With more than 120,000 visitors a year, Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina is a non-profit whose mission is to ensure and help preserve the gardens. The 67-acre gardens are home to year-round residents and for many migrating species. More than 200 different bird species have been observed in gardens. One of the common species is the White Ibis, which usually perch in the trees across from pathways. However, on this temperate afternoon in mid-January 2024, a small flock decided to fly from the trees to land right in front of me, in one of the temporary ponds that had formed due to excessive rains. Sitting on the paved path, I snapped away as the sun lowered and the Golden Hour emerged. The ripples in the water made for a fantastic backdrop to the beautifully silhouetted juvenile White Ibis directly in front of me. This is what the life of a photographer is all about… capturing a completely a magical scene that had my soul singing that didn’t need a single edit.