Some shots from the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. This is a beautiful area. Thousands of acres maintained just for the birds. All the birds are wild and free flying but the entire area is maintained with money obtained from NASA who is the biggest land renter in the area.

Here's a few of the highlights:
#1 - Osprey
#2 - Sandpiper
#3 - Spoonbill
#4 - ? Heron
#5 - ? Heron

And a few more:

#1 - ? Heron
#2 - ? waterfowl
#3 - ? Heron
#4 - Biggest Gull I have ever seen (almost 24" tall) picking a crab out of the sand
#5 - Egret

Last batch:

#1 - ? Heron
#2 - ? Heron
#3 - Great Blue Heron
#4 - Male Anhinga in breeding plumage
#5 - Great Blue Heron

I haven't taken the time to open a birders guide yet to ID the different herons. What an awesome park. All of these images were taken along the 12 mile Black Point Drive. At the halfway point of the drive there is a 5 mile walking trail taking you out into the marshes and closer to the breeding areas. Unfortunately we gt there too late in the day to attempt the walk but it is definintely on the agenda for the next time around.

They are awsome...looks like you had a lot of fun

Wow! Awesome images there and what variety!

Love the gull shot. I think the crab wants his other claw back :p

Here's a few of the highlights:
#1 - Osprey
#2 - KILLDEER
#3 - Spoonbill
#4 - TRICOLORED Heron
#5 - REDDISH EGRET

#1 - REDDISG EGRET
#2 - COMMON MOORHEN
#3 - TRICOLORED Heron
#4 - Biggest Gull I have ever seen (almost 24" tall) picking a crab out of the sand
HERRING GULL
#5 - GREAT Egret

#1 - TRICOLORED Heron
#2 - TRICOLORED Heron
#3 - Great Blue Heron
#4 - Male Anhinga in breeding plumage
#5 - Great Blue Heron

Congrats on the FP , its very well deserved :)

Thank you Paulnj for the ID's all around.

Thank you all for your comments.

And lastly I would like to thank the academy......erm.....the powers that be for the FP. It is always an honor.

That is definitely a fun place to spend a few hours. My parents live about 1/2 an hour south of there and I always make time for the drive.

STinGa