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Trip Report: Merritt Island
The Outing
Seven of us enjoyed seeing at least 50 species of birds on Black Point Wildlife Drive and nearby areas. Kristin Herring took photos of ducks that are tough to identify in flight. The advantage of a good camera is to freeze the birds. We had a number of Reddish Egrets, and photos of one individual and a Black Skimmer are included.
View Additional Photos & Observation Details:
Shovelers amid American Wigeons
Reddish Egret
Black Skimmer
Good birding, Bill George
President, Amelia Island Bird Club
Solving The Merritt Mystery Together
We have encountered a persistent mystery! Deep within a large raft of American Wigeons, we documented a single individual with a striking mahogany-brown crown. We are currently reviewing the field marks to confirm its identity.
Can you help us identify it?
We have uploaded a 10-photo forensic study to our community science project—including "top-of-head" crops and dehazed versions for better contrast—to document the bird’s consistent field marks. A knowledgeable researcher has already suggested a Female Eurasian Wigeon based on the head color and shape.
Click Here To Join The Mystery Study On iNaturalist 🔗
Thank you for being part of our club. We look forward to your insights on iNaturalist and hope to see you all in the field very soon!
Best,
Kristin
Upcoming April Migration Trips
The next trip Bill has planned isn't until late April (Crane Island, possibly April 25), but he expects to announce one or two impromptu trips in April as migration takes place. Emails will be sent in advance (a week in advance, when possible).
Attribution: These four bird photos are shared with some rights reserved; click any of the images to visit iNaturalist for full observation and copyright details.
Layout and posting by Kristin Herring