rom people and go be with nature! I found a perfect spot...the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in Veira, Florida was only about 15 minutes south of Cocoa. The 200 acre wetlands was created by reclaimed water from the Brevard County waste-water reuse system. Sounds gross...but really...no smells...just a very nice nature area! I thought about hiking...until I saw a posting to the tune of..."beware...aggressive behavior...alligator mating season...."that did it. I would just drive casually on the dirt path as others were doing...pulling off at interesting places. Like to view this beautiful Great Egret!
Up the road apiece, I was juggling my camera, binoculars and my Sibley's (large bird book) trying for several minutes to figure out what this red beaked bird was. I thought I was enough off the road as to not block the path of those behind me looking for entertainment on Superbowl Sunday afternoon...when someone in a truck beeped and screamed in my open window "Its a BIRD!"...hellooooooo..its a NATURE TRAIL NOT the INDY 500 I wanted to scream...but he was a few hundred yards away now and I was only yelling at his dust cloud. PEOPLE! Anyway...its a common moorhen I found out later after giving up & asking someone with a spotting scope.
Several others appeared in a big hurry while driving this one way route with several different loops. I just don't get it...why go to a nature preserve if you don't want to take the time and want to see and observe nature things??? Maybe they were just there to show out of town visitors alligators or something. I found this glossy ibis near the egret while looking at BIRDS!
A red-bellied woodpecker flitted by and landed on this tree and drilled for lunch as I was observing the ibises.
An hourish later sound this Tri-Colored Heron along with some Common Moorhens.
And finally...what visit to Florida would be complete without seeing Anhinga's?!
Several others appeared in a big hurry while driving this one way route with several different loops. I just don't get it...why go to a nature preserve if you don't want to take the time and want to see and observe nature things??? Maybe they were just there to show out of town visitors alligators or something. I found this glossy ibis near the egret while looking at BIRDS!
A red-bellied woodpecker flitted by and landed on this tree and drilled for lunch as I was observing the ibises.
Up the road a bit a few Blue Winged Teal swam by.....
Still...a little further... a Great Blue Heron who was in the middle of some sort of molt happened by....
It took me a while to figure out this little guy...the Belted Kingfisher should be called the look quick & raise that camera & I'm outta here bird. I "chased" him from tree to tree for several minutes before FINALLY getting a good look at him as he perched atop this dead palm tree.
Found some endangered Wood Storks laying on this little "island" near some alligators....hope the guys in the speeding truck missed 'em!
An hourish later sound this Tri-Colored Heron along with some Common Moorhens.
Finally....found an osprey atop this dead palm & observed him rubbing and scratching his beak on it as if he was sharpening or scratching it. Was an interesting observation.
This Great Egret appeared to be mimicking the reeds in an attempt to camouflage himself.
And finally...what visit to Florida would be complete without seeing Anhinga's?!
After 3 hours on the trail...I decided to make my way back to Titusville to check into my bed & breakfast in hopes that the Endeavour would launch tonight! (And get some SLEEP!)
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