THESE HUGE BIRDS JOINED THE PARTY AT SQUAW CREEK. THEY ARE
SO HUGE THEY ARE EASILY VISIBLE EVEN AMONG THE MASSES OF SNOW GEESE.

FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS I HAVE WANTED TO CAPTURE THEIR SOARING
BEHAVIOR AS THEY RIDE THE THERMALS TO GREAT HEIGHTS. I FIRST
OBSERVED THIS ON SANIBEL ISLAND IN FLORIDA.. MANY TIMES IN THE
AFTERNOON THEY GLIDE THE THERMALS JUST FOR FUN!..
I FINALLY GOT LUCKY AND GOT THE WHOLE THING..

THEIR BEHAVIOR IS UNIQUE.. THEY ARE EXTREMELY SOCIAL AND ALL
CROWDED ONTO THIS MUSKRAT MUD HOUSE.. I COUNT 15 OF THEM..
AFTER RESTING FOR AWHILE, THEY LEFT; PROBABLY BECAUSE THE
POND LIKELY DOES NOT SUPPORT MUCH FISH LIFE..

WHEN THEY MIGRATE, THEY FLY IN CIRCLES RISING ON THERMALS
UNTIL THEY ALMOST DISAPPEAR FROM SIGHT.. MINIMAL FLAPPING;
JUST GLIDING.. AT SOME POINT WHEN THEY ARE ONLY SPECKS IN
THE SKY THEY BEGIN GLIDING TO THE NEXT THERMAL TO TAKE
THEM FURTHER ON THEIR JOURNEY..

THE USE OF THE 800MM SIGMA + 1.4TC COMPRESSES THE DISTANCE
AND MAKES THEM MANY TIMES MORE VISABLE THAN TO THE NAKED EYE..


LIFTOFF TO GLIDE THE THERMALS..


BEGINNING THEIR FIRST CIRCLE..


CLIMBING MUCH HIGHER; STILL CIRCLING


HIGHER AND HIGHER.. ABOVE THE PANDEMONIUM OF THE NWR


BECOMING BUT MERE SPECKS IN THE SKY... AT THIS POINT
THEY ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE TO THE NAKED EYE

ONE LAST SHOT BEFORE THEY BECOME NO LONGER IDENTIFIABLE
EVEN WITH THE POWERFUL TELEPHOTO LENS