The consensus among 6 birders who have experience w/ Slaty-backed Gulls is
that the Sandpoint (City Beach), Bonner Co., N Idaho gull is in fact a 3rd
winter SLATY-BACKED GULL. I believe this to be a state record for Idaho.
This Asian species is considered rare even in Alaska and has only a few
records from British Columbia, Washington, & Oregon. According to Michael
Shepard, a 3rd winter Slaty-backed Gull was also sighted this year at
Nakusp, BC, not far from Sandpoint.

Stephen Lindsay
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
slindsay at dmi.net