Merritt Island NWR – Jan 2024

At the end of December, I moved from St. Augustine north to Jacksonville area. I didn’t actually spend time in Jacksonville but spent most of my few days at Kathryn Abbey Hannah Campground. This campground was oddly set up, all higgledy piggledy along narrow access roads. It looked much like a jungle there were so many tree, bushes, and vines hanging all over. A huge park next to a lake, they even had a Food Truck on the premises.  What I really liked about this park is it’s walking proximity to the beach! A beautiful beach!  The only day trip I took was to Boneyard Beach! Aptly named due to many tree skeletons all along the shore. I was there at High Tide so wasn’t able to get out far enough to get good photos. Kids were having a ball climbing all over the dead trunks and branches or making driftwood tents and cabins.  This was where I rang in 2024!

My next stop is one I will never forget! I stayed on a private property where the owners had created 2 RV sites and some tent sites. I was staying for a week but the other RV site was occupied off and on.  There was a large pond in the middle of the property (no alligators I was assured), and the rest was like a fantasy. Huge Live Oaks with Spanish Moss. A large stand of Bamboo in the back would make clunking noises when the wind blew.  Huge palms and Elephant Ear plants. It is hard to describe how incredible this place looked. I even had a hammock at my site which I really enjoyed (until the rain came). There were chickens, roosters, ducks and a couple of cats on the property. I loved hearing the roosters ‘cock-a-doodle doo’.  

This campsite was close to Titusville, FL. Near Merritt Island, Kennedy Space Center, and Cocoa Beach.  There was so much to see and do in the area, and I never got bored. Just missed a lot of things. I opted not to see Kennedy Space Center because of the high cost ($80). Partially because I knew I could only last about 5 hours and not see everything. They were doing several small satellite launches which kept the tram tour from running which is part of entry.  Yep, I opted for other flying things. BIRDS!  Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is huge and takes up about half of the island. Much of it isn’t accessible but there are numerous trails you can walk, the visitor center, and a 7-mile wildlife auto tour.  The auto tour was my favorite and I drove it on 3 different days. It is One Way and winds around the marshes and mangroves where tons of birds spend their time eating and resting during migration.  You are allowed to pull off and get out of your car to take pictures but the car acts as a blind so it’s easier to open the windows and take pictures that way. I saw so many different wading birds and ducks, including what I wanted most to see… the Roseate Spoonbill!  They are about the size of a great blue heron but stockier and PINK!  I was so thrilled to see quite a few here. The end of their bill is in the shape of a spoon which they shuffle through the swampy water and mud for food.  Did you know that a flock of Spoonbills is called a BOWL?  I did get some great bird photos.  One situation was just about given to me… I was stopped along the road with my window down.  A cattle egret ran up beside the car and grabbed a sizable lizard. The bird stayed right next to the car working to get that huge lizard down it’s throat.  What a picture-perfect situation!  Cattle Egrets are entertaining. They are not nearly as skittish as their counterparts, and they aren’t wading birds as much as bug birds. You’ve probably seen pictures of egrets on the backs of cows. They do this so they can swoop down and catch bugs (and such) trying to escape the cows’ hooves. Since cows have served as a mode of transportation, the cattle egrets have learned our cars are much the same as a cow. The wheels kick up dust that includes bugs, lizards, snakes etc.  On this drive I had at least one egret take a ride on the top of my car.  I then got to watch as they flew to other cars to take a ride further up the road. It made everyone there laugh!  At the end of one drive, it was getting late in the days. Flocks of every type of bird were flying in and roosting in the mangroves (as I mentioned before). But having that flash of brilliant pink in amidst the rest was beautiful!

Another day I walked several shorter trails where I saw the elusive Florida Scrub Jay.  Other than that, it was just a walk. I went to several different beach areas when sunny days were present. Years ago, I had been to Cocoa Beach where the original famous Ron Jon Surf Shop started.  I LOVED that store back then. All sorts of beachwear and t-shirts, souvenirs, and surfing stuff (definitely Jimmy Buffet style).  It was quite a bit more rustic back 30 years ago, but it still has a mega beachy vibe.  It was amazing how the area has grown into a bustling resort town.

Per usual, toward the end of my stay I found a wonderful park with ponds and lakes to fish, and a lengthy paved trail for walking or biking.  There were a couple of good observation towers too.  Green grass, trees… all the things a good park needs.  Wished I’d found it sooner for the biking potential.  Just another reason to come back to the Atlantic Coast.!