Feeding Frenzy at the Refuge

The day could not have been more perfect at  the Merritt Island NationalWildlife Refuge. We left at "0 dark thirty" in hopes of catching an awesome sunrise. Mother Nature did not disappoint this morning. The colors were spectacular and the wind was calm so the color was reflected in the water. After four days at the Spacecoast Festival the week before with not the best conditions, I was planning on returning to finally get a sunrise and also practice more birds in flight photography.

Sunrise at Black Point

After the sun had risen, we continued on Black Point Drive to find some birds. The majority of the subjects close enough to shoot were on the back side of the drive. As we approached you could see in the distance a substantial line of cars pulled over to the side. Looks like this is the place. As this group of photographers were "shooting" photos of the birds, you could hear in the not so distance hunters firing off shots at the waterfowl that we love so much.

It was the largest gathering of roseate spoonbills, white ibis, glossy ibis, snowy egrets, great white egrets and a few others that I have seen all in close range. The photographers with the 600mm lenses were scrambling to change to a shorter focal length. Not a problem that I was having. I could have stayed there all day but I had two more goals for the day.

The next stop was the Refuge visitor center for both a pit stop and to check on the Painted Buntings. They were there and flying back and forth to the feeders. What beautiful birds and posing so nicely! Only one more goal was left to fulfill after a brief snack stop at the Sunrise Bread Company in Titusville. I have now been there four times in just over a week. They serve coffee drinks and have an onsite bakery. The muffins are baked fresh, along with an assortment of breads. I have to resist the temptation to bring home a full loaf of bread.

The last stop was back over the bridge to Parrish Park. There, the black skimmers were hanging out on the shoreline. They were not feeding right then, but as a car or people would get close they took flight as we started snapping photos. The water was fairly calm and the light was perfect. I will try to get back over soon just before sunset and take some more photos. It was an incredible day and lots of images to sort through.