Tag: common gallinule

Five-Years Ago (25-November-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2014. Day 1: Merritt Island.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Black Point Wildlife Drive. It was starting to rain, so I only got one loop on the wildlife drive. Some birds, but not as many as I have seen on previous visits. One new bird that I haven’t seen before. After looking through some books, I think it is an immature Common Gallinule.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter Gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Three-Years Ago (25-November-2014) — Florida

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Black Point Wildlife Drive.

My only view of an alligator on that day was just as I was leaving. All that was visible was an eye and the tip of its snout. It was starting to rain, so I only got one loop on the wildlife drive. Some birds, but not as many as I have seen on previous visits to the National Wildlife Refuge.

Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)


One-Year Ago (25-November-2014) — Florida

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Common Gallinule.

While driving on the Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, I got a picture of a bird I had not seen before. It was as big as a chicken, and had yellow feet. I think it might be an immature Common Gallinule. The adult Common Gallinule has a red beak which this bird does not have.

Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 4500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 4500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 1800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 1800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)