Posts in Category: Merritt Island NWR
Mean Green
Green Heron: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — It is very rare for me not to see a Green Heron around the pool at the rest stop on Black Point Drive. I have seen as many as 3 different ones on a single stop. This year they were playing difficult…being mean to me. 🙂 The only one I found was this one, and it stayed well buried at the base of the mangroves right above the water line. Still, I always enjoy seeing green. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Lady Anhinga
Anhinga: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025. I am not sure what is going on here…whether that hank of shredded rope or fabric in her beak is nesting material, or if she has a fishhook caught. The light on our first sunny afternoon was glorious by the time I got to the little pond by the rest rooms. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 415mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Strutting
Tricolored Heron: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — For the second year in a row, the Tricolored Heron was by far the most numerous of the heron tribe on Black Point Drive. There were, of course, more Great and Snowy Egrets by far, but of the dark herons the Tricolored took the crown. This one was pretty full of itself. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Learning the craft
Immature Reddish Egret: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — This Reddish-egret, just coming into adult plumage, was hunting along Black Point Drive on our first sunny afternoon. Backlit of course, but it was fun to watch. All Reds are awakward hunters, striking often improbable poses, but this immature was still obviously learning the craft. Still, I love the light through the wings. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Looking a bit rough!
Tricolored Heron: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — Looking a bit rough after several days of rainy, cold, weather…not quite dried out on the first sunny afternoon is quite a while. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Pink overhead
Roseate Spoonbill: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, January 2025 — This is pretty much a full breeding plumage male Roseate Spoonbill coming over fairly close on Black Point Drive in the full Florida afternoon January sun. Does not get much better! Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. 1/2000th. Processed in Photomator.
Pairs competition
Black Skimmer: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — I love watching Black Skimmers skim! And I love trying to catch them with a camera. Love might not be the word actually as there is quite a bit of frustration involved…but I do enjoy the attempt. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. 1/2000th Processed in Photomator. (Sad to think that this and other National Wildlife Refuges are under threat…I, personally, would not want to see our Wildlife Refuges abandoned or, worse, tuned into commercial theme parks. Just saying.)
So pink!
Roseate Spoonbill: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — On the afternoon of my second day at the Space Coast Bird and Wildlife Festival we finally got some Florida sun. I found a group of Spoonbills feeding in the channel along the road under the dark overhanging mangroves. While still not in full breeding plumage, the Spoons are certainly pinking up. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Highlight metering. Processed in Photomator.
But what about those purples?
Little Blue Heron: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — Yes I know it is little and blue…though a completely different blue than the Great Blue Heron, but take a look at those purples in he neck and head. 🙂 Still overcast light on Black Point Drive and a nice close view out the car window really shows up the color. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Snipe Hunt(ing)
Wilson’s Snipe: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2025 — I suppose the Wilson’s Snipe is not long for this world if the name-change mob get their way…but I have never seen so many Snipe of any name as I saw this year around Black Point Drive. This was the first one I saw, and only maybe the third or 4th I have ever seen…but after maybe 6 loops around the drive over the next few days, it seemed I was seeing one every few hundred yards along the first mile. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.