Seven-Years Ago (27-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 8: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Wood Stork Wading Along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Wood Stork along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). Image converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (22-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 3: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

A Reclusive American Bittern with a Fish at a marsh along Black Point Wildlife Drive. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 500 mm f/4 VR II lens (ISO 180, 500 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec).

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
OK, I Caught This Fish — Now How Do I Swallow It. A Reclusive American Bittern Caught Fishing along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 500 mm f/4 VR II lens (ISO 180, 500 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (28-November-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida Fall 2014 Road Trip. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Great Blue Heron appearing to walk on water as it comes in for a landing along Blackpoint Wildlife Drive. I’ve also included a slide show with some of the other wildlife present that day: Alligator, Anhinga, Black Vulture, Double-breasted Cormorant, Great Egret, Hawk, Orange Butterfly, Osprey, Ring-billed Gull, Roseate Spoonbill, Tricolored Heron, Turkey Vulture, and White Ibis. Note that some of the images are graphic.

Great Blue Heron Walking on Water. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/7, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron Walking on Water. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/7, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)


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)


Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec).

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)