At Merritt Island refuge, it's about what I see, don't see and see through

A killdeer sees the light and runs for it ... fast.

A sea cow sees some sea grass he would like to munch on.

A red-winged blackbird sees a spot he would like to step on.

My trip to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Monday was disappointing on many levels.

First of all, I went in the mid-afternoon, probably not the greatest time to see wildlife. That would be "the magic hour," around sunrise and sunset. Though, judging by a certain Orlando basketball team's recent success, every hour in Central Florida is Magic hour. But to get back on track: What little wildlife I did see was a rather bore.

Second of all, I exhibited an impressive amount of stupidity. After seeing a bird while along Black Point Wildlife Drive, a dirt road that meanders through swamps, I grabbed my camera and jumped out of my car. Unable to see well through the viewfinder with them, I took off my sunglasses and set them down on the driver's seat. I told myself that I could not forget them when I got back into my car.

Two minutes later, after a car drove by and scared away the bird, I forgot. And I didn't remember until another two minutes later. My heart stopped. I reached behind me and pulled out a mangled mess of metal frames and lenses. Mind you, these glasses are a $400 Italian pair prescribed to me for driving. I bought them for less than $100, thanks to insurance, but to replace them, it would cost the full $400.

I bent the frames back into shape, and we'll see how long they last. As for the photos, I also salvaged as much as I could. ...

Two killdeer see each other - one on top, one on bottom.

A bird sees a fish and goes after it.

Hundreds of crabs see me and scurry off.

I see some scrapes on these manatees. Poor manatees.

Flowers see sunlight.