Merritt Island Fauna ... First Visit 2010

On a very cold windy day (between 39F and 42F),  we went with Glen and Norma to Merritt Island to photograph the birds. Glen wanted to try out his new Nikon lens that he got for Christmas. We thought the birds would not be moving much because of the cold. Instead, when we got out of the car, many spooked quickly and flew away. Big alligators were out in the sun, not moving, trying to get warm.






We saw over a dozen big gators between 8 and 12 feet long out sunning.



At the Welcome Centre, an armadillo was rooting around. Because it kept moving around my feet, it was hard to get the entire body in focus. The rings on its back are sharp while the eyes and tail are not quite.



This tricolored heron felt he was far enough away in the bushes to not be noticed



Great Blue Heron



Anhinga spreading its wings to dry in the sun next to a great blue heron.



Tricoloured heron amid mangrove roots.



This heron is huddling on a broken palm with its neck tucked in.



Snowy egret (you can see the brilliant blue sky reflected in the water).



Great egret out fishing.



Great egret in the trees.



Wood Stork




American Bittern trying to keep warm. Hoping to get a better shot another time, I wasn't going to include in this group of photos but in the bird book I read that it is "one of the hardest of the heron group to locate not only because if its low numbers but also because it is extremely well camouflaged."



A small part of an immense flock of Coots

Below are some migrating birds from New Smyrna Beach...


Little Blue Heron in breeding plumage. This one is quite rare.



Teal-capped elegant snowbird (Florida winter plumage).



Black and tan capped ruddy snowbird.

Comments

Hervé and Bryn said…
Nice Gator shots. Everytime we go to Florida I try to show Hervé Gators and we never see any. Maybe we are just not going at the right time of the year. Good shot of the American Bittern (although I have to say that I don't think the bird is all that pretty to look at).
January 8, 2010 at 11:27 a.m.
Margot said…
Yes, after reading about all the fuss over the Bittern, I thought it would be more to look at. I haven't seen a gator in a long time, it reminds me of that time at Okefenokee swamp, although I'm guessing these gators weren't right in the middle of the path.
January 8, 2010 at 1:48 p.m.
Margot said…
I like the snowbirds the best ;)
January 8, 2010 at 1:51 p.m.
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