"Better than 40 Below" |
January 29, 2008 – Titusville, FL Up at 6:00 AM (2:00 AM by the internal clock) and at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when it opened. Started at the Headquarters/Visitor Center and birded the boardwalk there. Then drove Peacock’s Pocket Road, which was outstanding birding. And highly photographable. Then did Black Point Wildlife Drive, also quite good, although not as productive as Peacocks, perhaps because it was later and there was more traffic. Stunning numbers of birds to Alaskans who might get 10 species in a day. At least 75 species. No lifers but a large number of Florida firsts. Thousands of American Coots and hundreds of herons and egrets. A little light on raptors and owls. Notes for future trips: drive the two loops as early in the morning as possible; they get touristy later. 4-wheel drive only on Peacocks Pots if there is a chance of rain. And wait until after February 15 if you want to bird the side roads of Peacocks. Dinner was at the adjoining Crackerbarrel Restaurant, where you can get fried liver, fried okra, fried ice cream and probably fried grease. Not on the recommended list.
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