Lift-Off! This great egret was taking advantage of the rising water level at Lake Pleasant (NW of Phoenix, Arizona) to fish for dinner while wading in newly submerged shore land. When it decided to move, I was able to capture the moment its feet just left the water. Subsequent shots (I’ll post more) capture its graceful ascent and, later, a soft and very precise landing in a new and apparently more favorable spot.

Image ©2021 James D. Peterson