Enjoyed Austin’s report from Pocatello of both Common Redpolls & a Pine Grosbeak. West of Blackfoot, I’m still seeing Evening Grosbeaks & Red-breasted Nuthatches coming into the feeders. And, reports confirm an irruption of both Pine & Evening Grosbeaks to black oil sunflower seed feeders in Ontario this month. So, it is, indeed, shaping up to be a good irruption season for winter finches.

I spent time in Island Park this past weekend & my best bird was a quite cooperative Great Gray Owl which flew in & perched on a lodgepole pine and gave for a long & satisfying observation. I was afraid to move for fear of it flying off, so didn’t dare try to take my phone out of a pocket for photos. It landed close enough that I couldn’t even focus my binocs on it! Also, numerous Trumpeter Swans in the fields between St Anthony & Ashton.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot