Category: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Indian River flamingo family keeps growing

Roger Simmons, April 18, 2025April 18, 2025

On a recent Sunday morning outing to see and photograph the pretty-in-pink birds, I counted 32 flamingos present.

Roger Simmons, March 30, 2025March 30, 2025

It was cloudy and the lighting wasn’t great, but I did get to see some of my favorite birds, including a male Common Yellowthroat.

Roger Simmons, March 25, 2025March 25, 2025

The flamingos were in a different spot this time, but there were more than 20 of them gathered near Bird Island when I photographed them..

Roger Simmons, March 11, 2025March 11, 2025

This flamingo flamboyance included some brightly colored adults as well as a couple of juveniles who still had many of their gray feathers

Roger Simmons, February 5, 2025February 6, 2025

These strange-looking birds with their big orange and black beaks swoop down and “skim” across the water, creating their own wakes.

Roger Simmons, January 13, 2025January 14, 2025

Along Black Point Wildlife Drive I caught sight of a young Ring-billed Gull fishing in a little pond next to the road. This bird dreams big.

Roger Simmons, January 9, 2025January 9, 2025

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful gift to birders and nature-lovers, so why not spend part of Christmas Day there?

Roger Simmons, December 26, 2024December 26, 2024

I took trip to MINWR a few days before Christmas, and the place was teeming with many different birds who arrived for the winter.

Roger Simmons, December 6, 2024December 6, 2024

The sheer amount and different species of birds that have returned to the area for migration is impressive.

Roger Simmons, December 5, 2024December 5, 2024

This beautiful little bird is typically spends its summers in the arctic areas and winters in southern Canada or northern U.S. states.