They knew I was passing, but they did allow me to reach an open spot for the exit.

The biggest obstacle here is the tall grass and reeds. A minimum of 8 feet (2.5 meters), usually more. I can probably photograph only 10% of what we see.

The light was low yet. These are from the first section of dike we walked. I saw them long before we could get a clear shot.

You can see glare starting on the water even as the sun was still low.

It’s still a treat to see these beautiful birds and a bonus to get the take off here.

Bear Island, South Carolina.