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Roger Simmons
Roger Simmons

Birds, Words, Pics + TV

Expected and unexpected birds at Merritt Island

Roger Simmons, July 30, 2023August 5, 2023

One of the things I love about visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is you never know what you might see. On Sunday, July 16, I saw some birds I expected and one that was unexpected.

That seem appropriate since I wasn’t planning on heading to Merritt Island. As the sun was rising, I was heading east to the Orlando Wetlands. But after a brief stop there, I decided to keep heading east to Titusville and then on to Merritt Island.

Two of the spots I regularly check out at MINWR both have drivable routes – Black Point Wildlife Drive and Biolab Road. And I saw some Snowy Egrets, Green Herons and a surprising appearance from an Eastern Meadowlark.

This Snowy Egret grabs a little snack from a swampy area along Biolab Road in July 2023.
I love the leg coloring on Snowy Egrets, with their black legs and yellow feet. This one was on Biolab Road in July 2023.
This female Red-winged Blackbird blends in well with the vegetation in a swampy area along Biolab Road in July 2023.
This Green Herons tries to blend in with the green of the mangrove on Biolab Road in July 2023.
I’ve seen a lot of Green Herons on Merritt Island, but never saw one sit like this along Black Point Wildlife Drive in July 2023.
The last time I saw an Eastern Meadowlark was in Osceola County, so I was happy to see this one on Black Point Wildlife Drive in July 2023.
This Eastern Meadowlark is greeting the mid-morning sun with a song along Black Point Wildlife Drive in July 2023.
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Birds Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Eastern MeadowlarkGreen HeronRed-Winged BlackbirdSnowy Egret

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