By Russ Koppendrayer
We've reached the halfway point in the year here at the end of June, where we added two new species to our list in that month. Instead of my usual remarks about the latest additions, I've decided to reference the species we frequently have recorded by this time, but are missing this year. We have four species that are considered annual in Cowlitz County but not seen as of yet. We obviously do have a full six months left for them to surface.
The first two are shorebirds in the sandpiper family, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitcher. Lesser Yellowlegs is typically seen in either spring or fall migration. Shorebird fall migration has already begun and we could see one anytime between now and the end of September, after which they become much less likely. Long-billed Dowitchers on the other hand mostly migrate through, but some do over winter in western Washington so we could see them up to the end of December.
The other two species are both grebes, Red-necked Grebe and Western Grebe. Western Grebe is a wintering species in western Washington that seems to be found in smaller numbers over recent years. Red-necked Grebe we primarily find in late fall passing through along the Columbia River, but they do appear at other more random winter occasions.
Time to keep an eye out for these birds as well as any of the less frequently reported species in he last half of 2026.
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