Weather was a lot warmer this year than last. No wind, overcast, but warm. We were able to get the tram for some who chose to ride. It is quite a trek otherwise as three of us could agree. We had the normal run of species, but they are always exciting. King Rail was heard calling, over 100 Wood Storks were in a roosting phase. Also a Merlin and 15 plus Purple Gallinules gave us walkers photo ops. I have never seen this many Purple Gallinules in one area before. We tallied 52 species of which this eBird link will give you the list.
Wednesday morning on the Causeway at Merritt Island suggested strongly that we were in for a rainy day. We birded the Causeway, but the wind was starting to kick up so we decided to travel farther along the causeway. Not too many surprise results on this leg, but for the 200 plus American White Pelicans. Ducks were absent for the most part. We watched the Black Skimmers zipping along the water to catch their lunch.We decided to break for lunch before Black Point and at this point the deluge came. We still drove Black Point in the rain. This drive was a disappointment. The left side of the drive was almost completely void of water and had dried to a hard cracked earth.The rains continued out to the Canaveral Shores where we did get to spot the Northern Gannets feeding as they dove into the water to retrieve a fish. By this time, our group of 12 had dwindled down to 5. We packed it in and retired to our motel. But with the poor conditions of the day, we still had 70 species. The list for this day can be viewed at this eBird link. The total species for both days amounted to 89. Not bad.
Top photo courtesy of Tom Gulley. Bird photos by Fred Hileman.
Fred Hileman
President
CCAS
Top photo courtesy of Tom Gulley. Bird photos by Fred Hileman.
Fred Hileman
President
CCAS
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