Glossy Ibis / Plegadis falcinellus / 彩䴉
Glossy Ibis / Plegadis falcinellus / 彩䴉
A Glossy Ibis shows off its iridescent (eclipse) plumage.
If you look closely, you can see a tiny whelk mid-air between its bill. This particular Glossy Ibis would spend hours probing its long bill into the mud searching for these tiny whelks (as well as various other submerged and burrowed critters).
Once it had located a whelk, the ibis would swiftly pull it out of the mud, launch the whelk into the air, and then swallow it whole.
The winter of 2024 / 25 is only the 6th time since 1978 that a Glossy Ibis has been seen in Hong Kong.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.
Glossy Ibis / Plegadis falcinellus / 彩䴉
Glossy Ibis / Plegadis falcinellus / 彩䴉
A Glossy Ibis shows off its iridescent (eclipse) plumage.
If you look closely, you can see a tiny whelk mid-air between its bill. This particular Glossy Ibis would spend hours probing its long bill into the mud searching for these tiny whelks (as well as various other submerged and burrowed critters).
Once it had located a whelk, the ibis would swiftly pull it out of the mud, launch the whelk into the air, and then swallow it whole.
The winter of 2024 / 25 is only the 6th time since 1978 that a Glossy Ibis has been seen in Hong Kong.
Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港. (Better viewed on a larger screen.)
© This Image is under full copyright Rick C. Graham. © All rights reserved Rick C. Graham. © This image is subject to international copyright laws and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transferred or manipulated without the express written permission of Rick C. Graham.