Viera Wetlands, Florida

Kevin Loughlin, Jared Lloyd and I are currently at the Space Coast Birding Festival in Titusville, Florida, where the Wildside Nature Tours booth is getting a great deal of attention!  We have spent a few wonderful hours each morning, before the exhibit hall opens, at Viera Wetlands, about 25 miles south of Titusville.

Viera Wetlands

The wetlands are full of Blue-winged Teal, Common Gallinules, Ring-necked Ducks and rafts of American Coots are a common sight. The presence of a Bald Eagle is immediately known when the a raft bursts into short running and wing-flapping as they all congregate together for safety when the eagle flies over.

Hooded Mergansers

A handful of Hooded Mergansers have been delighting photographers and birders alike. All week they  have been displaying, the males following each other around showing off to the females. They would lift theirs heads exposing the black neck feathers before tilting their head back and calling.

River Otter

This morning I was lucky enough to watch a River Otter dust bathing for 10 minutes on a section of the auto route. It spent most of the time rolling over and over gather as much of the limestone dust as it could in its fur, pausing only to scratch, before heading back into the water.

Sandhill Cranes

Pairs of Sandhill Cranes could be seen patrolling the dikes and walking down into the marsh to feed.

American Bittern

Each morning before sunrise I would catch a glimpse of an America Bittern flying from one section of the marsh to another only to disappear into the vegetation. However, yesterday I found one that was far more confiding as I was able to watch it stalk aquatic creatures.

all photos © adrian binns