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)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 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 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, 1/640). 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 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 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 2: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
After arriving at my hotel in Cocoa Beach I drove to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. It took about 40 minutes to get to the headquarters to buy a new America the Beautiful pass. They were going to give it to me for the senior rate of $10, but to be ethical I paid the full price. I then went for one round through the 7 mile, one-way Black Point Wildlife drive before sundown. They close the road at sunset. The following are some images I took along the road.
Great Egret Hunting. Black Point Wildlife Road, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Late Afternoon Great Blue Heron Hunting. Black Point Wildlife Road, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 330 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Late Afternoon Great Blue Heron Hunting. Black Point Wildlife Road, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)Great Blue Heron Swallowing a Frog. Black Point Wildlife Road, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1800, 400 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)Great Blue Heron Doing the Chicken Dance. Black Point Wildlife Road, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1800, 400 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)Great Blue Heron. On Black Point Wildlife Drive in iMerritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 2000, 400 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)Lone Great Egret Hunting on a Small Island. On Black Point Wildlife Drive in iMerritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)Lone Wood Stork. On Black Point Wildlife Drive in iMerritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)Alligator with Reflected Eye. On Black Point Wildlife Drive in iMerritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 2200, 400 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)Sunset from Merritt Island, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 200-400 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/22, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Florida 2008 Road Trip Day 6: Birds and Reptiles at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
This was the first time that I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is right next to (and is part of the John F. Kennedy Space Center). The wildlife viewing road can be closed during launches. Black Point Wildlife Drive is a target rich environment for viewing Florida wildlife. I have included a few images of birds (White Ibis, White Egret, Anhanga) and alligators. There was also a viewing station with telescopes set up to see a pair of American Bald Eagles building a nest.
White Ibis Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). White Egret Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).
