Posts in Category: Merritt Island NWR
Florida! Sorta Sora
Sora Rail: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2014 — I saw 2 lady birders stopped and looking intently through binoculars at the base of the mangroves across a narrow channel by the road, so I did a drive by look, and saw enough to pull over and walk back. Yes, a Sora, and not sorta, but a real Sora, deep in the shadows but within reach of the OM Systems OM-1 and M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Very high ISO, but still. Turns out this was the first reported Sora for the year at Merritt Island. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Florida! Pelicans wave
American White Pelican: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — I know this looks like one of those trick shots were I have pasted the same bird into the frame over and over again to make a pretty pattern, but it is a natural flight formation of White Pelicans on the move over Blackpoint Drive. The first several days I was in Florida this is the only way I saw Pelicans…in the air. I eventually found some feeding on the water close enough for photography but it was not until my last day there. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Rim-light
Cattle Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, January 2024 — I did not see many Cattle Egrets around Blackpoint Drive on any of the days I visited during the Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival, but there were a few…just coming into breeding plumage. This rim-lighted shot shows off the yellow bill to good effect. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 698mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Uncommon Gallinule
Common Gallinule: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Special light on these two Common Gallinules. The sun was still low enough in the sky to have a touch of warmth, and it was Florida light anyway, so, special. And the reflections help. I still struggle to remember that these are not Moorhens. 🙂 OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Umbrella wings
Reddish Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Again with the umbrella fishing Reddish Egrets along Blackpoint Drive. Wings up and out to make a shadow on the water through which they can see the fish. Their success rate is not high which keeps them at it all day long. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS at 656 and 800mm equivalents. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Florida! Reddish lunge
Reddish Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Back to the hunting Reddish Egrets and some of the amazing postures they presume. There were two here interacting…they looked to be squabbling over territory but it might have been mating behavior, I don’t know enough to know. Lots of chasing and lunging and all kinds of wing action. But definitely some hunting going on too, with the umbrella wings. Lots of fun to watch, and to try to photograph. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at
Florida! Rosey preening in the early light
Roseate Spoonbill: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Sometimes it is just (mostly) about color and light. Unless you know you might not even recognize one of these shots as a Roseate Spoonbill for sure. The second shot is more obvious but it is still really more about what the early morning backlight does to the feathers and to the colors, than it is about the bird. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800 and 454mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds in fight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Snowy
Snowy Egret: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — After my active session with the frenzy of Snowy Egrets dancing on the water it was nice to find this one quietly feeding the shallow pools. Another aspect of Snowy Egret beauty altogether. OM System OM-1 with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 732mm and 570mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Florida! Early Spoonie
Roseate Spoonbill: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — It was still early light by the time I left the pool behind the entry sign at Blackpoint drive, and there were still a lot of Spoonbills and Egrets feeding in the pools by the road. This handsome male, just coming into breeding plumage, was strutting his stuff. OM System OM-1 with M. Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 372mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida! Ibis on the hunt
Glossy Ibis: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — It is rare to see any wading bird that is not on the hunt. They don’t get much rest. This Glossy Ibis was having some success in one of the little ponds along Blackpoint Drive. OM System OM-1 with M. Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.