Expected and unexpected birds and more at Merritt Island
Roger Simmons,
There are 140,000 acres that make up the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Florida’s largest barrier island. With so much land and so many different trails, there’s a lot of diversity when it comes to wildlife.
During visits over the past two years, I’ve seen many different types of birds and plenty of alligators, but I’ve also come across bobcats, coyotes and wild hogs.
This month, a couple of trips to different spots at Merritt Island — Gator Creek Road, Black Point Wildlife Drive and Scrub Ridge Trail — gave me some expected and unexpected subjects to photograph.
Here are a few examples:
Expected: White Ibis, East Gator Creek Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Expected: Snowy Egret, Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Expected: Snowy Egret, Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Unexpected: White-eyed Vireo, Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Unexpected: White-eyed Vireo, Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Expected: Young Northern Mockingbird, Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Expected: Young Northern Mockingbird, Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Unexpected: White-tailed Deer, Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Unexpected: White-tailed Deer, Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.Expected: Snowy Egret, Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, August 2024.
I was so excited back in May when I was able to take my first pictures of a Northern Parula at the Orlando Wetlands. Fast-forward to July, and it seems these birds are, dare I say, stalking me?
On every trip out to photograph birds, I hope for at least one special moment. On a recent trip, I had not one, but two special moments — and they both involved the same bird.
