Sunday, April 26, 2015

Viera Wetlands, Florida

I am linking up with   Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday   They are both fun memes to participate in...I hope you can join in with the fun  and check out some of the participating posts.

On March 17th we visited the Viera Wetlands, nearest city is Viera in Brevard County, Florida.   We drove down from our hotel near Merritt Island. This is another birding hotspot to visit while in Florida. Before leaving home I checked out the Florida Birding Trail  map for all the great birding spots around the areas we were visiting..It is a great source of information..  I was really happy with the birds we saw, below is a mosaic with just some of the birds we saw during our visit.


Top row starting from the left is a Sora, American Bittern and a Pied-bill Grebe.
Middle row is the American Bittern again, an alligator, Sandhill Crane.
Bottom row, a Tricolored Heron,  Limpkin and a White Ibis.


A look at one of the pond areas at the Viera Wetlands..You can bird by car, foot or bicycle. Birding by car can be great, because the car acts as a blind. All my photos were taken from the car except for the American Bittern shot. We climbed the observation tower and looked down at the American Bittern right below us..



I made a slideshow of the American Bittern, we were able to watch it walk right below were we stood on the observation tower.. It was a great sighting, to see this somewhat shy bird..



Some more images of a Sandhill Crane.


The American Coots were seen all over the place, every birding spot we visited the Coots were plentiful.


The Moorhen was another common bird we saw every place we visited.. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend visiting the Viera Wetlands.. A great spot for awesome birding.. I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.. Thank you for visiting and for all the nice comments.. Have a great day and week ahead!

I use Pic Monkey to create my mosaics, you can use Pic Monkey free or pay for an upgraded version.
I hope you can join in on our fun with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to Judith our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week ahead!

92 comments:

  1. florida sure did bless you with abundant opportunities for viewing some really amazing critters.

    i really love the cranes, with their "almost" red heart on their head!!!

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  2. that is just about the fattest alligator i have ever seen.. looks like he is living in a bird buffet. i love the sand hill crane pics and i have never seen the coots before. we use to vacation at daytona twice a year but we never got to this place

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  3. Like the alligator best - he looks like he's going to kiss you :))
    And the pond is a nice view too :)
    Have a happy Sunday and week ahead! :)

    Tinna ✐

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  4. Quanto de lindo na Flórida! Beleza de ver! beijos,chica

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  5. of all the places i've seen birding folks post about, this is my favorite wetlands, i think. so much variety. a lot of unshy species. congrats on the sora! neat!

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  6. I would love to get that close to a Sandhill Crane!

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  7. What a wonderful place to get some great shots! You certainly did! OH my heavens, that is one puffy alligator! Love all the bird shots! Fabulous mosaics Eileen~

    Have a sweet Sunday!

    Nancy

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  8. You saw a lot of different birds! Love your collage - and the alligator pic in the middle. Nice pics of the red-headed sandhill crane.

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  9. Beautiful collage, Eileen.
    The Cranes are really super.

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  10. Hi Eileen,
    lucky you to have seen so many species of birds! Lovely photos too, nice to see the Sandhill Cranes, they differs a bit from our Cranes.
    Brrr, the Alligator I don´t think I would like to meet!
    Thanks for your comment on my Cranes post! Have a nice day you too!
    /Pia

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  11. Hi Eileen, magnificent photos, but the alligator is scary! I love birds! Good Sunday. Hugs,

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  12. Beautiful Bittern images, I love them.

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  13. Wow - so many wonderful birds - and an alligator. Love the Sandhill Cranes - we were lucky enough to see some in Wiscsonsin a couple years back. Love the video of the bittern - I've only seen once, for just a few moments before it disappeared.

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  14. Hello Eileen,
    What a beautiful post!
    How neat to be able to see birds such as the Sora and American Bittern and what about this specimen of alligator... quite a daddy!!
    The coot "row" is funny and makes for a lovely pic!
    Your cranes are quite different from ours, I don't remember seeing them when I was in Florida.
    Keep well and enjoy the coming week too :)

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  15. Great shots... of the alligator too! He doesn't look very amiable. :)
    Looks like a really interesting spot. Thank you for sharing and have a great week ahead!

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  16. Very interesting and beautiful birds, lovely photos especially the birds in a long line. But I wouldn't want to get near the alligator...so frightening!

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  17. Hi Eileen, I enjoyed these photos ... thanks for sharing. Have a great day!

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  18. Hello Eileeen!!
    What a beautiful and interesting place to visit!!And so many kind of birds!Lovely collage!Great shots of the aligator,the coots and the preety Sandhill Crane!!I really enjoyed your video!!Thank you for sharing!Have a happy week!
    Dimi...

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  19. What a wonderful visit to the wetlands in Florida... I'm sure you were in 7th heaven!!!!

    Great bird photos... I still LOVE the Sandhill Crane SO much.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  20. I'm always in awe at your wildlife photography. And the way you frame and edit your shots leaves noting to be desired. Really great scenes from the countryside.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  21. Looks like it was a great visit, and to be able to drive, sit in the car and wait patiently, the best of all, Super series with so many different birds, all named, I tried but every one was a favourite!!

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  22. ALL terrific shots!
    i love the gator...and the sandhill cranes are one of my favorites!

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  23. What a fun place to visit. I love your photos. The mosaics are great.

    Thanks for sharing with me that you and your husband have hiked part of the AT.

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  24. "Bird" in the middle of the mosaic'm afraid. Curious bird with video. Herons wonderful. I like moorhens. Regards.

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  25. Love that bittern! Their movements can be so slow and deliberate, and you were lucky to finally get it out in the open. Have never visited Viera Wetlands but will plan on doing so. It is such a famous birding spot.

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  26. Great Photos. Really like the sandhills.

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  27. Nice pics . . .
    Like the picture of the American Coots perched in a row . . .

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  28. Hope you had an awesome zoom to capture that alligator! I would not be getting too close.

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  29. Your wildlife photography is always so beautiful! A treasure and you get to photography them!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  30. Hi Eileen, you are just amazing with your gorgeous photos. I enjoyed this so much. Even the gator!! LOL
    Thank you for sharing and have a great week ahead.
    Hugs, CM

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  31. What a great place to get those awesome birds!!!...:)JP

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  32. A delightful series of images again Eileen. That alligator seems to have a serious under-bite problem! Thank you for sharing your outing with us.

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  33. What a wonderful experience. We have a wetlands a short drive away. I know many go there for birding. I need to visit there this spring or summer. Your photos are great.

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  34. What terrific shots..Great opportunity..There are those that think they can outrun an alligator..I think not..Have a nice week..

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  35. always a refreshing visit, E





    ALOHA from Honolulu,
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

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  36. What a lovely place, Eileen!
    These birds are very beautiful and nice job photographing them.
    Have a Beautiful Day!
    Peace :)

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  37. Great captures--especially the shot of the Sandhill Cranes! I was surprised how many wonderful wildlife areas in Florida are open to the public, yet set aside for preservation. I was down there in February and March, and really enjoyed some of the hikes and tours. I enjoyed your mosaic, too!

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  38. Dearest Eileen; Great pictures of the wetlands in Florida♪ Love the wonderful mosaic and enjoyed the slideshow of the American Bittern♡♡♡ And Such BEAUTIFUL Sandhill CraneIs, its color is different from ours. Thank you very much for sharing, Dear friend.

    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

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  39. Florida has so much to photograph. Yours are lovely.

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  40. Nifty mosaic, with gator holding down the middle spot.
    ~

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  41. Thanks for sharing these wonderful images of the birds! Great collage, Eileen!

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  42. Love your Crane shaking a leg! Also your slideshow of your Bittern is a great way to show more photos!
    Lovely visit of both me to you today and also of you to the Viera Wetlands!
    Have a great week
    Wren x

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  43. Great shots. That alligator in the middle really grabs my attention. lol
    -Lisa

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  44. The mosaic is amazing! The alligator is very impressive between the birds :)

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  45. Lovely captures Eileen.....the row of coots is just magical!

    Have a great week,
    Ruby

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  46. So pretty there !

    That alligator caught my eye...wouldn't want to get too close! :)

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  47. Wetlands are so full of life! Tom The Backroads Traveller

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  48. Great series of images. Are Sandhill Cranes doing well in Florida? I remember at one time they were victims of extreme predation by bobcats and others.

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  49. Hi Eileen,
    fabulous photos of the birds in the sunshine and the Alligator !
    Best regards, Synnöve

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  50. This looks like a fantastic place for birding Eileen. Great shots and happy day to you :)

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  51. That is a fat alligator! Your photos are great--what a variety you saw.

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  52. Wetlands anywhere in the world are frequented by birds of all kinds for the variety of grubs they can savor. Magnificent pictures!Hope you enjoyed the outing!

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  53. Wonderful! The video is amazing ...to get to watch this bird for any length of time is just outstanding. Thank you for your ID help on my blog. I was so glad to hear my guesses were correct!

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  54. Wow, what an amazing collection of wildlife images - how lucky to see all those in one area. I'd definitely want to be birding by car with that alligator around!

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  55. You certainly plan your trips well to find good birding spots, and of course your hubby has the same interest.
    For me, I'm dragging my guy around to public gardens and some places he might like that have gardens. :-)
    The gator in your mosaic looks like he has attitude.
    Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday Eileen.

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  56. Beautiful birds. That looks like a fat gator.

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  57. Look at those beautiful sandhill cranes! I went out to our bird sanctuary to see the resident few there this weekend. I just love them. :D

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  58. Very exotic place with such lovely birds.

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  59. So many wonderful and varied shots.

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  60. Fantastic post and photos ! I do love me a good swampy/marshy area for nature there are all kinds of wonderful and different things to see and hear in wet lands ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

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  61. Lovely pics of all the beautiful wildlife, Eileen. The Sandhill cranes, the coots, and the Moorhens are my favourites for their colours. You must have had an amazing visit. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Wishing you a wonderful week!

    Poppy

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  62. Love the shots of the sandhill crane!

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  63. Beautiful birds and wonderful captures as always, Eileen!! I, too, love the sandhill crane!! Thanks for sharing!! Hope you have a wonderful new week!! Enjoy!

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  64. Great photos and it looks like a really good place to go birding. I especially like all those coots lined up on the water and of course the Sandhill Crane is beautiful.

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  65. Quite an array of critters....love the American Bittern...so different.

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  66. Beautiful ...your photos are always such a treat....

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  67. Hi Eileen, I sure think this is another spot I will visit. Lots of wonderful birds. Great photographs! I know you enjoyed your FL visit! Have a really good coming few days!

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  68. Great collage and I love the splash of red on the Sandhill Crane.

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  69. How wonderful are these birding sites. I hope someday I get to visit any of these.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  70. I want to go birding with you. You always see the most interesting species--many that are still on my wish list. Glad you had such a successful time there!

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  71. I thought I'd be the only one who loved the alligator the best, but I see I'm not! That's a great shot of him, especially taken from a car! I just love his texture and the way he's just enjoying life in the sun!

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  72. LOVE the line of coots!!! And the Sandhill cranes. Exceptional photos.

    PS...by the way, you and Sallie were right on the Glossy Ibis. I had it the other way around, the white faced has a full eye ring in breeding plumage while the glossy has the broken eye ring.

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  73. you showed an alligator ... so cool. they are such neat creatures. ( :

    i guess it is the sandhill crane with the red on the forehead. what a beauty. love those colors.

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  74. What a pretty area and nice shots!

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  75. I hope the alligator was not really among these birds! (He looks like he is smiling for your camera!). BTW, I didn't link with your Saturday Critters meme last Saturday because I wasn't sure if I had enough critters in my post. Have a nice week Eileen.

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  76. You made very good use of your time at the wetlands.

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  77. I enjoyed you slideshow and the sand crane photos, Eileen. When we stopped in Kearney, Nebraska on a trip we learned that it is one of the places the sandcranes stop at in their migration and thousands of them descend on the city!

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  78. The wetlands are beautiful. Lovely birds. The alligator is awesome. Have a great day!

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  79. That's some list of great birds Eileen.The Viera Wetlands looks and sounds like a brilliant place to visit. Your bittern video sure hit the spot and I know that in general your American Bittern is as shy as our European Bittern.

    Enjoy the rest of your week. Cheers from UK.

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  80. Wonderful pics Eileen!
    It is a joy to see your captures every week.

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  81. What a wonderful collection did you displayed on your post. Coots and moorhen are very common here in my country. We have plenty of water and waterbirds too.
    Have a great week!
    Wil, ABCW

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  82. fascinating collection of birds. Love the line up of coots. And the alligator looks so huge next to the birds.

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  83. You always have fantastic views and shots. One can never have enough of nature's wonders.I wish some prolke who care less could just take a glimpse of these beauties and learn to appreciate.

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  84. Enjoyed seeing this weeks photos. Hope you kept a long distance between you and the gator. :)

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  85. Will you find me way down here at the end of a very healthy list of comment? I always enjoy your bird photos. Here, we are waiting for the spring migration. I use a Canon Rebel with a 70-300 telephoto for the birds close in the backyard. I am curious as to what you use to get such great pictures?

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  86. Lovely images. Your wildlife and landscape is so different from my. I love seeing your corner of the world.

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Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

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Have a happy day, Eileen

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