This is the first of (hopefully) many blogs as we get ready for our 3 month sojourn across country and to Alaska. Right now I’m just trying to feel my way around this site and figure out how to get the photos and information out there without boring you to death.

Earlier this month we (Michael, Lily our Standard Schnauzer, and I) made our annual trip to the rookery at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine and to Merritt Island in Titusville, Fl. This year we added another destination–Viera Wetlands.

The rookery was active with squawking baby great white herons and wood storks. Spoonbills, great and snowy whites, cattle egrets and wood storks flew overhead carrying twigs and branches to their various nesting places. Great whites and snowy’s, adorned in breeding dress, did their undulating dances to attract mates. Spoonbills romped from branch to branch displaying their wondrous colors. Other birds sat quietly in their nests tending their already laid eggs. Absent at this time were the Ibis & little green herons. A few tri colored egrets  sat on their nests and stretched their wings.

One of the advantages in taking images at the rookery is the proximity the boardwalk gives you. Although a 100-400mm lens puts you at an advantage here, a 500mm is almost too long to get good shots. I used my tripod a lot and this helped me to get better focus and stability.

Unfortunately we were not able to spend much time at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. It abuts Kennedy Space Center and closes 24 hours before and after any shuttle launch. The shuttle was scheduled to launch April 29th, while we were there, but was rescheduled.

So instead, we decided to go with a friend’s recommendation and visit Viera Wetlands about 1/2 hour south of Titusville off of I95 next to a waste water treatment plant. What an amazing spot for birds. There were multiple Anhinga and Great Blue Heron nests in the tops of palm trees throughout the wetlands. Parents flew in constantly feeding their voracious, wide mouthed young. Osprey, Ibis and black-bellied whistling ducks flew overhead. Snowy and white egrets and great blue herons flew from palm tree to palm tree. Some waded in the shallow waters scanning for fish while alligators waited off shore for one of them to make a mistake.

The most amazing thing we saw was a 45 minute battle between a great blue heron and a banded water snake. Michael spotted the heron with the snake wrapped around its neck. At different points we weren’t sure who would win this battle. What an incredible struggle; but the heron won out. I kept on shooting throughout the battle and got some great shots.

Click on images for a larger view.