Finally Some Birds!

 Bridge over the Kennebec River in Norridgewock, ME July 6, 2012

I’ve been a bit cranky lately because I have been so busy that I haven’t really had time to go out on a birding adventure. While I have been keeping up my bird counts in my yard, at the bog and at Sacred Heart Park I was wanting some time alone to watch birds in a new place with new birds. Don’t get me wrong, I love my yard birds, but I really needed to see something NEW! However, on Friday we were headed for Norridgewock once again to spend time with the family and celebrate the 4th of July with them. So I did not expect to see many birds since I figured I would be spending the whole time at my in-laws house and, without any bird feeders there it would be slim pickin’s! On our way to their house Gus pulled into the gas station near the new Norridgewock bridge. While he was pumping gas, I got out to photograph it, and scan the sky, incase I saw or heard any birds.

This little library is a quaint little building that sits right next to the bridge. I remember my mother-in-law going here to check out books when I was a newlywed 35 years ago before their was internet and satellite TV. Believe it or not, I think they still use this building though it can’t hold many books. Around me I could hear birds twittering in the trees and chimney swifts flying overhead. I saw a couple of pigeons flyover and as I followed them with my eyes suddenly I saw this!

At first glance I though maybe it was a seagull and, as I had never seen a seagull here on the Kennebec, I was mildly excited. But when I looked closer with my binoculars it became quite apparent that this was no seagull!

It was an osprey!

I had never seen an osprey here in Norridgewock before! I was so excited!

Isn’t it a beauty!

But this was not the end of my birding adventure. Little did I know, it was only the beginning! There are more birds coming tomorrow! So please come back! It was a very birdy day!