I was afraid this would be the year with no large gatherings. Today was the first day since early spring we have found some.

Timing was close since in a few weeks some of the wildlife areas, the dirt roads and trails, will close until early spring. This helps protect the mass of migrating birds that pass through this coastal marsh.

Spoonbills are both year round residents and migrants. Most move a few hundred miles south for a few months.

This Roseate Spoonbill was a straggler I caught early on. Most of the others joined other species further out this AM. Luck was with me since they came back moments later.

ACE Basin, South Carolina.