Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Ibis roost on Tomato Lake...



Now there's a face that only a mother could love.. the Australian 'white ibis' doesn't seem to have any many attractive qualities. Described as a 'trash vulture giving off a foul stench with a croak-like call' seems harsh, I would have said a wee bit creepy :) Last week I was fascinated to see the Ibis roost on Tomato Lake, no idea why the lake is so named, wonder if it may be tomato shaped from the air, there has to be a reason right! Those big babies below look well ready for a gentle nudge out of the nest :)


It's amazing that with all the space available the Ibis seem to prefer sharing what at first looks like a communal nest but is actually several nests piled up very close together.. it's a bit like when you're on the beach with space all around and someone comes and sits right next to you.. why :)


The surrounding wetland area is the perfect breeding ground for the spooky Ibis!


Personally I prefer the sweet little 'blue billed duck' below.. as often happens with birds it's the male that sports the fabulous blue bill and deep chestnut plumage while the female is black with brown tips.. doesn't seem fair! Hope your week is off to a good start, happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..


24 comments:

  1. My week is starting off with too much snow and frozen temps but oh well it is winter for us! So you've got to know how warm I feel lingering about your lovely photos from a glorious nature view! Enjoy your week too!

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  2. Ibis of Tomato Lake would be such a wonderful title for a Nancy Drew mystery!

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  3. First Of All, I Am Mesmerized With The Flower Picking Girl Photo. Now Tomato Lake, That Looks Warm And Inviting. Well Done!!


    Big Hugs

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  4. Beautiful photos Grace. Interesting where the birds set up their homes so close to each other. I guess they have no zoning regulations to follow. :)

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  5. Well, that's a bird we don't see in this part of the world so your photos are my window to a different species. There are certainly a lot of them crowed into that little area. They must like the company.

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  6. These Ibis are sure interesting looking, Grace! Love the blue bill on the duck.

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  7. I don't think that I've ever seen an Ibis before!

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  8. We have many ibis here, but there beaks are orange, not black, and I've never noticed a problem with them. Well, one time at our house on the east side, a bunch of them decided to perch in our oak trees. They were quite a sight!

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  9. Never heard of the blue billed duck before. Thank you for the introduction of a new duck to me. I have always liked the looks of an Ibis. There is a tandem bicycle named Ibis, so others like like it as well.

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  10. Fascinating birds, though those nests look rather messy!

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  11. Tomato lake. Sheesh! I don't think it looks like a tomato at all. :-)

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  12. The ibis looks like quite a character!

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  13. Good photo of the blue billed duck. We do not have those in the USA.

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  14. Your ibises look a little different from the ones that hang around my neighborhood, but I like them! The little duck is adorable.

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  15. As you would probably know, they are a bit of a pest in Sydney.

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  16. That's a terrific series of shots. The ibises (ibii?) don't look so bad here, but then I don't have to hear or small them.

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  17. I suppose the Ibis women like tho share their babies and look after them for each other. A kind of babysitting? :)

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  18. In Joburg, where Susie lived until recently, there are black ibis called "hadeda," which are loud and nasty, like yours. But, here in Naples, we have white ibis that are mute and no problem at all. There must be a local ordinance in Naples that requires good ibis behavior.

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  19. Tomato lake was once a market garden growing mainly tomatoes.
    Now about the "protected white ibis in WA"- I was shocked and hurt to read they are being culled ( actually killed by shooting them). Until recently I had about 40 visit my back lawn from a nearby lake - now I am so sad to have only one or two visit. What are we doing - going to wipe out another wild life species - don't let a few knockers be responsible for the loss of yet another species of Australian wildlife.

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