Date: 11/19/24 3:15 pm From: Doug Ward via Inland-nw-birders <inland-nw-birders...> Subject: [inland-NW-birders] Lake CdA Gulls & R-b Mergansers
Out on errands this afternoon (Tues., 18 Nov.'24) in town, but made enough time to take a quick run around the usual spots on the northeast arm of Lake Coeur d'Alene (Kootenai Co.) to see if the eagles and gulls were in for their annual kokanee feast. While there are BALD EAGLEs around, not in big numbers yet; maybe 30-40 total. However, there are a ton of gulls in several large flocks of 2-300 apiece with probably well over 1,000 total. While most (+80%) are CALIFORNIA GULLs, did have a total of six (6) species in only about an hour of combing these flocks including SHORT-BILLED (Wolf Lodge Bay), RING-BILLED, AMERICAN HERRING, an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED (Blue Creek Bay), and several "Thayer's" ICELAND GULLs (Higgins Pt & Blue Ck). Given some more time you could probably add to the list - I'm definitely heading back down there when I get the chance.
In addition to all the gulls, there were two large (for here) flocks of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs at Silver Beach and Bennett Bay; 8 and 18 respectively. This species seems to be increasing in the area recently, but if you still would like to track some down, East Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive would be a good bet along with City Beach in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Please let me know separately if you'd like directions to any of these spots.
Good Birding,
Doug
PS - The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was still at our place in Hayden this morning if interested, let me know.
