makinorlando
When you're curious, you find lots of interesting
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2005
- Messages
- 5,231
Tara and I spent Thursday night at the Poly Concierge, did MNSSHP & MK on Friday morning. If you would like to read about it and see photos check out my report.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1250433
Today we woke up to the most fabulous day. I don't think we have seen a day quite like this since last fall! Crisp, clear and breezy. It did get to the low 80s - a picture perfect day. I wanted to spend time outdoors, in nature - as much as I love it, I needed to see something other than the Make Believe world of Disney today, and practice taking pics in nature.
We headed east to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge & Canaveral Nat'l Seashore. We saw all kinds critters, plants and flowers, as well as the launch pad and assembly building of Cape Canaveral in the distance.
I saw my first bald eagle in the wild (at least that I am aware of) - he was a distace away on one of the eagle's perches the refuge has built, so my photo is not great. We also saw two alligators.
These are called American Beauty Berries - I thought they were the most wonderful color to see in nature - amidst all the greens and browns.
Here's a turtle we saw
and an alligator - no duck weed like last week! This one was about 30 feet away in the water - we were in the car - on the Black Point Wildlife Drive - area has an interesting history - the land was originally (I think still is actually owned by NASA). http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ - there is also a manatee watch, we didn't make it there today.
Here's the eagle - not a great photo... but it's a BALD EAGLE! I had the teleconverter on my camera, but it was quite windy and I had a hard time holding steady today!
A pretty yellow flower
and egret - also taken from the car. They suggested you stay in the car along the drive. I did get out to try and get the eagle, but the rest were all taken out the open car window.
On to the Seashore- you pay $3 per person (over 16 years old to enter) - or $35 for an annual pass.
Here is the shuttle launch pad
The dunes
and at the top - the OCEAN. I love the ocean. This beach is developed in the sense that they have parking areas, rest rooms, and the walkways across the dunes and down to the beach, but nothing commercial - just narrow beach and ocean!
You can see how narrow it is!
Lots of wind today and great surf!
Tara loves the ocean too (we are Pisces - what can I say - so is my ex....)
A seashell
A flock of pelicans... I had the teleconverter on, and I like the effect of the circle if I don't zoom out all the way! I know it's not the right way, but I like the look!
and then my batteries died! I forgot to charge the ones I had in my camera at Disney, and could not remember what I did with the other set that I knew were fully charged, so I was working with two partially charged sets!
I am so glad we finally made the trip (it's less than one hour from home) to something unfamiliar. We get so caught up in the attractions that I forget about all the natural attractions that this area has to offer us! The day cost us about 5-6 gallons of gas (BTW 2.06 a gallon!), $3.00 fee for the seashore, and nothing for the nature drive..... didn't even use the tolls roads to get to the coast....
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1250433
Today we woke up to the most fabulous day. I don't think we have seen a day quite like this since last fall! Crisp, clear and breezy. It did get to the low 80s - a picture perfect day. I wanted to spend time outdoors, in nature - as much as I love it, I needed to see something other than the Make Believe world of Disney today, and practice taking pics in nature.
We headed east to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge & Canaveral Nat'l Seashore. We saw all kinds critters, plants and flowers, as well as the launch pad and assembly building of Cape Canaveral in the distance.
I saw my first bald eagle in the wild (at least that I am aware of) - he was a distace away on one of the eagle's perches the refuge has built, so my photo is not great. We also saw two alligators.
These are called American Beauty Berries - I thought they were the most wonderful color to see in nature - amidst all the greens and browns.
Here's a turtle we saw
and an alligator - no duck weed like last week! This one was about 30 feet away in the water - we were in the car - on the Black Point Wildlife Drive - area has an interesting history - the land was originally (I think still is actually owned by NASA). http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ - there is also a manatee watch, we didn't make it there today.
Here's the eagle - not a great photo... but it's a BALD EAGLE! I had the teleconverter on my camera, but it was quite windy and I had a hard time holding steady today!
A pretty yellow flower
and egret - also taken from the car. They suggested you stay in the car along the drive. I did get out to try and get the eagle, but the rest were all taken out the open car window.
On to the Seashore- you pay $3 per person (over 16 years old to enter) - or $35 for an annual pass.
Here is the shuttle launch pad
The dunes
and at the top - the OCEAN. I love the ocean. This beach is developed in the sense that they have parking areas, rest rooms, and the walkways across the dunes and down to the beach, but nothing commercial - just narrow beach and ocean!
You can see how narrow it is!
Lots of wind today and great surf!
Tara loves the ocean too (we are Pisces - what can I say - so is my ex....)
A seashell
A flock of pelicans... I had the teleconverter on, and I like the effect of the circle if I don't zoom out all the way! I know it's not the right way, but I like the look!
and then my batteries died! I forgot to charge the ones I had in my camera at Disney, and could not remember what I did with the other set that I knew were fully charged, so I was working with two partially charged sets!
I am so glad we finally made the trip (it's less than one hour from home) to something unfamiliar. We get so caught up in the attractions that I forget about all the natural attractions that this area has to offer us! The day cost us about 5-6 gallons of gas (BTW 2.06 a gallon!), $3.00 fee for the seashore, and nothing for the nature drive..... didn't even use the tolls roads to get to the coast....
Have you picked any yet and tried them?
I haven't looked at my pics yet (b/c we went to Epcot, then closed down the Adventurer's Club at 1:30 this morning afterwards), but I'll try and post some.
Great photos! The picture of the bald eagle brought back memories - after the hurricanes, we had a pair that came around for about a week (must have been displaced from their regular spot by the hurricanes). I was thrilled at first, but then I was hoping they would leave because they were the most ruthless hunters I had ever seen! Everytime I looked out, they were swooping after something! 
