GATORS and MANATEES and DOLPHINS...

and another peek at a Cocoa Beach sunset



Our expedition that day started at a memorial wetland near Melbourne then continued to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.  That island also hosts Cape Kennedy and the nation's space-launch complex near Titusville; about 50 miles or so north of our winter digs.

All critters featured in this story were seen on the refuge's Black Point Wildlife Drive, a seven mile, self-guided auto tour described by the NWR folks as "...one of our best wildlife viewing areas" or in the nearby Haulover Canal.

We agree with the NWR assessment--wholeheartedly! 

The refuge all 140,000 acres of it, was established in 1963 when NASA created Kennedy Space Center.  330 species of birds have been seen there; both year-round residents and migrants who find the refuge a delightful rest stop.

The Manatee photos below were done there in the canal.  That is the face of a Manatee at snorkeling depth immediately below:

...and this is the south end of a north-bound one.

This playful dolphin also enjoyed swimming with pleasure boats transiting the canal:

There were thousands and thousands of ducks on the NWR's water courses; joined in this view by very colorful Roseate Spoonbills:

We capped this delightful outing, accompanied by our friends Dick and Dee Weeks, with another fine dinner and a spectacular sunset at the Lobster Shanty in Cocoa Beach.