While the Williamson’s Sapsucker did not cooperate by sticking around, I
managed to find 51 species today in 24 miles of biking. I had to “portage”
my bike around some flooded greenbelt on the Garden City side, and the
tunnel under Glenwood was flooded, but the birds were relatively
cooperative. I only found 1 FOY bird (Tree Swallow) but I found 7 raptors
(W.S. Owl, RT Hawk, Osprey, Cooper’s Hawk, A. Kestrel, GH Owl, and Bald
Eagle) and plenty of ducks.

The paved path that used to end at Laguna Pointe now continues on around the
south side of that subdivision of mansions, but the “primitive surface”
path along the river bank was closed, possibly due to high water. (Of course
the HOA of Laguna Pointe would love to stop everybody from traipsing along
the riverbank in full view of the landowners.) Unfortunately, the recently
added paved surface winds around the edge of the open field where we used to
occasionally see Egrets. That’s probably history.

Ironically, my 51st bird was waiting for me at my house, an American
Goldfinch. This was my highest count so far this year, by 1 bird. Since I’ve
only seen 70 species thus far in the year, today was a pretty good tally.

Tom McCabe, Boise