These images were a real challenge to take light wise during a quick trip down Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at sunset on Tuesday with Susan Boyd. With rapidly fading light and a fairly cold, brisk wind there was little opportunity to mull over the array of photogenic birds on hand. Instead, one took what one could get in the rapidly fading light as quickly as possible before the light was lost. I lament to this moment missing getting a photograph of the flock of Roseate Spoonbills that passed low overhead wonderfully lit by the last rays of the Sun. Here is a sampling of images from the visit.

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Willets

The low light did not allow much success in the way of capturing flying birds.

Roseate Spoonbills feeding.


Northern Pintails – the showy ones are males along with a lone female.

Ducks in flight.

A brief moment of sunlight illuminated these two ducks before darkness set in.

A massive American Alligator. He looked big enough to swallow a small car.

A view from the side of the road on Wildlife Drive. A raft of ducks can be seen out in the water.

Driving over the A. Max Brewer Bridge back into Titusville while the last of the fiery sunset fades overhead.