Rusty Blackbird - Image courtesy of the US FWS

The Cowlitz County Bird List is maintained by Russ Koppendrayer.

Thank you Russ!

Here is his review of 2015:

What a finish to a record breaking year! We finished with 207 species in 2015 which is four more than our previous high.

Capping the final months was a Yellow-throated Warbler that spent two weeks at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview and was seen by more than 50 birders and well documented with photographs. As well as a first for Cowlitz, this bird was only the third ever for all of Washington. While searching for the warbler a pair of birders found Cowlitz's first ever Northern Mockingbird a couple blocks from the park. This bird also was also seen by many observers during its twelve day stay.

To end our fantastic stretch the county's third record of Rusty Blackbird was found in the Woodland Bottoms just before sunset on December 31.

Download the pdf file here.