American Avocets like to gather in large numbers.
The busy flock of these elegant shorebirds was assembling in one of the
branches of the Wister Waterfowl Enhancement
area at the edge
of Southern California's
Salton Sea.

The 2 Avocets in the bottom image were just landing at the Gulf Coast of SW Florida in early Oct. 2009. Probably on their way to the Atlantic shores to spend the winter.