WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Bald eagles continue to flock into the Wolf Lodge Bay area of Lake Coeur d'Alene for the annual feast of spawning kokanee, with more eagles counted this week.

Today's survey by U.S. Bureau of Land Management biologist Carrie Hugo found 109 adults (white heads) and 17 immatures for a total of 126 bald eagles in the northeast area of the lake. That's up from a total of 79 bald eagles counted last week. 

The 126 eagles counted this week far exceeds the 34 eagles the survey tallied at this time last year for the November-January gathering.

Kokanee are abundant and the lakes edges are ice-free providing good conditions for the eagle buffet.

The eagles provide a popular wildlife-viewing attraction with numbers of birds and viewers increasing into December.

• A record 273 bald eagles was counted at Lake Coeur d'Alene on Dec. 29, 2011.
• See this blog post for tips on CdA eagle viewing areas.