Re: [IBLE] Hull’s Gulch and beyond

Oi, Tom, I always enjoy your calls, never annoying! and you had an impressive tally for the Greenbelt in April… feels like half the species haven’t arrived yet.
as for indecisiveness, ask Missy what it’s like to bird with me, or ask Cheryl about a certain Cooper’s Hawk, or a Snow Bunting (both long ago, far away, in another dimension, on a CBC). 😉
sometimes i think birding is all about how well we can handle embarrassment, eh? it’s something i fail at.
Thanks again for calling, Tom, always.
Larry

—– Original Message —–

From: “‘Tom McCabe’ tmccabe9@cableone.net [ible]”
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 8:12:26 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Hull’s Gulch and beyond

I started the day early in Hull’s Gulch, and left there with 29 birds. I got home in time to add #30 in my back yard—a Cooper’s eating a M. Dove. In Hull’s Gulch I found 2 FOY birds, a Virginia Rail and a Calliope Hummer. The latter bird sat and preened in a nearby bush.

I then headed to Esther Simplot, then to Remington St., then to Laguna Pointe, then to Hyatt Wetlands. When I got back to Esther Simplot, I only had 51 birds and no Mergansers. But then I realized there was a female actively fishing in the main pond. I initially decided it was a Red-breasted, and called Larry Arnold to let him know. Then I had second thoughts, called him back and said Common. But then I spent a long time watching the bird and finally concluded it was, indeed, a Red-breasted. By that point I was too embarrassed to call Larry again, so I headed home with 52 birds. Just across Whitewater Park Blvd., I heard my first A. Crow of the day, and presto! I had 53 birds. It was a 30 mile ride, and I was beat when I got home, but it was also a gorgeous day to be riding my bike all over the place. (And I’ve apologized to Larry for being so indecisive and annoying.)

Tom McCabe, Boise