When hiking, one is bound to come upon a clearing. I like to recognize a clearing up ahead and approach with stealth. The further away from urban areas, the more skittish animals are. Here in this open marsh are the bird's reactions to my presence. They first took flight and eventually settled back with each eyeing a different spot to land. I like the variety of birds in this photo and the different directions they are preparing to land. Location: Hungryland Slough, Palm Beach County, FL