EOS R RF 70-200 @200 f8 1/800 ISO 800 HH, Manual EXP, large crop
With the mating season now complete, this mom preens her now tattered and torn primaries. It is unusual for me to get one out in full late afternoon (about one hour from sunset) sun. I remember when younger, you'd always hear but rarely sight these shy birds in the everglades. Now, with construction regulations requiring not only water retention ponds but also some wader friendly habitat (shallows with native sawgrass, reeds etc.) as well, the limpkins love the xeriscaped wetlands which support mollusks and snails and have moved back to reclaim suburbia to get their favorite morsels (apple snails). This was created in one of those man made wetlands which had to be built along with the surrounding industrial park. Spotted on late afternoon bike ride.