Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	White Ibis
Scientific name:	Eudocimus albus
Date:	5/11/13
Time:	9:45
Length of time observed:	20 seconds
Number:	2
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	North end of the Skipper Bay Trail.
County:	Utah
Latilong:	Approx. 40.251663,-111.729096
Elevation:	Approx. 4495.976 feet
Distance to bird:	About 40 feet above
Optical equipment:	Naked eye/Binoculars (Simmons) (Mostly observed by naked eye)
Weather:	65 degrees, sunny, clear blue skies.
Light Conditions:	Sunny, no shade when bird observed, sun fairly high in the sky.
Description: Size of bird:	Very similar in size to White-Faced Ibis, about 2 feet long.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Similar to white-faced ibis, long legs, somewhat slender torso, fairly large wings, longer neck, downturned bill.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	White overall, red face, bill, and legs, black wing tips especially prominant.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Clearly visible downturned bill, red in color.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Very similar to white-faced ibis in size and shape. Major identifying features were white body, long red legs, black wing tips, downturned red bill.
Song or call & method of delivery:	NA
Behavior:	Flying north/northwest.
Habitat:	Flying
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	White-faced Ibis, Glossy Ibis, American Avocet. White-faced and Glossy Ibises fit the size, shape, and flying style but coloring was all wrong. Coloring was more towards American Avocet but still not correct. Avocet size, shape, flying style, were off and coloring did not quite match either.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Glossy Ibis, White-faced Ibis, American Avocet all seen the week of the potential White Ibis sighting.
References consulted:	National Geographic Birds of North America, Martha Happ, local birders.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Brenton Reyner
Observer's address:	11751 Oak Manor Drive
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Martha Happ
Date prepared:	5/21/13
Additional material:
Additional_Comments:	Martha Happ initially pointed out these birds. When she pointed them out she exclaimed, "White Ibises!" After the birding expedition we brainstormed and ruled out all other birds. Everything seemed to match up. (Except for their range that is)