ML330816961

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

3:42p This was a very surprising find 600 miles from the coast. Had this bird not been at the front of the line of about 75 WFIB, it would not have been seen and we would have moved on. Glancing through bins at the closest birds from maybe 30-40 feet, this individual jumped out as a different look. Face looked different, with gray tones and a thin bluish line to face edging that stopped at eyes and did not wrap around. Eye looked dark but at the time thought that could be effect of the shadow on face. Couldn’t ask for a better side by side comparison with same harsh light, angle of light, position of both birds, and even shadows cast over face. WFIB behind shows the contrasting white entirely surrounding eye. White clearly a different color than the blue toned bird in front. Facial skin is grayish and without the red tones of the WFIB behind. Same on portion of legs that are visible (due to shadows). Wanted to review photos again before submitting, however that only seems to be more convincing as to conclude this is a GLIB. Photographed from approx 31.943161, -105.194954. Viewed here along Bennett Rd, while the Ibis flock was in this flooded field between Bennett and Broadway, just east of E. School Rd (Grebing Rd).

Technical information

Model

NIKON D850

Lens

500.0 mm f/5.6

ISO

250

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/800 sec

Dimensions

4137 pixels x 2754 pixels

Original file size

7.48 MB