My daily obsession with 30 species on my bike rides has had mixed results of late. Fortunately, some of the birds I’ve been finding have been quite rewarding. Today was a very special day. 

As I entered Esther Simplot Park today, I caught movement high up. My binos revealed that there was a Bald Eagle circling above me. Always a treat.

My next treat was a perched Osprey by the river near Silver Lake. Another raptor was circling nearby, but that one went behind the trees. I found an Osprey last Wednesday, near Vets Parkway and thought he was kind of late, but not as late as this bird.

Final real treat was an immature Common Loon at Veterans Park pond. I got a glimpse of the bird a few days ago, but I didn’t see it well enough to call it. Today the bird was much more cooperative. If you go looking for the bird, be prepared to wait through
some pretty long dives, but the wait is well worth it.

Final tally for the day- so far- is 29 birds. Of course, if Alice (our neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk) shows up, I’ll get my 30th.

Happy birding!

Tom McCabe, Boise