Glossy Ibis at Plains Flats

This morning when I got to work, there were a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets in the trees in front of the building. I immediately thought to myself that there must have been a good migration last night since they weren’t there previously. Well… I was right.

On my lunch hour walk down at Plains Flats I was surprised to find a Yellow Warbler this early in the year. I continued to walk down to the marshy area when I saw a dark heron-ish type bird that I thought was probably just a Green Heron. Instead of immediately putting my scope on it, I got up a little further, figuring if it flew, no big deal. I finally put my scope down and looked through. It was a Glossy Ibis!! I fumbled to get my camera on the scope, got it in frame and in focus, was pushing the cable release, when some guy popped up on the other side near the bird and it flew. I got a photo of just the marsh. Isn’t that how it always works? And I rarely see people on my lunch walks down there.

It lifted out of the Flats only to come back and circle it a few times, ultimately deciding not to put down. The bird flew off in the direction of River Road and I never saw it again.

I was informed by Jim H. that this is the second county record of a Glossy Ibis.

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Countdown to 300

After re-entering birding in June 2007 and subsequently throwing away my life list, I am finally approaching 300 species on my new life list. So I’m going to countdown the last ten.

#290 Arctic Tern
Lake Wallenpaupack, PA Oct. 24, 2009
After a crazy storm pushed down lots of seabirds. Not accepted by PORC but I didn’t get a photo. But I’m positive of ID.

#291 Common Eider
Sandy Hook, NJ Nov. 8, 2009

#292 Lapland Longspur
Sandy Hook, NJ Nov. 8, 2009

#293 King Eider
Sandy Hook, NJ Nov. 8, 2009

#294 Ivory Gull
Cape May, NJ Dec. 6, 2009
Seen on my first true “chase” of a single bird.

#295 Cackling Goose
Harvey’s Lake, PA Dec. 9, 2009
Weird to see this on my list after a mega like Ivory Gull, but I wasn’t very aware of this species since it wasn’t it’s own species when I originally birded. Then I haven’t crossed paths with it since studying up on the ID until now.

#296 Brown-headed Nuthatch
Lewes, DE Apr. 2, 2010

#297 Little Gull
Lake Wallenpaupack, PA Apr. 10, 2010
This was on my most wanted list for a while. Now on to Black-headed Gull.

#298 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
PPL Riverlands, PA June 14, 2010
In county lifer. Nice.

#299 Black-headed Gull
Bombay Hook, DE August, 21 2010
One of my most wanted birds. Check.

#300 Clay-colored Sparrow
Forty Fort, PA September, 16 2010
The fight is over! And it ends in what is my most birded locales!!