outdoor photography

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 tu...

Pied Billed Grebe This morning I went to Merritt Island.  I haven't been there since August, so I wanted see what's new.  I didn't see anything terribly wonderful there, though the Northern Harrier were there in force, as were Pied-billed Grebe and Dunlin.  It was a cold and windy day, so when I made it to the area where the restrooms are, I decided to walk the trails.  I normally don't walk the trails there because the mosquitoes are so bad, but with all the wind I decided to brave it.  There were many Osprey there fishing, as well as a Reddish Egret trying to keep warm.  I left around 11:30am, and right before crossing the Titusville bridge, I decided to see what shorebirds were by the bridge.  I saw many Ruddy Turnstone, a Sanderling and a Dunlin that I was able to photograph up close. Ruddy Tunestone Sanderling Reddish Egret Green Heron Snowy Egret Tricolored Heron Ring-Billed Gull Here is a list of bird species I...