As I got my bike out for my morning ride, I happened to look up. Above me
were about 30 Turkey Vultures, spiraling up on an updraft. They were
proceeding generally southeast from the North End.

My next surprise was a Western Grebe at Quinn’s Pond, followed by a pair of
Red-necked Grebes at Silver Lake. A flyover by some Red-tails at Remington
St. was not a surprise so much as a treat.

When I got back to Quinn’s Pond, I discovered that a pair of Ruddy Ducks had
joined the crowd, although they and the raft of A. Coots were outnumbered by
the SUP boarders. Final tally was 35 birds in 11 miles, an improvement over
recent rides.

On a separate note, I seem to have a flock of Cassin’s Finches, male and
female, enjoying the offerings in my back yard. I also have attracted the
attention of a Cooper’s Hawk that hangs out sometimes in our neighbor’s pine
tree. Our other neighbor has named it “Alice.” (In my younger days I
actually got to experience an Alice Cooper concert. Very different.)

Tom McCabe, Boise