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 tu...