This morning I am sharing a simple image of sunrise at the Lower Scarborough Slough. There are several sloughs at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
Sunrise at Lower Scarborough Slough – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/1250, ISO 1000, -0.3 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 158mm, natural light
Lower Scarborough Slough is one of my favorite sloughs at the refuge to view sunrise. This time of year, when the American Lotus are blooming, it adds some color that isn’t there during late fall and winter.
Sloughs are wetlands normally associated with shallow lakes or swamps. Backwater areas like sloughs provide habitat for birds, animals, insects and more.
Sloughs are always shifting with the seasons. In spring and summer, they can be full of life, buzzing with insects, frogs calling, and wading birds hunting along the edges.
By late summer the water levels often drop, leaving mudflats that shorebirds love to probe for food. In fall and winter, many sloughs get quiet, with only a few hardy species sticking around.
They may not look as dramatic as a big river or lake, but sloughs are important because they act like natural sponges, holding water during wet times and slowly releasing it during dry spells.
That balance helps both the wildlife and the landscape around them.
Sunrise at a slough?
Sunrise at a slough reminds me to slow down and pay attention. The soft light on the water is a fresh start, and it makes me think about how every day in the field can bring something new.
It also reminds me of the rhythm of nature, with the birds waking, the insects starting to hum, and the plants growing towards the light.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my photos of Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma plus facts and information about the refuge.
Lovely pic and wonderful narrative. Thanks Mia.
Beautiful