Exploding Ibis

What initially caught my attention about this ibis in the salt marsh Wednesday evening was it’s especially bright reddish/orange face and legs. The adult white ibis will get a red face and legs but not normally this red. I was watching it cruise around picking up small crabs and knocking them back like popcorn when it suddenly stepped off the mud, into the water and practically exploded! Actually they will do a feather fluff up on occasion as part of their preening ritual, but this ibis really got a bit extreme!

41 thoughts on “Exploding Ibis”

einfachtilda on July 12, 2013 at 6:09 pm said:

Whowhh, das sind grandiose Fotos!!! Top !

LG Mathilda ♥

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:50 pm said:
  
  Danke! 🙂
  
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Gunta on July 12, 2013 at 6:17 pm said:

Looks like a bad hair day to me. 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:51 pm said:
  
  They can be hysterical when they fluff up like that but very quickly go back to looking relatively normal. 🙂
  
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Steve Gingold on July 12, 2013 at 6:45 pm said:

When I saw the title in my email I was afraid it would be like Mr. Creosote.

Maybe the water just gave the Ibis a chill. 🙂 Watching nature is never dull and always full of surprises like the extreme red here.
Nice study of this red-faced chap, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:52 pm said:
  
  Sometimes when they suddenly jump, flap their wings and even fluff up I think they could have just stepped on a crab.
  This ibis had the brightest red face I have ever seen on one of these birds!
  
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Molly Argo on July 12, 2013 at 7:16 pm said:

What beauty. The white and red colors against the blue water is wonderful. Strange that they are getting the red breeding colors now. Your photos of this gorgeous bird blow me away!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  I don’t know if this is breeding or just an extreme variation of a very bright red face, I have never seen one this red before.
  Glad you like these pics Molly!
  
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Susan Sohl on July 12, 2013 at 9:01 pm said:

These are great pics Phil! The eye looks twice as blue as usual too! A most vibrant ibis!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:54 pm said:
  
  I saw this guy from a distance he really stood out. Very unusual to have this bright of a face Sue.
  
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norasphotos4u on July 12, 2013 at 9:09 pm said:

Talk about getting your feathers ruffled………great photos

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:55 pm said:
  
  I’m happy you enjoyed these, thanks!
  
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Andrew on July 12, 2013 at 10:57 pm said:

I think these are some of my favourite photos from you Phil. I’d love you to come over to the Bird Photography community on Google + (I’m a Moderator) and post some of these. Gorgeous. I wonder if the coloration is affected by food source as it is in flamingoes.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:57 pm said:
  
  I’m very pleased you enjoyed these photos Andrew, thanks very much. I will have to check out that Google+ group.
  I know a lot of shrimp can make the spoonies a brighter pink and the ibis do eat some shrimp, but I really think this one was an extreme variation. That red face jumped out from a distance.
  
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lylekrahn on July 13, 2013 at 1:52 am said:

Wow that is bright and fluffy ibis! I see that I may unleashed a monster with those whole font thing:)

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Firs time I ever saw one with a face and legs that bright red/orange. I figured you would notice that color option. 🙂
  If I start doing multi colors within single posts set me up with an intervention. This could get ugly quick. 😀
  
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  - lylekrahn on July 13, 2013 at 6:39 pm said:
    
    🙂
    
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meyer23 on July 13, 2013 at 5:36 am said:

Simply great. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Thanks much I appreciate it!
  
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Maggie Davey on July 13, 2013 at 6:14 am said:

Gorgeous! If the reds are that bright, are they mating season colours?

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Dina on July 13, 2013 at 6:36 am said:

The colours are out of this world. Bad hair day made me giggle… 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  That red face was really wild and unusual to be that bright. They are funny when they puff up!
  
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  - Dina on July 14, 2013 at 8:04 am said:
    
    Indeed! 🙂
    
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janmasyn on July 13, 2013 at 6:54 am said:

Beautiful shots of this Ibis Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 6:00 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jan I’m very glad you liked these ibis photos.
  
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adinparadise on July 13, 2013 at 7:21 am said:

Something certainly ruffled his feathers, Phil. He really is rather red in places. Maybe it’s his breeding finery. 😕

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 6:01 pm said:
  
  He did get nicely poofed didn’t he Sylvia?! 😆 I don’t know if it’s breeding, seems a bit late for that, this guy could just be an odd standout.
  
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pixelspielerei on July 13, 2013 at 7:36 am said:

Didn’t he know, that everybody must wash his hands and Face before eating? 😛

Nice photos, Phil, very nice and very colourful! ▲

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 6:02 pm said:
  
  We don’t call then “muddy ibis” for nothing. 😀
  Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed these ibis photos!
  
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Amy on July 13, 2013 at 11:38 am said:

a red face and legs … but he is pretty!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 13, 2013 at 6:03 pm said:
  
  He really did stand out and from a distance too! Unusual to be that bright but cool to see. Thanks Amy!
  
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Deb W. Trotter on July 13, 2013 at 6:52 pm said:

Beautiful photos, Phil. What an interesting sight!!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 16, 2013 at 5:16 pm said:
  
  This guy was quite the sight indeed! Thanks Deb!
  
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The Dancing Rider on July 13, 2013 at 7:13 pm said:

Love the vermillion color. And the fluffing… I bet it was all the little crabs….

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- Phil Lanoue on July 16, 2013 at 5:17 pm said:
  
  Yeah some of those crabs might still be crawling around in there if he didn’t crunch ’em all the way. 😯
  Thanks!
  
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Fergiemoto on July 14, 2013 at 12:08 pm said:

Wow, I like the bold, vibrant red color!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 16, 2013 at 5:18 pm said:
  
  I had someone tell me later they saw this amazing red faced bird, they didn’t know I saw it too, but it really did stand out!
  
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roughseasinthemed on July 14, 2013 at 3:46 pm said:

overdid it on the lipstick

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- Phil Lanoue on July 16, 2013 at 5:19 pm said:
  
  Maybe it was a self tanner product that was past it’s expiration date and the dye color shifted a bit? 🙂
  
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Kitt Crescendo on July 14, 2013 at 6:12 pm said:

Loving the vivid red against the stark white contrast of the feathers…. Very cool shots.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 16, 2013 at 5:19 pm said:
  
  I’m happy you enjoyed these thanks!
  
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