Florida
2009 - Day 5
Merritt
Island Wildlife Refuge
Day
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5 | Day 5 - Part 2
Tuesday
11/17/200 Day 5: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge
After
visiting the awesome Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville,
we headed up US-1 towards the Merritt
Island Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is closed 3 days before
a shuttle launch to prevent people from hiding out to see the
launch from up close. The refuge borders NASA Kennedy Space Center,
and we were sure to drive down to the beach to get close to the
pads, although we had already seen the launch the day before.
The majority of the pictures from our trip to Merritt Island Wildlife
Refuge are available in much larger sizes in my Flickr
photo gallery.
After
briefly stopping at the visitor center for a map and directions
we headed out to take a few wildlife drives, and race out to the
manatee viewing platform. Unfortunately there were no manatees
at the viewing area, so we returned down the road and took the
Blackpoint Wildlife drive. It was an awesome drive and we saw
tons of birds and wildlife.
On
the way to the wildlife drive we saw many vultures, some Great
Egret's and some Snowy Egrets.
Once
we started on the drive we saw several alligators.
And
this cool bird.
As
well as an Osprey on one of the Bald Eagle platforms.
We
toured the wetland area and saw lots of birds including lousiana
herons.
We
saw a Bald Eagle land on a far away platform. On the way out we
shooed a snake off the road so it wouldn't get run over.
After
doing the wildlife drive, we headed down towards the seashore
on a winding road through the marshes. There we got some super
close up views of a great blue heron.
Then
after rounding a corner we had to stop the car after another alligator
was blocking the road. He was huge! There was no way around, so
form a safe distance we got out of the car to see him and take
some photos before he slid back into the water. A definite highlight
of the whole trip.
We
then made it down to the seashore where we could see the launch
pads at sunset and the beach. It was a great end to the day and
to the whole trip.
As
always, larger pictures of our full trip to Florida are available
from my Flickr
photo gallery.
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