Odiorne State Park 7.18.23

• Posted on 18 July 2023
• By Michelle Corgan

A morning like this makes me love where I live!

What started as a morning run quickly turned into a nature adventure!

There was a thick layer of haze as I exited my car.  I parked in a different area than I have before since the direct entrance to the park was closed.  It put you right onto the beach.  There was an eeriness and calm to the beach.

I started my run and soon it led me into a trail.  I immediately heard rustling in the woods, but I couldn't spot what it was from.  I heard the traditional characters; a song sparrow, an american goldfinch, catbirds and more.  Normally I like to listen to music, but the sound of the birds was enough to keep me entertained.

I then came across a bunny!  And then another..and another.  By the end of my run, I saw about 10!  The star of the bunny show was this little babe.

I came back out onto the beach again and the sun looked unreal.  After I took the photo I saw a faint silhouette of an egret.

I snapped a shot of this mockingbird.

I continued running back until I reached a pebbly beach and took some moments to walk and really enjoy what was around me.  I heard a loud rustling and saw two deer prancing away from me. I then heard and saw a kildeer, but wasn't able to get a picture.

I reached my car and grabbed my camera.  I took a quick look again for the kildeer with no luck and almost headed back, when I caught sight of a willet.  He was so cute and I had fun snapping a ton of photos of him.  He would occasionally rendezvous with another willet here and there.  They would fly away and he would continue to trot along.

As everything was quiet and calm, in a flash a great presence arrived.  This photo doesn't do it justice, but I've never had an egret so close to me!

He didn't stay long and exited just as quickly as he arrived.

I was ready to go home and was entering my car, when I noticed that across the street was really marshy and there might be some good activity.  And right there was a great blue heron!

What a way to end the visit.  It made me feel so lucky to live on the seacoast!