Picnic Launch
(Click images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
Although she didn’t ask any questions, I could tell Gini was curious about my frequent checks of the time. Very uncharacteristic of me, as I normally don’t adhere to a schedule. Today was different.
We had thoroughly enjoyed meandering along Black Point Wildlife Drive, lingering at spots where we could observe so many birds going about their daily business of survival. The wind was now barely a breeze, the thermometer reading was more in line with a Florida January day, we were able to “unlayer” jackets and sweatshirts and we looked forward to exploring other areas of the vast Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve.
Another check of the time. Almost 1130. Okay. Heading in the right direction.
Portions of the refuge have spots similar to those we encountered along the wildlife drive. Mixed fresh and salt water marsh with areas of open shallow water ideal for wading birds and dabbling ducks. We had seen a half-dozen Reddish Egrets this morning and we came upon one more who insisted we observe her intricate and impressive dance routine. It almost made us late, for a very important date.
Unbeknownst to my bride, last night I checked the Cape Canaveral website and discovered there was a launch scheduled today for 1207! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket would carry Northrop Grumman’s 21st Cygnus cargo freighter on the 20th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. After the egret’s dance recital, we had to hustle a little bit to find a suitable viewing spot. Catfish Creek provided good line of sight from a point along the bank toward the launch pad about ten miles away. At 1208, I started to grumble about how a rocket couldn’t even be launched on time when the keen-eyed Gini pointed: ”There it goes.” So much for my science classes. I forgot about that thing that says it takes awhile for sound waves to travel, so while I was expecting to hear the roar of the engines, the space vehicle was well on its way to the heavens before we were engulfed in thunder. Fortunately, I managed to snap a few pics before the thing was out of sight.
Following our picnic launch, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the shade of huge oak trees at a nearby trailhead. One more venture for the day had us rolling along Biolab Road which is adjacent to Mosquito Lagoon, an inlet of the Indian River. More birds, butterflies and the first damselflies of the year. (No suitable pictures. Sorry.) The day ended with a pair of magnificent Bald Eagles which very likely have a nest nearby.
Oh. And a very bad tree.
Reddish Egrets are nothing if not entertaining. Watching them feed really does give you the feeling there is a choreographer at work. They wade along gingerly, turn their head sideways to reduce glare, hold a wing out to provide shade for unsuspecting fish, flap furiously to scare fish into moving and run like a track star to chase and grab their prey. And end the whole thing looking ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!
Out to launch.
Shhh! Black-crowned Night Herons need plenty of rest in order to prepare for life after dark.
The American Ornithological Union keeps promising to rename this species “Ring-billed Duck”. The Ring-necked Duck would appreciate it if they got a move on.
A Lesser Scaup visiting for the winter is similar in appearance to the Ring-necked Duck above but has a different body and bill design.
We are always reminded of large airplanes when we watch a Brown Pelican soaring just above the water.
Now, we encountered one of nature’s mysteries: The Strange Strangling Case of the Felonious Fig! Florida is the only state which harbors that fugitive from botanical justice, Ficus aurea, the Strangler Fig! This wicked plant often begins life as an innocent epiphyte growing among the shady limbs of an unsuspecting tree. Eventually, the sinister strangler begins to wrap its unloving arms around its host eventually penetrating the trunk, stealing nutrients and growing into a healthy tree while the host tree withers away. Although the small figs produced may be edible, I can’t find much reference to their use, except by wildlife. Don’t be sad. There aren’t that many of these criminal trees around so your Cabbage Palm or Scrub Oak should be safe. For now!
A Killdeer checks the beach to make sure it’s okay to dose off for a bit.
We found a pair of Bald Eagles along the lagoon. At this time of year, they probably have a nest either completed or nearly so. Handsome birds.
You may think we had a full day at Merritt Island. You would be absolutely correct. Can’t wait to do it again. Y’all should visit if you have a chance.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
Cool launch. We have tried several times to watch the SpaceX launch in south Texas and every single time it has been delayed beyond our length of stay. It was cool to drive right up near the launchpad on their off days. Fingers crossed we can see one in the future (and that it doesn’t blow-up). Red Egret dancing is truly a joy – love that last shot of it with the static feathers! Thought for sure you were going to talk about an experience with a tree that broke one of your bones – that is now my definition of a bad tree ha.
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We can see the contrail from a launch from our house in west-central Florida, but it’s usually by accident. Being ten miles away is different. The (eventual) engine roar and sonic boom add to the experience.
Reddish Egrets are definitely entertaining.
Gini is a natural born hugger, but even she admitted that fig was taking a good thing way too far. Broken bones and trees are a bad dream which I hope you never repeat.
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This really was special with the rocket launch! I stand out back and take photos when I remember to look for one but of course here, I just see the contrail. Love all the beautiful birds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Reddish Egret….something to look forward too. Yesterday I saw the cutest little dragonfly and I thought of you and Gini. Enjoy your week and treks into nature!
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Thank you, Diane. It was a very good day.
The Reddish Egret likes our west coast, too. They are not as abundant as some other species but they’re out there.
Yes, the dragonflies and damselflies are starting to become active. That’s a good thing.
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What an exciting trip! That launch was a perfect reason to be time-checking. Love the color you captured on the Reddish, those are breeding colors, for sure. Speaking of colors, the Brown Pelican and his background are really lovely. And the strangler fig belongs in an Aliens movie, thanks for sharing that.
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Thank you, Sam. It really was a very good day.
Thank goodness we no longer have to buy film.
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The Reddish Egret and launch sequences are special. And thanks for the info on the Florida Strangler Fig. I vaguely remember hearing about it before, but it’s nice to have refresher with illustrative photos.
Wonderful post Wally!
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Thank you, Ed.
We appreciate your journeys to MINWR which help us find some of the good stuff.
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Your strangler fig is a curious tree, for sure. You mentioned that it begins life as an epiphyte, but some sites say that it begins as a parasite and then develops the characteristics of an epiphyte: “Strangler fig begins its life as a parasite as its seed lodges in the cracks and crevices of the bark of a host. Cabbage palms are favorite hosts. The seed germinates and sends out air roots. These air roots take in nutrients and water from the air and host tree. Eventually the air roots grow to reach the ground and develop their own underground root system, independent of the host tree.”
However it happens, it clearly has a dual nature, and a willingness to have its way with other trees that are helping to support it. Your photos made me laugh. The first two reminded me of a cat clinging to a tree; the third looks like fingers grasping the trunk.
I think napping Black-crowned Night Herons are the cutest birds ever; the Reddish Egret, on the other hand, is pure elegance. Those are fabulous photos.
I enjoyed the photos of the launch, too. I’ve never heard the sounds associated with one, but have seen one Florida launch from an anchorage on Grand Bahama. Even from that distance, it left everyone speechless.
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Research on that fig was fun. “Sometime it does this. Sometimes it does that.” No wonder the poor thing behaves badly.
Herons and egrets filled the day with the unexpected. Can’t wait for the next visit.
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What a gorgeous day you photographed!
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It was pretty special.
Thank you for visiting, Eunice.
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The Reddish Egret sequence is wonderful, Wally, with that last shot of it being fabulous.
That rocket launch must have been something special to behold. Was it very noisy at that distance?
I was not aware of the Strangler Fig and found your description quite mind-boggling. It’s almost as if it is animal!
Those Bald Eagle shots arethe real icing on the cake. What a magnificent bird!
Best wishes to you and Gini. We’re holding up OK here. Take good care – – – Richard
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Thank you very much, Richard.
About two minutes after lift-off, we were treated to the sound of thunder for about a minute. Just as the missile began to disappear from view, we were almost knocked over by a sonic boom. Quite an experience.
We were lucky those eagles remained perched so close for a few minutes.
It is good to hear you two are holding up okay for now. We continue to send you and Lindsay all our very best wishes.
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More great images from your rather exciting day out with a rocket launch thrown in for good measure.
That fig is a bit nasty but not invasive? I’ve had Ivy ‘strangle’ Hawthorn in my garden(s) where the ‘thorn can not expand anymore and the Ivy leaves cut out the light eventually killing the host but Ivy does not penetrate to gain nutrients.
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It was a good day, Brian, that’s for certain.
I was skeptical about that Ficus as well. Turns out, it is native to Florida, parts of the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. It is also known as the “Florida Strangler Fig”. Who knew? (Not me.)
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How interesting to have seen that launch, something outstanding.
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Something very different in our exploration of Nature. Quite an experience.
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Great birds and a launch??!! What a great morning you had. Beautiful shots.
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We are so spoiled.
Thank you, Dina.
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Merritt Island proved to have plenty of merit for you.
I’d been wondering how much of a zoom you generally use for your avian pictures. I looked at the metadata for two of your reddish egrets and found you zoomed your 200–500mm to the max. (My zoom lens is 100mm less than yours at each end of its range.) Did you still have to crop in afterwards?
Who’d’ve expected pictures of a non-avian in flight? You know how to rock it. And speaking of actual birds: better a ring-necked duck than a wringed-neck duck.
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For most wildlife situations, I typically zoom to maximum for a “portrait”, then, depending on the subject, try to zoom out for composition within the scene. I normally crop some for compostion and the amount depends on distance to subject at the time it was shot.
The Reddish Egret series had us pretty close in so most were cropped 10-20%. The third image was not cropped and I should have zoomed out a bit. Bird was quicker than trigger finger.
That duck should be thankful the official bird-namers have not seen your suggestion.
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