Black Point Wildlife Drive
Egrets, Herons, Spoonbills, Gators and more
The Black Point Wildlife Trail is a seven mile long self guided motor path through managed wetlands along the Indian River Lagoon in Merritt Island, Florida. The trail is part of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. The water level in the various basins throughout the wetlands is managed with some containing a constant level while others are allowed to vary with the tides. Thus providing an ideal habitat for many water fowl, wading birds and other aquatic animals. The refuge is located with the Atlantic Migration flight way, making it a convenient stopover for migrating snowbirds.
There is a $10 fee per car to use the trail or you can use one of the various federal passes for access. It is well worth the fee during the winter for photography and bird watching.
These are some photos that I took in December along the trail.
Egrets
A Great Egret in the trees
f/11.0 1/500 sec ISO 320
A Snowy Egret wading
f/7.1 1/500 sec ISO 160
A Great Egret perched in the bush
f/7.1 1/500 sec ISO 160
Coming in for a landing
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 160
Snowy Egrets are smaller than Great Egrets and have black colored bills
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 125
Herons
A Great Blue Wading
f/7.1 1/400 sec ISO 200
A Little Blue Heron
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 640
A Tri-colored Heron in the bush
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 1000
A Tri-colored Heron eyeing his prey
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 2500
A Tri-colored Heron wading
f/7.1 1/500 sec ISO 100
A Tri-colored Heron in his treetop perch
f/7.1 1/250 sec ISO 100
Roseate Spoonbills
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 200
f/11.0 1/500 sec ISO 500
f/7.1 1/500 sec ISO 200
f/7.1 1/1000 sec ISO 100
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 125
The gathering
Egrets. herons, spoonbills and ibis gather to feed together
f/11.0 1/125 sec ISO 100
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 160
f/11.0 1/500 sec ISO 125
f/7.1 1/640 sec ISO 100
An Ibis landing
f/11.0 1/400 sec ISO 320
The Gator
While walking along one of trails I spotted this guy a few feet away
f/7.1 1/400 sec ISO 250
I circled around him and got this shot of his other side.
f/7.1 1/400 sec ISO 320
Turkey Vultures
f/7.1 1/400 sec ISO 125
f/7.1 1/1250 sec ISO 100
Some ducks
f/7.1 1/400 sec ISO 500
f/7.1 1/500 sec ISO 1600
An Anhinga
f/7.1 1/500 sec ISO 100
A Palm Warbler
f/7.1 1/500 sec ISO 100
| Category | animalphotography |
| Settings | Various |
| Camera | Canon 60D |
| Lens | Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM |
| Location | Merritt, Florida |
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Enjoy!
Roger