Egypt, Nile : Heron/Stork/Ibis (1 Viewer)

[Jimmycq]

Only got a distant glimpse of these two dark birds from the boat. Grey Heron and Little Egret for size comparison, second picture is cropped first obviously, thanks
Jim.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

shape-wise I'm thinking African Openbill. Don't know if this is likely though, and maybe they're a bit small?

 

[Jimmycq]

Tried a bit more cropping, looks like a greyish neck on the right hand bird.

 

[njlarsen]

In the crop, the bill looks more like openbill, but Glossy Ibis must be much more likely (Opus has the range for openbill as S of Sahara). Everything else to my mind fits the ibis, except something that might be an artefact of distance/enlargement?

Niels

 

[Jim M.]

shape-wise I'm thinking African Openbill. Don't know if this is likely though, and maybe they're a bit small?

I believe Egypt would be significantly out of range, but not sure what else they might be. Slightly smaller than Gray Heron, so size looks ok to me. No actual experience with the species though.

Jim

 

[Jim M.]

In the crop, the bill looks more like openbill, but Glossy Ibis must be much more likely (Opus has the range for openbill as S of Sahara). Everything else to my mind fits the ibis, except something that might be an artefact of distance/enlargement?

Niels

Definitely not Glossy Ibis. They have a slender decurved bill, and slender head and neck. These birds have thick bills, heads, and necks. The ibis would be much smaller than the heron.

Best,
Jim

 

[lou salomon]

shape is absolutely african openbill! where in egypt have these been photographed??? it might be a remarkable find. but i really don't know much about occurence of african birds...

 

[chris butterworth]

That both bills should look as thick and heavy as they do tempts me to think that it's not an artifact, the bill on the right hand bird looks very similar to an adult while the left could easily be a juvenile, the legs look rather too long and they seem larger than the Little Egret. Discounting the 'grey neck' on the right hand bird ( Glossy Ibis only develop a greyish neck in winter plumage ) as an artifact I can't honestly see what else they could be. African Openbill. They do range as far north as halfway up Sudan and it's not impossible to imagine a couple of birds following the Nile north.

Chris

 

[njlarsen]

The ibis would be much smaller than the heron.

Best,
Jim

I am limited to info from the net right now, but I find sizes as:
Openbill 60 cm
Ibis 55-65 cm
Little egret 55-65 cm

So no difference size wise between the two contenders. The relative length to the little egret fits quite well with these measurements

African Openbill will more often stand with its body at a 45 dg angle to the water while these have their bodies paralel to the water more or less.

I also realize that Openbill is apt to wander, I have seen it in South Africa where it would be a rare guest.

I also agree that it seems the shape indicates openbill -- I am throwing the question out there if that could be caused by photo artifacts.

Niels

 

[Jim M.]

I am limited to info from the net right now, but I find sizes as:
Openbill 60 cm
Ibis 55-65 cm
Little egret 55-65 cm

Birds of Southern Africa, fourth ed. 2011, lists Openbill at 74-90cm. In any event, it's clearly not a Glossy Ibis imo. Don't think photo artefacts could give the appearance of a massive, mostly straight lower mandible.

Best,
Jim

 

[Jimmycq]

Pictures were taken from a Nile cruiser near Komombo, about 40-50km North of Aswan

 

[lou salomon]

2009 there has been observed one on crocodile island near luxor, but this is not too far from that. surely should be reported - i'm quite sure these are openbills.

 

[Stuart Darbyshire]

African Openbill has been recorded on the in Egypt before (although not sure if fully accepted)

see 7th paragraph here

http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/Egypt/news

Cross Post with Lou

 

[Jimmycq]

Not much help this but here's the other shot I got, most annoying as pictures before and after are in focus.

 

[Tony Morris]

They are African Openbill's. but somewhat out of range, but I'm sure it has been recorded in Egypt as an accidental (I can't find a record in Sandgrouse, so my memory might be letting me down again!).

 

[lewis20126]

They are African Openbill's. but somewhat out of range, but I'm sure it has been recorded in Egypt as an accidental (I can't find a record in Sandgrouse, so my memory might be letting me down again!).

Yes, great record and certainly ought to be a short note in Sandgrouse.

How many Western Palearctic birders have got that one on their WP lists?

cheers, alan

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Well done Jim - terrific bird to see!

 

[Tony Morris]

It's on the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee checklist, but no details of how many records.

 

[chris butterworth]

Brilliant record Jim. You've just got to write a rarities description in Arabic now

Chris

 

[Stuart Darbyshire]

It's on the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee checklist, but no details of how many records.

one! 2009 (see above)