When I saw the Red-tailed Hawk in the tree down the street, I figured it
might be a good day for birding on a bike. The Red-tail was #8 thanks to the
crowd in my back yard. The birds at ESP were pretty typical, except the
Hooded Mergansers were everywhere. By the time I reached Remington St., it
was a pretty typical day, with 31 species. But because of a small crowd at
my turnaround at the “missing bridge,” I went a little further than usual
and saw a Barrow’s Goldeneye in the river. That started me thinking that I
hadn’t raided Larry Arnold’s end of the greenbelt in some time, so I headed
west.
The 2 Merlins that flew out of a tree just before Glenwood confirmed that I
was on the right track. Then I added a Downy, but I got all the way to the
first dredge pond without anything new. Then the White-crowned Sparrows
called to me from the brush and I had 35. Next was a RC Kinglet (with a big
flock of BC Chickadees) and then a Bufflehead. I was still short of Eagle
Road, but it was cold and I was questioning the wisdom of my original
decision. As I turned around a huge flock of A. Crows flew over, and I was
at 38. When I got back to the W. Boise STP, I saw a large shape in a tree
over by the river. Just as I got my binos focused, an immature Bald Eagle
took flight. I was still savoring #39 when an adult Bald Eagle landed in a
tree only a hundred yards or so from the tree where the immature took off. I
was a happy-but cold-camper.
By this time my phone had died from the cold and I was working hard to get
home. At every turn I was looking for birds that I had seen in various
locations, but miles went by with no new birds. Finally, at ESP again, I
stopped to look for the Killdeer that sometimes hang out there. While I was
scanning one of the ponds, I heard a noise behind me, and there was a
Killdeer running across the parking lot, calling out for me to look at him.
So I headed home with 40 birds, happy at the nice round number, but still
wishing for more. When I got home, Susan came out and asked if I’d gotten
her messages. I explained that my phone had died, and she said she’d seen
Wild Turkeys at Eastman and 18th just 15 minutes before. Of course I headed
back out, with renewed energy, but afraid that I’d missed an opportunity.
Not to worry, I found 6 Wild Turkeys grazing on 18th near Brumback.
So final tally was 41 species in 22 miles under cold gray skies.
Tom McCabe, Boise
