Florida - Gatorland

Gator Land proved a good location not only for viewing the alligators and crocodiles but also for getting very close to a good selection of wild birds such as Herons, Egrets and Wood Storks. The final species to be added to the trip list was Black-crowned Night Heron bring the total species seen to 124, 86 of them being new birds for me.

Florida - Cocoa Beach & Veira Wetlands

Our last full day which we decided to spend at Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic Coast. Tropical Storm Noel had been raging south in the Caribbean and was giving some dramatic seas on the Atlantic coast. The surf was high and some time was spent relaxing watching the waves and foam rolling in.

The drive back included a diversion to a location provided by Gallus called Veira Wetlands not far away from the Interstate 95 highway that we took to get to Cocoa Beach. Veira Wetlands is a purpose built reserve intended to be driven and viewed from a vehicle although today I walked the tracks and viewed each of the four pools. The highlight was an American Bittern that flew out from the vegetation. Also there were Green-winged Teal newly arrived for the winter as well as Tree Swallows, Savannah Sparrows, a Limpkin and another Bald Eagle being mobbed by a Red-shouldered Hawk.