Sunday, December 18, 2011

Birding at the Inlet

Sebastian Inlet State Park is great place to experience some of Florida's finest birds. I was definitely not disappointed on this week's camping trip the inlet. The park is located along A1A south of Melbourne Beach, Florida, nestled between the Indian River and the shore of the Atlantic. The Inlet is most well-known for its premier surfing and fishing, but offers an extensive variety of activities. 

Juvenile Brown Pelican
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Pelicans, a very common Florida bird, are quite plentiful here.They frequently can be found trying to make friends with the fishermen. The inlet is definitely the place to be for a front row seat of viewing pelicans in action.

Juvenile Brown Pelican
Sebastian Inlet State Park


Brown Pelican
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Heron and Egrets of all sizes, shapes, and colors are also quite plentiful for viewing here.

Great Egret
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Reddish Egret
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Great Blue Heron
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Snowy Egret
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Wood Stork
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Caspian Terns, and Black Skimmers were noted on this visit. The park has a protected nesting area for shore birds where numerous birds are offered a place safe from human traffic during their spring time nesting season.

Ring-billed Gull
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Ring-billed Gull
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Black Skimmers
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Shore birds sighted on this visit included Ruddy Turnstones, Willets, and Sanderlings.The only ducks observed were several Red-breasted Mergansers. Northern Mockingbirds, Black Crows, Grackle, and Mourning Doves were also seen populating the area.

Red-breasted Merganser
Sebastian Inlet State Park

Red-breasted Merganser
Sebastian Inlet State Park


Sanderling
Sebastian Inlet State Park

7 comments:

  1. Great close-ups! That first pelican shot is very very impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice photos! I especially like the mergansers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely beautiful, and thanks for connecting to me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Another great set of images, brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Guauuuuuuu!! ¡Qué preciosidad de fotos!, ¡qué nitidez! Me uno como seguidor de tu blog.
    Saludos desde España.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I just read your profile on Birding is fun, and came here. Wonderful photos! Binoculars, camera and toddler is a lot of gear to juggle, but you get great results.

    ReplyDelete

I greatly appreciate your comments!