Hello all, just returned from the Nisqually NWR where I got to see the
lingering WHITE-FACED IBIS flock at the large pond on the north side of the
trail out to McAllister Creek (near parking lot). They were present from at
least 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM at this location, starting at the back of the pond
(often hidden in the grasses) and ending up at the front with great views.
At first I only counted 5, but before I left I noticed that two more had
joined up somehow. 5 of the ibis seemed to be coming into breeding colors
with some red facial markings and the continual broad white line around the
eye and bordering the bare parts of the face. 1 ibis was dull brown all
over with only a few iridescent coverts coming in, it also had tan blotches
in the nape and crown, with a scalloped effect in the mantle as well; it had
the white facial feathering as well. None of the birds had bright legs yet,
but many had signs of red near the joint.

I noticed that there was one larger bird in the flock (the guides say males
are larger), this bird lacked the full white border shown by the others, yet
it seemed in the "best" plumage (meaning I would have expected it to show
the white like the others). The lighting was not good this morning so I
can't be sure of the true color, but in my notes I wrote that it had a
"blue-ish border to the bare parts in the face." It only extended from the
bill to the top and bottom of the eye. After arriving home and consulting
the field guide it shows this as a field mark for Glossy Ibis. I've never
seen either ibis before, and I'm not saying that this bird is a Glossy, but
it seems to show this field mark. I didn't know to look at the iris colors,
but I don't recall any of the birds showing much red in the iris (again
maybe in a better light this field mark could be seen). Also for what it's
worth, this bird's joints were reddish; but all the birds seemed to show
this field mark. The National Geo seems a much better guide for this
species than Sibley. I hope to go back later if the lighting gets better
and try for some pictures.

Also in this pond was a pair of WILSON'S PHALAROPES, making it at least 4
years in a row at Nisqually in June.

Other notable birds:
Bittern
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
3 Common Merganser
Wood Duck
Sora
Virginia Rail
Hairy Woodpecker
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
B/T Gray Warbler
Bullock's Oriole

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA