Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	White Ibis
Scientific name:	Eudocimus albus
Date:	13 August 2023
Time:	0931-1136
Length of time observed:	estimate 30 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Juvenile
Sex:
Location:	Quichapa Lake
County:	Iron
Latilong:	37 39 32 N 113 12 19 W
Elevation:	5446'
Distance to bird:	estimate 0.3 mile
Optical equipment:	Leica Trinovid 8x42 HD, my husband had Zeiss 10x40, Leopold 15x/20x-45x/60x spotting scope
Weather:	estimate 75-80 degrees, clear, sunny, no wind
Light Conditions:	bright
Description: Size of bird:	Slightly larger than adjacent WFIB
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Ibis
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	white and black
(Description:) Bill Type:	Ibis type: long, stout, decurved
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	My husband initially noticed an odd bird flying with a flock of WFIB. Was able to view through scope when they landed. Bird was a little larger than adjacent WFIB, Bill seemed a little bigger and was orange/pink colored, down curved like an ibis. Head and neck were light gray or light brown. Wings and back were dark colored. White belly, and my husband said he saw the white arc in front of the folded wing. Legs were light colored, not dark like WFIB. Bird seemed to be standing up straighter/taller than WFIB. Looked just like the juvenile WHIB in my Sibley guide and photos I found in online guides. I ll attach 4 poor quality photos plus cropped versions of those photos. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	Flying with a flock of about 50 WFIB, then landed with them on a bar, resting and preening.
Habitat:	Shallow lake with flooded vegetation on edges and islands
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	The bird looked like an ibis but we didn't recognize the color pattern. Double checked the juvenile and non breeding colors of WFIB on phone. I initially could not find any bird in the app on my phone that looked like this bird. I walked back to the vehicle to get a paper copy of Sibley's guide to Western Birds. It was a first edition and did not have a range map but did have a picture of a juvenile WHIB that matched what we were looking at. We looked at all the pictures of wading birds in the guide and nothing else matched. I changed the location on my phone app to Florida and looked at every plumage of any bird that it could be. The coloration only fit a juvenile white ibis. White belly so not a WFIB or GLIB. Ibis bill so not a heron or egret. Too small, too dark and incorrect bill for a stork. Too dark, no pink, not a ROSP. At home, looked at looked at my big Sibley book and Nat Geo guide. Also checked photos online on eBird and AllAboutBirds. Always matched with WHIB. Thought about a SCIB later but my bird was too dark, no pink.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I saw WHIB in March 2015 at Merritt Island NWR, FL. I identified WHIB in October 2022 on South Padre Island and at Aransas NWR, TX. I see WFIB yearly in UT, and in other western states.
References consulted:	The Sibley Guide to Birds, Sibley Birds West, National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (hard copies). Online or Apps: eBird, AllAboutBirds, Merlin Bird ID, Audubon
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Rebecca Bonebrake
Observer's address:	1699 S 2500 E, New Harmony UT 84757
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Bruce Bonebrake
Date prepared:	2 September 2023
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist S147190522