When:

Who:

Where:

County:

Location:

Exact Site:
Marked "Stop 1" along road with adjacent lake and pond

eBird Hotspot:

Details: (To view more text, grab the lower-right corner of a field to widen or lengthen the box)

For older records, view original documentation here.

How Many:

Age/Plumage/Sex:
Adult

Habitat:
Lake, pond

Distance from bird:
30 yards at closest

Viewing Conditions:
Clear

Optics Used:
Nikon DSLR w 600mm lens. Nikon binoculars

Description:
Tall, long-legged wader with coarsely speckled body and long neck. Long slightly curved, heavy, yellowish bill. See photos.

Behavior:
Bird was observed actively feeding and wading on the east side of the road. It called, and then flew to the pond on the west side of the road. It began wading and feeding there. Others have observed the bird successfully feeding on snails. The bird appears to be healthy and active. No bands were visible on its legs. The bird wades in the muddy shallows, and occasionally perches within sight, or out of sight, on snags or live tree limbs.

Separation from similar species:
Clearly different from the other common large wader here, the Great Blue Heron. Bird more closely resembles an Ibis, but has clear anatomical, feather, and bill differences.

Discussion:
First reported by Ricardo Linan on 7/7/23, and then by Ted Nichols II on 7/8/23. Likely first Pennsylvania sighting.

How positive are you about the identification:
Multiple experienced birders have reported on eBird, including photos. Photos provided are definitive.

References:

After the observation:
Sibley. Cornell

Media:

Photos and Drawings

When:

Who:

Where:

County:

Location:

Exact Site:
Stop 1, Kleinfeltersville Rd.

eBird Hotspot:

Details: (To view more text, grab the lower-right corner of a field to widen or lengthen the box)

For older records, view original documentation here.

How Many:

Description:
Long yellow slightly decurved bill. Overall, brown with speckled chest. Long legs.

Behavior:
Consistently foraging, and eating snails.

How positive are you about the identification:
Yes. Seen by so many birders, given it's PA's first official recording.

References:

Media:

Photos and Drawings

When:

Who:

Where:

County:

Location:

Exact Site:
Middle Creek WMA

eBird Hotspot:

Details: (To view more text, grab the lower-right corner of a field to widen or lengthen the box)

For older records, view original documentation here.

How Many:

Age/Plumage/Sex:
Adult

Description:
Adult..large wading bird...brown body ..head,neck and body covered in white spots...long downcurved bill

Behavior:
Observed standing and preening

References:

Media: