Thursday (10-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island.

Before starting my drive back to New Jersey, I spent the morning on Merritt Island. First for sunrise at Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, then for a drive through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge — both along Bio Lab Road and Black Point Wildlife Drive. The previous day there was heavy fog in the morning so I didn’t go to Playalinda beach. This beach is favored by surf fishermen.

Rather that using the big telephoto lenses, all of the images on this day were taken with a Nikon D700 camera with a 28-300 mm VR lens, a Leica X2 camera, or a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens. All hand-held, no tripod.

Tern and Two Fisherman at Sunrise. Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/1000). (David J. Mathre)
Tern and Two Fisherman at Sunrise. Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 18.5 mm f/1.8 lens (ISO 200, 18.5 mm, f/4, 1/1000). (David J. Mathre)
Great Blue Heron on One Leg in the Early Morning Sun. Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron on One Leg in the Early Morning Sun. Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Roseate Spoonbills in a Formation of Pelicans. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Only the Eyes and Snout of the Alligator are Visible View on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)
Only the Eyes and Snout of the Alligator are Visible View on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)
Can You Find the Alligator? Reflections on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000). (David J Mathre)
Can You Find the Alligator? Reflections on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000). (David J Mathre)
Can You Find the Alligator? Reflections on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/640). In camera B&W. (David J Mathre)
Can You Find the Alligator? Reflections on a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/640). In camera B&W. (David J Mathre)
Florida Alligator Waiting for the Morning Sun to Get Warm in a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 640, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)
Florida Alligator Waiting for the Morning Sun to Get Warm in a Canal along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 640, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron on a Cedar. Looking Up Through the Sunroof. Black Point Wildlife Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron on a Cedar. Looking Up Through the Sunroof. Black Point Wildlife Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)