Merritt Island NWR, 10/19/2013

Willet
Canaveral National Seashore

Merritt Island is finally open again after the government shut down.  I took the opportunity to go to Oak Hammock area this morning. I've never been there before, and I was told that there may be mosquitoes there, but I did not expect to be swarmed by them.  I will not go there again without bug spray.  I was there for 20 minutes and only found an Ovenbird and Swainson's Thrush, but I spent most of my time swatting mosquitoes.  I cut my losses and went to Blackpoint Drive.  That was pretty slow too.  Water levels were high, and there were few shorebirds.  It was nice to see Pied-billed Grebes returning as well as a Savannah Sparrow.  Then I decided then to go to the Canaveral National Seashore.  I wanted to drive up Bio Lab Rd if it was open.  It was open, but I decided I didn't have enough time to drive it slow enough to make it worth my while.  I drove about a quarter mile up the road and turned around. I did find a Northern Harrier there. Then I drove out to the coast line and walked around for a little bit, photographing Willets, Sanderlings and Caspian Terns. This wasn't what I was hoping for, but it was still a good day.

Sanderling
Canaveral National Seashore

Reddish Egret
Blackpoint Drive

Common Buckeye
Blackpoint Drive