As winter arrives so do large numbers of waterfowl to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Above, blue-winged teal come in for a landing. One of the best things about living on the Space Coast is all the opportunities to get outdoors and visit the parks and refuges. Merritt Island NWR is one of the best national parks in Florida to see wildlife.

Two black ducks rest while a blue-winged teal feeds.

These pintails were photographed along Black Point Wildlife Drive.

Black ducks seeking shade under mangroves.

I can’t remember ever seeing shovelers before, so this was a rare treat.

Coots are the most common waterfowl species in Florida.

If you looking for a great place to watch a Space Shuttle launch, there may be no better place than Grills Seafood & Tiki Bar at Port Canaveral. Space Shuttle Discovery is set to launch in early November for one of the scheduled last two Space Shuttle launches.

Grills serves what is possibly the best Mahi sandwich on the planet. I know it’s the best I’ve ever had. The sandwich is officially called the Grilled Fish & Cheese. It’s served with either Mahi or Tuna, with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms & smothered with cheese on a fresh toasted roll.

Grills offers a great view of the Port, and is possibly one of the best places to spend the day away from the crowded beaches and causeway the launch will attract. Check the Space Shuttle Launch Schedule for up to date information, times and dates. Sunrise Marina, which shares the waterfront space with Grills also offers fishing charters.

Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about a lack of oil skimmers in the Gulf. Another kind of skimmer, the Black Skimmer, is native to Florida and much more pleasant to watch than the other kind.

Black skimmers have a unique way of feeding. They fly along at the water’s edge and use their longer lower bill to penetrate the water scoop up small fish.

Their method works really well, this black skimmer has caught a small jack.

During the months of May and June, the FWC set aside a protected breeding area on Cocoa Beach where the black skimmers could nest undisturbed which gave me a chance to get these photos.

One day while walking down on the beach, I saw a black skimmer sitting on her nest away from the protected breeding area, I assumed she was tending to her eggs and gave her plenty of room. On my way back by, I saw a man standing over the spot where she had been nesting, she was flying around the man who appeared to be ignorant of the circling and terrified hen skimmer. As I approached the man, he said to me “A bird just laid an egg”, which was lying at his feet. I then pointed out the circling skimmer, and told him he was disturbing a nesting bird, and to please leave the bird alone and that he was breaking the law. He stayed anyway, pointing to the egg as other beach walkers passed. I watched and he eventually left, I didn’t have my cell phone to call the law because I like to unplug at the beach.

As I watch these skimmers unique method of feeding on the beach, I wonder about all the skimmers in the northern Gulf and the impact of the oil on Panhandle beaches from the worst environmental disaster in American history. You can help by supporting groups like the International Bird Rescue Recourse Center, purchasing Dawn products and giving nesting birds their space.

The White Ibis is common in the Space Coast, many times in the late afternoon you’ll find them feeding on mole crabs.

This pair of Black Ducks were part of a larger flock. Both male and famale Black Ducks resemble famale mallards. More from Wikipedia