After a great dinner at Dixie-Crossroads and night’s sleep, we met at Parrish Park in Titusville.  We had some bad news when one of our group heard that Black Point Dr. was closed!  We decided to check at the Visitor’s Center but first we drove W. Gator Rd. and picked up A. Avocets, a cooperative Reddish Egret flew in and gave us a good view, and one White Pelican, along with many waders. It was good to see our friend,  Reesa Fassett, who has moved away, but was with her local chapter.
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We then headed to the Canaveral National Seashore but saw hardly any ducks along the way to the beach!  At the beach, 
Ken Spilios saw a M. Frigatebird flying high above us and we also got a few gulls and a Ruddy Turnstone, but no Gannets this time.  Upon leaving, Eileen broke out the cookies and chocolate brownies which were gobbled up!  When we got near the entrance, we pulled over after seeing several FL Scrub Jays and ended up spotting six or more! 

One more stop on CNS, so we drove down Bio-lab Rd. until we got to the Birds!  What a collection in one end of a wetland-many White Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills,  a few White and Glossy Ibis, a Great Egret and a Wood Stork! 

We then drove to the Pumphouse Rd. and on the way we saw an A. Kestrel and Belted Kingfisher on the wires.  Then, walking into the Pumphouse Rd., the ducks appeared on both sides by the 100s!  We Immediately saw the Redheads and Canvasbacks, with many Blue-winged Teals, Scaup species, and A. Wigeons, with some Ring-necks, N. Shovelers, and Mottled Ducks.  I didn’t mentioned A. Coots and C. Gallinules but they were well represented just about in ever body of water we saw!  We then walked to the large lagoons, the East one was full of birds along the North eastern corner but the only species I could make out was Black Skimmers. 

Photos courtesy of Fred Hileman, Jim Meyer. Article by Jim Meyer & Eileen Riccio.

Black Point was scheduled to reopen on Friday. Four of our group decided to stay in order to ride the bus through Black Point. The trip lasted about 2 hours. We had good views of 6 Wilson's Snipes at the entrance plus many other species along the way. For the two days, we spotted a combined 83 species. 51  from OW and 62 Merritt.
Thank you Jim & Eileen for another memorable trip.
Fred Hileman

​Enough Citrus Audubon members and friends showed up at Orlando Wetlands on January 25th, 1:00 PM to fill two trams.  The trams were electric and were operated by volunteers of the Friends of Orlando Wetlands Park.  It was warm and breezy as we set out on a multi-mile birding tour of the wetland.  Here is one of the trams.  It hosted Fred Hileman, Bob Ross, and others.  Longtime friend of ours and the guide, Eileen Riccio, is looking for birds from the shotgun seat.

Eileen’s partner, Jim Meyer, was the guide on the lead tram that hosted eight bird folks, including this writer.  Just after the first turn off the “main road”, we got a great close-up view of this Purple Gallinule.  It’s moving and flapping its wings because it was just accosted by a Common Gallinule that might have been a male with a female close by.  

​We turned around at the beginning of the new boardwalk.  On the way back toward the “main road” we came upon this Anhinga that had caught a large pan fish and was finally about to swallow it.

​Toward the end of our tour, we spotted this Great Blue Heron with what Bob Ross identified as a Two-toed Amphiuma.  It was a lifer for most of us.  It is said to be the largest salamander in North America.  Much to our surprise, the heron made quick work of the large amphibian.
​Rey Wells

 The below entry was offered by Jim Meyer.
We managed to see Black-crowned Night Herons, many BB Whistling Ducks (~500 in the Park), many Purple Gallinule, Limpkins, Sandhill Cranes, E. Bluebird, several duck species,  and heard  the Barred Owl. 
Four other neat bird sights were observed when we saw a B. Eagle in its nest, a Merlin Falcon high in a snag, a N. Pintail hiding in a group of Blue-winged Teals

Photos, courtesy of Fred Hileman, Rey Wells, Jim Meyer.

Day one at St Marks. We were unable to take the trail and boardwalk at the back of the Visitor's Center. The bridges over the streams and a large part of the boardwalk was impassable due to deterioration. I guess the money for repairs has not been allocated. It's a sad situation. The other problem here was the paving of the road into the Lighthouse. There was only one lane open for a major portion of the road into the Lighthouse. This prevented stopping along the way at strategic areas.

Our next destination was back to Lighthouse Road. We again stopped in anticipation of finding the Golden Plover, but we had no luck either going in nor out. We opted to traverse the one-way out to the Lighthouse to check out the duck situation. Again, there was no disappointment. In fact there were several surprises, The Pintail gave us a treat which was spotted by Pam Larsen. There were American Widgeons, Ring-Neck, Canvasbacks, Shovelers, Teal, Bufflehead, & Ruddy. The prize was a Long-tailed Duck that was at a great distance out. Unfortunately, no photo. 

And not least, the resident Flamingo gave us great close up photo-ops. It amazes me that this beautiful creature has remained here for many years. The first years necessitated a long hike and then it would be at the far edge of the open water and would merely be a pink blur.  This time it was close several times. Even with the obstacles along the way, we were able to tally 80 species.
Credits for the photos: Bob Ross, Fred Hileman, & Carol Yarnell. I know others took some great photos also, but this is what I had to work with at this time. 

​Fred Hileman