Pied-billed Grebe: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — I noticed that the walking trail out to the tower and the duck blind half way between the entrance and the rest stop on Blackpoint Drive has changed names in the time I was absent from Florida in January, but it is the same trail, same tower, and same blind. The channel along the left going in is always a good spot for Pied-billed Grebe portraits. The birds are close and not much bothered by the people passing by on foot. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Great Blue Heron: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — Though we have had lots of Great Blue Herons this year in southern Maine near my home, and well into the winter, I am always happy to the Great Blue wherever I travel. This Florida Great Blue was standing in the pond across from the trail and birding tower along Blackpoint most days I visited during the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. It seemed to be his spot. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 246mm equivalent (right close, and the advantage of shooting with a zoom). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. -0,7EV Processed in Photomator.

Wood Stork: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — A couple of Wood Storks in all their January finery. Is there a more handsome bird anywhere? Of course there is. Still the Wood Stork has an undeniable presence. I can remember my first sighting in Georgia, years ago, and how hard I worked for it, and how happy I was. My second sighting was in a ditch along the highway leaving the airport in Florida the very next year, out in plain sight in broad daylight, as they say. I have seen hundreds since, mostly on Blackpoint Drive at Merritt Island. These were among the first birds I saw after entering the loop this year. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Great Egret and American White Pelicans: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville, Florida, USA, January 2024 — I don’t know about you but I think of Great Egrets as being big birds. The largest of our Egrets and Herons with an impressive wingspan and elegant carriage. Then you see them standing in front of a group of Pelicans and you realize just how small they really are…or how big the Pelicans are. Wingspan: Egret 4.5 feet. Pelican, twice that at 9 feet. Weight: Egret 2.2 lbs. Pelicans between 11 and 20 lbs, and up to 32 lbs. Pelicans are big birds! Egrets are just not even in the same class…so they cannot be big birds. Case closed. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Osprey: Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville Florida, USA, January 2024 — Biolab Road at Merritt Island can sometimes be productive, and sometimes turns up birds not seen on Blackpoint or views not gotten. This Osprey, perched on snag at the edge of the water at eye-level and near the road, was the highlight of the one trip I made down Biolab on this visit to the Space Coast. It honestly does not get any better than this! I just pulled up. Shut the car off to eliminate vibrations, and shot out the open window. The bird was totally unimpressed by my regard 🙂 It was still sitting there when I drove on. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. -0.7 EV. Processed in Photomator.