By Russ Koppendrayer
Here at the end of April we are right in the midst of active spring migration with new species showing up nearly every day. The past five to ten years has seen a large jump in the active birders in Cowlitz County who are reporting their findings. This naturally has led to a more robust bird list at this juncture in time.Thanks to all who are involved in some way.
Along with all the expected species there were a number of less expected species found in Cowlitz County in the last half of April. The rarest of these was a third ever county record of Long-billed Curlew that was heard calling as it flew over Barlow Point Road and a little later found on the ground along Industrial Way. Amazingly this bird was joined within minutes by a flock of eleven Whimbrels of which the county has only a handful of records. Unfortunately the views of these spectacular large sandpipers with long decurved bills were not shared as they had left before other birders arrived.
Just as rare for the past eighteen years was a White-tailed Kite, also found at Barlow Point Road and enjoyed by many birders over a few days. Once a resident species and breeder, they are now a rare visitor with many years between appearances. Another great find was a couple Brown Pelicans in the Lewis River at the Woodland Bottoms. Very unusual for this species to be away from salt water in Washington, these two immature birds were found fishing and roosting in the area in mid April and have continued to the present writing in early May.
Here's to more great birding as spring migration continues to heat up through May.
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