On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
I could feel my breathing slow as I looked at these photos, so they’re not just beautiful, but also very calming. I might have named this Reflections on a Wildlife Refuge. So very lovely. I want to be there. ~WaterGirl
PAM Dirac
It is daunting submitting pictures of birds when Albatrossity gives us so many amazing pictures, but when the birds are within a few dozen yards, are practically posing for you, and all you need to do to take a picture is lean out the car window, it kind of lets us rank amateurs come up with a few decent ones. These were taken earlier this year at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is on the north end of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For those of you who do Facebook, there is a “Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Birding” page which has a steady flow of very nice bird pictures.
mrmoshpotato
Very nice, but did picture 3 lose the plot, or are we staring at a NINJA OF THE SKY?
NotMax
Spooky. Only the other day received a phone call out of the blue from someone have not heard from in 35 years who now lives in Merritt Island.
p.a.
Great shots, thanks!
JPL
Wonderful pictures.
Mustang Bobby
Beautiful. I need to go up to Merritt again to recharge and see more birds.
gkoutnik
I do love me some long-legged waders. There’s something about the way they stand, move, tilt their heads. And the way they fly – like Tim Linscomb, in his early days, throwing a no-hitter.
Wonderful pics. You’re right – they are very kind to us amateurs.
EmbraceYourInnerCrone
These are so beautiful. A great start to the day. Reminds me I need to go visit the bird sanctuary soon.
PAM Dirac
Thanks for the comments. It is a very peaceful, and at least on the day we were there, a quiet place. Highly recommended, even if you aren’t going to take pictures.
Auntie Anne
Lovely pictures! Just looking at them is calming.
Betty Cracker
Nice pics! Haven’t been to Merritt Island in ages, but this is inspiration to visit again!
HinTN
I love reflections. Thank you for the virtual visit to Merritt.
zeecube
Nice pics.
arrieve
Beautiful birds, beautiful reflections. A lovely start to the day.
Salty Sam
Nice! We laid our boat up for the month in Merritt Island last November, before our crossing tp Puerto Rico. We had not been looking forward to the time spent there (entirely due to prejudice against FL), but Merritt Island changed our outlook completely. We were too busy with boat prep to visit the Wildlife Refuge, but will remedy that whenever we return someday. Thanks for the lovely pics- last one reminded me of an old cartoon of a heron trying to swallow a frog, with the frog desperately holding the heron’s throat to prevent him becoming dinner.
Albatrossity
Lovely, all of them! Another place to put on my must-see list!
MelissaM
Very nice! Love the reflections.
Redshift
Very nice! I was there a year ago after a rocket launch, and saw a lot of birds I’d never seen before.
DCA
Great pictures–though I was initially wondering why BJ would have a post about quantum mechanics (look up Paul Adrian Maurice Dirac). Pretty nerdish of me.
J R in WV
Wonderful photo set! I can’t help but think…”Poor frog!” but what a lucky shot!
Thanks for sharing!
PAM Dirac
@J R in WV:
That scene was less than 10 feet from the car. The bird bent down and was struggling to pull up what I thought was a stalk of plant. He came up with the frog. It didn’t take the bird very long to swallow the frog completely. I do wince a bit and wish nature wasn’t so cruel, but nature is going to nature without the slightest concern for my preferences.
PAM Dirac
@DCA:
Well I’m the one that chose the nym, so I guess I’m even more nerdish :-) Dirac did spend the last 14 years of his life in Florida and is buried in Florida, so I guess it is a bit connected.
stinger
What wonderful photos!
WaterGirl
Just checking in to see if anyone noticed the notice (straight from the Dept. of Redundancy Dept.) about First Timers week.
No one has mentioned it, and there have not been any On the Road submissions from anyone new all week, so I am wondering if anyone new might be planning to send something in?
Emma
@WaterGirl: I can send pics in from the time I visited Mt. Pleasant Iris Farm in Washington, but I hadn’t done it because Mike in Oly did the original post that inspired me to go. But I’ll do it now in case you need a back-up :)
Mohagan
@mrmoshpotato: I think there is a small yellow bird (warbler?) in the green leaves. Great heron pics!
WaterGirl
@Emma: Thank you!