While out in the ACE Basin and Wildlife Management Areas the other day most all the locals, us included, were out soaking up the warm sun. Just the day before we actually had ice!

While my preference of shooting is to capture a sequence of photographs I did slow down to (almost) single shots for a time. The following are a few random photos from the morning.

First here is a single Roseate Spoonbill, preening of course. He was part of a small group, maybe 6, however the others were tucked in the brush sleeping through the warmth.

Below are several locals around first light. The golden hour goes overboard when it shines on the gold winter reeds. There were a few Spoonbills just waking on the left, a Great Egret hunched over getting warm, and Gallinules already swimming about.

Here are the resident Turkey Vultures sleeping in. They weren’t there long. Once the sun hits open water the warm thermals make it easy for them to fly and glide off for the day. Not very pretty, but masters of flight.

Last here are the winter vacationers. I think they should be around until February. However, they will change marshes unless the dike trunks are open keeping a large flow of water, and fish. White Pelicans feed in groups, lines of predators eating everything in their path. A large group, like we now have, can deplete the food source fairly quick.

Shooting at a slower rate, even for just an hour or so, makes a big difference. I don’t fill a card as quick. Also less work digging through images, but I know there were some action sequences I just watched go by. 😂