Today (12/23/11), Kim Thorburn, birded 10 degree morning ?temps around Colville. After dipping on the latest posted location for the Snowy Owl, we relocated it well south of the large red barn where it a couple of hundred meters out in a plowed field. The SNOWY OWL was surrounded by a mob of Ravens that were hoping to share the Snowy's breakfast. ?A BALD EAGLE flew over the owl to check out the action too. Unfortunately, we dipped on the Short-eared Owl.

In Arden, there were two EURASIAN COLLARED DOVEs (which was a long overdue Stevens County lifer for me), and large flock of lovely BOHEMIAN WAXWINGs working over a berry-laden Mt. Ash Tree.

In the afternoon, we birded Wolf Lodge Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Our gull tally included LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (first cycle), three GLAUCOUS GULLs (1st & 2nd years birds), one first cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, and two THAYER'S GULLs (one 1st year and one adult). On Blue Creek Bay, there was a full adult GLAUCOUS GULL. It was quite a spectacle to see such a impressive number and variety of gulls feeding on the spawning Kokanee Salmon.

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve,

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA