president of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society was pretty sure that he had a young
White Ibis feeding in his backyard pond. So, I asked her if she'd bring her new camera along in order to document it if the identification was correct.
When we got there, Barry and Doris Transue eagerly took us out on their deck and showed us the bird walking around the pond, which was often feeding in a side-to-side motion. Thanks to them and Arlene's digital camera, I was able to get a fair number of identifiable photos that should cast any doubt about the bird's identity. They came out fairly well despite the tropically-humid, overcast, early evening light.
White Ibis near Mount Bethel in Northampton County. Note the long, downcurved bill, which is changing from dull pink to orange (especially near its base), the light brown neck, and the dark brown upperparts. The white showing on the right side of the bird is just a misaligned feather.
White Ibis near Mount Bethel in Northampton County. Note the white belly and white rump in addition to the long, downcurved, dull orange bill, the light brown neck, and the dark brown upperparts.
White Ibis near Mount Bethel in Northampton County. Note the white belly and white on the shoulder of the wing. The light blue iris is barely visible in this photo.
This bird represents only the 2nd record for Northampton County and only the 3rd record for the Lehigh Valley area. It was a new county bird for me and only the second one I've ever seen in the state.
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