I walked up the West Fork of Mink Creek Trail on Caribou National Forest on
a beautiful, sunny morning Saturday. Three pine grosbeaks were the bird
highlight of the walk. There were almost as many red-breasted nuthatches as
mountain chickadees and pine siskins were all over the place. A few
Cassin’s finches and red crossbills flew over. The non-bird highlight was a
yearling moose about 50′ away.

Steven F. Kahl
Deputy Project Leader
Southeast Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex
4425 Burley Dr., Ste. A
Chubbuck, ID 83202
C (208) 252-0805
P (208) 237-6615 ext 112
F (208) 237-8213

*Like and follow us on Facebook
!*

I spent the last hour of Saturday daylight scanning the lake and sorting
through gulls at CDA City Beach. 600-700 gulls were present, dominated by
the expected Ring-billed Gulls, a good count of up to 250 Herring Gulls,
very few California Gulls, and highlighted by a continuing first-cycle
“KUMLIEN’S” ICELAND GULL, at least several “Thayer’s” Iceland Gulls (likely
more hiding among the Hergs), an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and an
adult MEW GULL. 1-2 drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were in the area, and a
drake GREATER SCAUP was directly off Independence Point.

The Lake CDA region remains in deep winter, and it’s hard to believe that
Violet-green and Tree Swallows should be trying to arrive any day…….

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID