Yesterday I went out to Cedar Key to watch the birds and hopefully see some winter migrants. It turned out to be a good day and I saw quite a few birds, including several winter visitors. I thought that I was through for the day and was headed back to my truck where this American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) was resting on a post just across the street. My camera was still in hand, so of course why not get in one more shot. I hadn’t noticed at first, but when I saw the bird through the camera lens, I realized that its face and feet were very muddy. The tide was out, so the mud flats were quite exposed and I’m sure this bird had been out there foraging for food earlier. These guys feed by probing the ground and shallow water with their long, very sensitive beaks. When the tide is in the water washes away the mud or they feed on the beaches where it isn’t muddy, but when the tide is out the mud is fair game. Throughout the course of the day I had seen quite a few of these birds out on the flats probing away and seeming to be pretty successful. This one had apparently finished for the day and seemed pretty relaxed perched in the post on one leg. It didn’t seem to mind a muddy face or feet, so why should I?