With the return of a RB Nuthatch to the neighborhood, and the continued
expansion of the EC Doves, I was able to start my ride today with 9 birds.
The neighborhood Swainson’s juvenile hasn’t left the nest yet, so that was
#10. At Esther Simplot I found the usual suspects, minus the W. Grebes, but
that was compensated for by a flyover of a GB Heron(#21). Just before I
entered Ann Morrison, I found a family of A. Kestrels for #30. A loop of the
park produced 6 more birds, and I headed downriver towards Remington St., on
the Garden City side. Near the railroad trestle I found a Cedar Waxwing
(#37), and an Osprey (#38)was noisily complaining just west of Veteran’s
Parkway. As I turned onto Remington, I heard and then saw one of the local
W. Kingbirds (#39), and while I was looking at him, I realized there was a
Red-tail Hawk (#40)high in the sky beyond him. I almost quit at that point,
but some chattering in the Russian Olives halfway down Remington produced a
juvenile Bullock’s Oriole (#41). Final birds were Bank Swallows (#42) all
along Remington and NRW Swallows (#43)back at Esther Simplot. Not bad for a
15 mile cruise.

My numbers have been hovering right around 40 birds for the last week or so
(since the river went down enough to bike to Remington St.), but I continue
to be amazed at the diversity and numbers in light of the high temps and the
fact that it’s mid-July.

On another note, I do burn gas to cruise Lucky Peak in our boat. (I just
don’t add the birds to my day list.) Last night was a real treat with a Bald
Eagle, 2 Osprey, 2 Red-tails, 2 GB Herons and numerous other birds that I
don’t find in the valley. Plus it is quite peaceful up the Mores Creek arm
in the no-wake zone.

Tom McCabe, Boise