Sunrise over the St. John's River

Sometimes if you can't get to where you are going in time for the sunrise, the next best thing is to find a spot closer. On the way over to Merritt Island that was the case. I knew I wouldn't make it over to the Max Brewer bridge in time so I stopped along route 50 where the airboat launch is. There was not alot of foreground subjects but a couple of boaters were just taking off for some early morning fishing. I managed to get one of them only slightly blurry. The other photo I used the dock with its leading lines to add some interest. Without any of that the sunrise was still beautiful.

Early morning fishing

The dock 

Wonderful Day at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Reddish Egret dancing in the surf

 

 

 

Kildeer

American avocet

Common tern

White pelican

Northern shoveler

An early winter morning trip over to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge proved to be a successful trip. I rarely get over there during the winter months when wildlife is more plentiful. I stopped at the St. Johns bridge to catch the beautiful morning sunrise before continuing to Black Point Wildlife drive. The northern shoveler ducks was a first time sighting. The reddish egrets dancing in the water was fascinating. Many of the smaller shore birds were too far away to get great shots but with lots of cropping they are not too bad. I was hoping to see more spoonbills but they were fairly scarce. After the Black point drive I headed over to Bio Lab Road. It is less crowded and many more opportunities to see shore birds await. This time alligators were plentiful and plenty of white pelicans were flying overhead.