What a Deal=$5 for a carload of nature....

February 6-7, 2014  Last Two Days in Florida this time around: cool, windy, showery, high in mid 60's

I decided, given the cool windy conditions, to look in the hammocks for song birds, first on February 6, at Merritt island National Wildlife Refuge's Palm and Oak Hammocks.    Both trails cover habitats different from the wetlands through most of the Refuge. I was hoping to find a few unique birds within the hammocks: warblers, wrens, thrushes etc.

It was a very invigorating walk in a pleasant environment...but , alas, just one new bird heard: Carolina Wren (SPRING SONG!).

Then I thought back to the day before.....the Peacock and Black Point Roads had yielded some excellent views, species and scenes.

The spectacular views can be seen every day of the year, and they constantly change-like an ongoing fireworks display.

OR: You can pay $50 a person to get beyond this sign:

So you can get a close up view of this high rise windowless apartment building for rockets:

Thank goodness Merritt Island NWR and Canaveral National Seashore's 200,000 acres provide more interesting aesthetic delights at a fraction of the price:

Seaside Gentian, Eustima Exaltatum

A few birds stopped by and agreed,,,,they found me, and my car more interesting than the rocket place:

I ended my stay in Florida with a visit, in the afternoon of February 7th, to Brevard County's Enchanted Forest Park, where an excellent county environmental education program is conducted. This lovely property in Titusville is complementary o Merritt Island, as it includes ridge and hammock habitats not found in Merritt Island,  Therefore, it wasn't surprising to see/hear quite a variety of birds/trees and vegetation , including Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phobe, Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxwings, Tufted Titmouse, some of which were not found a Merritt Island.

I left Florida next day, making my way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.