Pre-Christmas trips to Merritt Island net some favorite pics
Roger Simmons,
What I like about visiting Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is the variety of birds you can find. That was the case for two pre-Christmas visits on December 14 and 22.
In addition to seeing some new birds, I also came across some regulars who became part of some of my favorite photos of 2023.
These include an Osprey who appeared to pose for me while looking like it wanted to rip my head off, a pretty Great Blue Heron in the water, a Red-shouldered Hawk doing its best Dr. Evil impression from Austin Powers, a lone Roseate Spoonbill in a mangrove forest, and a Reddish Egret grabbing a little fish for breakfast.
The favorites are displayed first below, and then other photos I liked too from my two trips.
Osprey, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Great Blue Heron, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Red-shouldered Hawk, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Roseate Spoonbill, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Reddish Egret, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Caspian Tern, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Caspian Tern, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Double-crested Cormorant, Merritt Island National Wildlife, Refuge, December 2023.Double-crested Cormorant, Merritt Island National Wildlife, Refuge, December 2023.Greater Yellowlegs, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.American Kestrel, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Young Red-winged Blackbird, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Northern Shovelers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Osprey, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Lesser Scaup, Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island, December 2023.Blue-winged Teals, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Long-billed Dowitchers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.American Wigeon, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Osprey, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Laughing Gulls, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Ring-billed Gull and Laughing Gull, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.Laughing Gulls, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, December 2023.
Some baby Sandhill Cranes hatched late last week at Orlando Wetlands Park. The two-day-old birds were the focus of lots of attention – not just from their parents.
UCF is one of my favorite places to spend time in the fall, cheering on the Knights football team with my family and friends. But it’s also become a place I like to go to in the spring and early summer, thanks to the variety of birds that call the UCF Arboretum home.
Even though it’s the slow summer season for birding, I know that a visit to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will usually supply something memorable. And that was the case when I visited on Saturday, July 22.
