Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Afternoon drive through Biolab road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Birds observed (with images) include: Gulls (unidentified), Caspian Tern (winter plumage?), Black Skimmer, Wood Stork, Double-crested Cormorant, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, and Osprey. Just showing one image for each bird species. More can be seen in the slideshow at the end of the post.
Collection of Gulls (not identified), Black Skimmer, and Caspian Tern (winter plumage?). Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)Caspian Tern (winter plumage?). Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)Wood Stork in flight. Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)Double-crested Cormorant. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork. Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)Black Vulture on a dead palm tree. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Turkey Vulture with a dead fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)Osprey with fish for lunch. Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/3.2, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 6: Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve.
I drove across the state arriving in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge before the sun went down. The first stop was Black Point Wildlife Drive. Observed the following birds: Roseate Spoonbill, Greater Yellowlegs, White Ibis, American Coot, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and Snowy Egret. I then proceeded to Biolab Road. On the way I spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk. On Biolab Road I observed a Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and Wood Stork.
Roseate Spoonbill. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Greater Yellowlegs. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)White Ibis. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)American Coot. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Northern Pintail and Blue-winged Teal. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Snowy Egret. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)Red-shouldered Hawk. Courtenay Highway, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)Red-shouldered Hawk. Courtenay Highway, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)Great Blue Heron. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)Great Egret. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)Wood Storkd. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
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)
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)
December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Birds (American Avocet, Great Egret, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, and an unknown bird) and Reptiles (Rat Snake, Turtle, and Alligator) along Black Point Wildlife Drive or Biolab Road in the National Wildlife Refuge.
Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
