Titusville 2022 - Part 4

 We had recently read about the Apopka Wildlife Drive just northwest of Orlando, Florida.  Since it wasn't too far from Titusville, we decided to check it out.

We soon noticed that there were a lot of Anhingas along the drive, many drying their feathers.

A large alligator sunning on a bank

We discovered that this wildlife drive has a rookery used by Great Blue Herons, Anhingas and Cormorants.

Nest building, one stick at a time

A couple of small fuzzy heads just visible in the nest

Osprey having lunch

 

Great Blue Heron

Female Anhinga portrait

Cormorant

Cattle Egret

Red-shouldered Hawk

Titusville 2022 - Part 3

 The next day was another outing to Black Point Drive in Merritt Island NWR.

Tricolored Heron and Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill and Glossy Ibis

Little Blue Heron and Tricolored Heron

Another Tricolored Heron

Male Blue-winged Teal

Bees were working the thistle blossoms.

Roseate Spoonbills feeding

Requisite alligator shots

Female Anhinga

Aptly named Yellowlegs

White Ibises

Yellowlegs, Glossy Ibises and Black-necked Stilts

Titusville 2022 - Part 2

 On the day after our visit to Black Point Drive, we undertook a longer road trip that covered three other wildlife viewing areas.

The first stop was the Viera Wetlands about 35 miles south of Titusville.  Unfortunately, vehicular traffic is still blocked at this very popular wildlife area, so we walked in to view a small part of the wetlands.

We were alerted to the location of two alligator nests with baby alligators.

A cluster of baby alligators

 

With mom nearby

White Ibis

The next stop was Stick Marsh about 40 miles further south.  This is an area known as a rookery for several different large wading birds, including Roseate Spoonbills.

A group of nesting Wood Storks on a small wooded island

Another part of the Stick Marsh area

There were several Cattle Egrets near the parking area.

A Great Blue Heron hunting nearby

Roseate Spoonbills in the nesting area

Roseate Spoonbills flying nearby

An Osprey keeping an eye on us

Then it was back to visit the Blue Heron Wetlands near Titusville.

There we were lucky to spot a pair of Sandhill Cranes with two small colts.

One of several alligators

Great Blue Heron

A cormorant atop the remains of a dead palm tree

Snowy Egret

Water Lilly blossom

Titusville 2022 - Part 1

 By late March we were back in the Titusville, Florida, area to revisit some of our favorite wildlife viewing areas.  Our first outing for this visit was to Black Point Drive in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Just before the turnoff to Black Point Drive, we came across a marshy area next to the highway that was filled with Roseate Spoonbills, Snowy Egrets and a couple of Ibis.

Great Egret

We usually spot alligators along Black Point Drive.

 

Common Gallinule and Roseate Spoonbill

 

 

Female Anhinga

 

Male Anhinga drying its wings

Tricolored Heron

Pied-billed Grebe