I don’t consider myself to be a birdwatcher, but I have to admit that there is something pretty exciting about seeing (and photographing) a new species. Early yesterday morning, I spotted a small bird swimming in a pond at my local marsh that looked unfamiliar.
I had no idea what it was, but took some photos so I could check when I returned home. If I hadn’t been a birdwatcher, I would have examined it more closely with binoculars or ideally a spotting scope and consulted a guidebook that I would have been carrying with me (and carried on a conversation with my fellow birdwatchers).
It looks to me like this might be a Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena), a species that I have never before encountered. With a name like “redneck,” I thought it might be a rural Southern bird, but it actually is found mostly in the north during summer months.
I am looking forward to seeing more new birds this spring and can’t wait to see what other birds decide to visit my local marshland park.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Good catch, BirdBoy! 😉
Nice capture Mike! It’s always exciting when you discover a new sighting!
Great shot of a beautiful Grebe, Mike. Since your wonderful park is considered a birding hotspot, I imagine you’ll be kept very busy with spring’s new arrivals!
This is a good time for me to try to spot new birds. When the warblers arrive, the leaves are on the trees already and I have a heck of a time trying to see them.