Frigate Bird Inflated Pouch Tidal Inlet

Gray water fills the tidal inlet, reflecting the pale, overcast sky of late autumn. A frigate bird perches on a weathered wooden post, its scarlet gular pouch fully inflated like a bright balloon against the muted landscape. The bird's dark feathers appear wet and sleek, glistening slightly under the soft, diffused light that follows the recent rain. Mist hangs low over the surface of the water, blurring the distant reeds and marsh grasses that line the canal. The bird remains perfectly still, its gaze fixed on the water below. One droplet slides from the tip of its beak to the wet wood beneath.