Thursday, November 13, 2014

Black Ibis in Florida

We took a day trip to Canaveral National Seashore and saw a field of black birds.

Hundreds or possibly thousands of what appear to be

solid black Ibis!

cropIMG_9725

Of course I couldn’t wait to look at my photos and then do a google search.

We thought it might be a rare sighting and it WAS!

cropIMG_9727

Of course there was nowhere to pull over for better photos but I cropped and sharpened these photos. We knew what we had seen but just couldn’t believe it.

birdscropIMG_9725

When I did a google search I found a question and answer forum on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website HERE. It was interesting to read that there have been a few sightings here in Florida but always just one or two birds at a time.

birdsfullIMG_9728

The field had just been cut and they were eating all day. We saw them in the morning on the way to the beach and again on the way home in the late afternoon. I’m sure they were migrating! What an amazing sight and one we won’t ever forget!

Looking for fences, I saw something incredible!

I’m joining Tex for the

Good Fences party and

 Wild Bird Wednesday!

59 comments:

Montanagirl said...

Wow! Congrats on your wonderful find! Don't you love surprises like that?

NanaDiana said...

Amazing, Diane. How great that you were able to see them and get a couple of shots of them. xo Diana

valerietilsten59.blogspot.com said...

Amazing Diane,

I have never seen black ones.
Thanks for sharing.
great shots
val

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Wow! I have only ever seen the white ones. What a great adventure for you!

Diane said...

How cool! Moments like that are truly amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Kathy said...

Oh, how lucky to be in the right place at the right time!!

Susie said...

Diane, What a wonderful sighting. I would have loved it. You did a good job making them big enough to see. I love birds. Once we had a , I guess you would call it a flock, of sandhill cranes land in the field across the road. I watched and watched till they flew off. Blessings for a great day, xoxo,Susie

Stephanie said...

Oh how exciting, Diane! How fun that you were able to see these birds and get their picture :)

Hugs to you, dearie!

TexWisGirl said...

that's awesome! and you were able to document them, too! (and get some good fences in there.) :)

Sam I Am...... said...

That's awesome! Thanks for the pictures and they might end up in an Ornithology magazine!

Stacey said...

How neat! Do you think they were migrating or do they stay in Florida for the winter?

Primitive Stars said...

Wow!!! That is amazing, beautiful birds and good fence.Blessings Francine.

Hootin Anni said...

Me, being a birder, an avid birder...I really, REALLY enjoyed this. How exciting for you.

Beth said...

Hi Diane, They're beautiful, how cool! Two days ago I was walking my dog in my little suburban town and saw two Eastern bluebirds! What a treat! I don't see them often; the only time I've seen them here has been in spring and summer. I looked online and they should have migrated by now...global warming has changed things for wildlife...we used to never have Canadian geese here and now there are so many they are a nuisance. I love seeing birds, especially ones that I don't often see. Thanks for sharing!

Carola Bartz said...

Wow, that is quite the sight. What a lovely surprise! I would have loved that.

Tori Leslie said...

That is so neat. Nice photos too!

Debby Ray said...

How wonderful it was that you were at just the right time at the right place! What a sight to behold!

Arlene G said...

For a minute I thought they were turkeys Diane!! Gobble Gobble!!

Patty Antle said...

Wow, what a neat experience Diane!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Nature's wonders are the best surprises aren't they! Lucky you to see these rare birds!
hugs,
Linda

Cranberry Morning said...

Lucky you, for catching that wonderful view of the birds! What fun. Have a wonderful day, Diane.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

How fantastic/ I am sure you were thrilled to see these birds and in such good numbers.

Acorn to Oak said...

Wow! That's cool that you got to see them and so many!

Trace4J said...

How awesome are they.
What a great day.
Warm woolie Hugs

Ida said...

What a great find, so glad you got these photos. Not something you see everyday for sure.

Anonymous said...

Glad you were able to get the shots. Amazing!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Beautiful scene, Diane! I have never seen black Ibis - what an amazing sight! Hugs xo Karen

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

This is just wonderful! We saw glossy ibis in Texas one winter, but only one or two at a time and only once or twice . Amazing to see so many. What a great sighting ... well, I'll just add that because of 'our' pelicans, I know exactly how you felt. Great - - thanks for sharing. I'd love it if even a few of those would show up in our part of Florida after we get there next month.

Cloudia said...

How fun to share the excitement of your discovery! Cropped and sharpened, that's what we do...Glad to meet ya.



ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

mick said...

Great photos and what an amazing sight. I didn't even know there were Black Ibis! I am glad you were able to get some photos as you drove by. Thanks for commenting on my blog.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

What a great sighting -- we saw glossy ibis in Texas once, and I thought they were pure black too. But it was only one or two at a time (and only two or three times). To see so many of them at once .... (well, I'll just sbecause of 'my' pelicans, I know exactly how you felt!!!)

Unknown said...

I can feel your excitement. Thank you for sharing your sighting with us.

Debbie said...

awwww, you sure did, what an awesome sighting!! and fence, what fence....hehehehe!!!!!

Linda Walker said...

Well Diane, that's my first sighting ever! Nice that you were able to capture that flock with your camera!Very impressive photos!
xo
Linda
mysewwhatblog

Pamela Gordon said...

That is really exciting Diane.

ann said...

And you were there and you got photos. Wow. Wonderful.

Lorrie said...

What a serendipitous event! How lucky for you to witness this.

cynthia lee designs said...

You lucky girl...what a site to see!!
hugs,
Cindy

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

What a great opportunity. Glad you got some photos.

I have always wanted visit that area. xo

The Boston Lady said...

Diane, that is incredible! In my almost 40 years in FL I never saw a black Ibis! Love this! Ann

Mary Howell Cromer said...

What a wonderful treat to have seen these beauties. I always love when nature gives us what we would have never expected!

vivian said...

you definitely were in the right place at the right time! I love seeing wildlife and always feel like its a little smile from god! I know that sounds nuts.. but that is exactly what I think! lol!
have a great weekend
xoxo
vivian

Linda H said...

Wow- good for you for spotting them. That's a sighting to put at the top of your list!!

Roan said...

Lucky you! Obviously you were in the right place at the right time! Beautiful birds.

JG said...

Wow, Diane, what a great sight! It's neat when you see something totally out of the ordinary.
~Judy

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Diane, wow! And you just happened to be there at the right time, couldn't have planned it!

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Diane,
Looks like a really great day and wow black Ibis! Made me think of the story of the Scarlet Ibis, but your tale is much happier!
Have a really nice weekend,
Happy Texas Hugs,
Jemma

Doreen@foxdenrd said...

Timing is everything! Right time, right place, and the right person to appreciate it and take pictures to share! Love moments like that!

xxx

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Oh wow!! Aren't you glad you snapped and kept those photos?! I wonder if you could submit them somewhere since this is such a rare site?!

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Great pictures Diane. Wonder what so many of them were doing in one place. Thanks for sharing!!

Suzan said...

So you're back in Fla Diane!! You've made it in time with this crazy cold weather!! Hope you bought a lottery ticket --- I've never seen so many Ibis in one place!!

Donna said...

A lovely bonus!

Carla from The River said...

WOW!! That is a true blessing. I love seeing birds, animals and anything in nature that is a true surprise. :-))

Unknown said...

Wow! How exciting, I would have loved to have seen all of those birds!
Oh, and I liked your Sunbonnet Sue duck you made, too! I liked him!
hugs,
from Dorothy and MS.Wilma

Diane Writes said...

Hi there namemate! First of all I would like to apologize for not being able to place the linky bar. I don't know what happened but all the html codes provided by inlinkz don't anymore work in my blog. I'm trying to look for another service provider. I'm really sorry.

Your post is so refreshing. The site is rare and fantastic.

Deb said...

What an amazing sight Diane, how lucky you are to have seen so many of them together! Thanks for sharing your photographs, I had no idea there was such a bird as a black ibis, I've only seen the white ibis before.

Susan Marlene said...

I do love your blog!! I've been so busy but collecting bloging photos & ideas! LOL! I split up my blog into 3 of them. Inkyquillbysuzie.blogspot.com & tailwaggingfriends.blogspot.com alog with susanmarlenekinney.blogspot.com
I did see that in the news where it was warm there and temperatures were to drop signigantly.Great photos!

Stewart M said...

Great find - I wonder if these are the same species of ibis - Glossy Ibis - as we get here. I'll have to come and have a look!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne.

PS: sorry for slow reply, I've been away from home because of work!

Unknown said...

I've seen them twice now. In Naples area and recently in Ft. Lauderdale. Black,not glossy ibis I think.