Birding

I spent a beautiful day along the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island. The drive meanders along an estuary that is a winter haven for migratory birds as well as native species of wading birds. It is always a nice drive on a cool morning. I need to practice with my camera settings even though I don't have a telescopic lens. I play with my Corel Paint/Photoshop when I get home. Soon, the telescopic lens, soon.

I knew I would see the Rosetta Spoonbills that I blogged about the other day. I don't know if it is a rookery here in the area, but I see them every time I take the ride along the estuary. The season has been dryer than I realized evidenced by the mud.

But, the pink of the Rosetta Spoonbills looked really cool against it's dark color.

I was able to crop the photos to get closer.

The morning was cold; so they were not yet active. As the sun warmed the waters they became more active and they moved from the mud flats and began to seine. I caught them flying into a spot.

Even in the sky, you can spot the fuchsia pink.

Very cool birds.

I saw an egret with a fledgling. It is so funny when the fledgling is bigger than the parent.

We also say the wood storks  in a small side pond that we took a walk around. No need to really worry about the gators this time of year; it's cold and they are slow reptiles. We have Masala, though, so we have to always be careful.



I really liked getting the great egret in flight.

Really fun.

I love how the estuary snakes around the mangroves. It is such a unique ecosystem. So balanced. So self-sustaining. So ancient.

And, I thank the best bird spotter-

Masala.

Blackpoint Wildlife Drive is across the Bananna River (really a lagoon) in an area set aside by the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This whole area was "created" as a buffer around the area the rockets and now the shuttle are shot from. Here is a picture from the mainland looking across to the shuttle launch pads (and the area that the refuge is a part.)

The next picture shows a better shot of the building they build the shuttle in and one of the launch pads (to the left). Oh, that is an osprey (fish hawk) nest on top of the old dock house.

A fun day. A drive, a walk, some photographs, good company, some sunshine; enjoying a unique local natural habitat. I wonder if you like to enjoy local natural areas? What are some areas that are unique to your area?

Wherever you are journey joyfully.

Peace.
Brianne