Black Skimmer Slicing Water Midmorning

Bright midmorning light floods the water surface in Burgundy, casting sharp highlights across the rippling ripples. A black skimmer cuts low over the liquid, its long lower mandible dragging through the surface to create a thin white wake. The bird appears as a dark silhouette against the intense glare, its wings locked in a powerful, forward stroke. Dramatic clouds gather overhead, their heavy gray forms against the clear, dry mountain air. The water reflects the sky's shifting tones, ranging from deep indigo to blinding silver. One droplet hangs from the trailing beak, suspended before falling back into the stream.