Egrets & Ibis on the New Hampshire Seacoast

The Ibises skulk around in the grass and the Snowy Egrets remain in plain sight. Spying some Snowies in the marsh, I park illegally and run across the road. At the marsh in Rye, New Hampshire, I observe them for over an hour in all their feathery splendor. There are seven of them, fishing for lunch. I arrive on a windy afternoon, because I want to catch the golden light for the Ibis later on.

White feathers blow in the wind, and the birds simultaneously look funny and beautiful. They continuously catch small fish, then swallow them whole.

Three Egrets

I see a fish…. there it is…..

Got it!

I see another fish….

Got a big one!

Okay, this one is gonna give me indigestion.

Wow, it’s windy out here!

Butt First.. I want to show you my beautiful tuchus…

Glossy Ibis

It isn’t easy to find Glossy Ibis, unless someone tells you exactly where they are. And even then, you still have to search out their location in the large grassy marsh. They love to hide behind the grass and frustrate photographers. But when they do appear, it is really cool to see them!

Glossy Ibis look a little bit like Turkeys, but they have curved bills and beautiful colors.

Ibis like to forage in boggy marshes and grasslands near the ocean.

This bird is a recent addition to New England. It is thought to have migrated, on it’s own, from Africa to the Caribbean about 200 years ago. Like many birds, it is slowly making its way north because of a warming planet.

Ibis spend much of their time preening and foraging for food like small crustaceans, fish and many other creatures.

I hope you enjoyed this birding adventure. Stay tuned for next week’s post on …. Warblers!!

Oh, and if you can, please contact your federal representatives and ask them to pass the Saving America’s Wildlife Act which is now under consideration in Congress. The endangered species in our country need your help!!