2017 Cowlitz County Bird List - May Update

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Last Updated: June 02, 2017

May saw a continuation of migrants both passing through and the breeding birds arriving. One highlight were the seven Franklin's Gulls that spent a day in the Woodland Bottoms. These gulls with black hoods were enjoyed by a number of birders as they made the second ever record for the county as they passed through to their more inland breeding sites.

Also of interest were a pair of Black Phoebes found at Washburn Road north of Kelso. In addition to being only the fifth record for Cowlitz County they also appeared to attempting to nest. This would be the first breeding record for the county of this species which continues to slowly move its range northward. 

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2017 Cowlitz County Bird List - April Update

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Last Updated: May 02, 2017

There was a singing Cassin's Finch found near the parking lot of the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater Lake in early April. In the 11 years of this project, this is only the second time we have recorded this species.

They are more typically found on the east slope of the Cascades from the Ponderosa zone on up to the crest with a few found just on the west side of the Cascade crest. With the east edge of Cowlitz County quite a ways west of the crest this species is only found sporadically in our county. A nice addition to this years list.

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Some Birds seen on the Oregon Coast

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Last Updated: April 01, 2017

This year-round bird was found during a morning bird walk at Fort Stevens State Park on the north Oregon Coast.

Two Whimbrels were seen on the beach at Gearhart.  This is a sure sign that the spring shorebird migration is about to begin.

This pair of snowy plovers may be anticipating nesting on the Geahart Spit at the mouth of the Necanicum River.  The banded bird is the male. These birds have been observed at this location since last December.

This White-crowned Sparrow is establishing its territory and hoping to attract a mate with his song.

2017 Cowlitz County Bird List - March Update

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Last Updated: April 01, 2017

The slow trickle of spring migrants continued in March, with the highlight of the month being a White-tailed Kite spending the end of the month along Barlow Point Road west of Longview. This species was once common in the Willow Grove/Barlow Point area until the December 2008 snow episode found this species eliminated from southwest Washington and northwest Oregon.

The nearly two feet of snow that lasted for two weeks left this beautiful raptor unable to find food and they perished. Since then there have been a few records of this species in western Washington, including one at Willow Grove in November 2011, all of which were a few days or less. Many birders have been enjoying "our" bird including many new to the hobby for whom it is their first ever sighting. Hopefully it will stick around and be the beginning of the re-population here of this species. 

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Tundra Swans and Canvasback Ducks near Svensen OR

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Last Updated: March 22, 2017

These photos were taken on March 4, 2017 near Svensen, Oregon, a small community off OR30 and show an abundance of Tundra Swans and Canvasback ducks.  The quiet of the morning allowed John and Margaret Green to hear the lovely sounds of the swans feeding.  They saw a plethora of waterfowl including Snow Geese and Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal.  A few Greater Yellow Legs searched for breakfast.  Eagles were in the tree tops.

Eagles feeding at Ft. Stevens State Park

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Last Updated: March 17, 2017

There were actually 9 eagles, both immature and mature on the ground at the elk carcass and 4 mature soaring above.  This was near the south jetty at Ft Stevens State Park in NW Oregon.  Quite remarkable.  There were also ravens as you can see and John saw 2 Turkey Vultures as well, despite it still being early for vultures.

Spring 2017 Whistler is online

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Last Updated: December 27, 2017

The Spring 2017 Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content: 

• Annual Meeting and Dinner Announcement
• The Green's Observation on Living on the Coast
• A Message to Our National Audubon Members
• Membership Form
• NW Birding Events
• Help Protect the Marbled Murrelet
• Trumpeter Swan on Long Beach
• CBC Results
• Great Egret images
• Bald Eagle Surveyors Spy Twelve
• Plant a Tree for Wildlife
• WHAS brings nature to the Children’s Discovery Museum
• Programs and Fieldtrips

Great Egret feeding on Stickleback

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Last Updated: February 14, 2017

This winter there have been 3 Great Egrets around the Long Beach Peninsula in Pacific County - probably coming from the rookery in Kalama, WA. 

This species is a recent addition to Pacific County.  As the cold winter began freezing all the lake the egrets found one shallow river with surrounding wetland to feed in.  Then the high tides arrived making that area to deep to feed. 

These photos were taken in a road side ditch where the county had recently cut back the cattails opening the water for them to feed in.  They were feasting on the tiny Stickleback fish.

Trumpeter Swan on the Long Beach Peninsula

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Last Updated: February 14, 2017

Twenty-two Trumpeter Swans were counted during the Leadbetter CBC (Pacific County WA, the Long Beach Peninsula) in December - a higher number than recent years.

They have been very visible this year on many of the freshwater lakes making for wonder photographic opportunities. There are five signets in that number and the parents have been showing them all the good feeding locations.

In the 17 years Suzy Whittey has lived on one of those small lakes the swans have been on the lake on a hand full of occasions. This winter they have been coming to the lake every few days and even coming out of the water in her yard to relax.

This photo was taken from Suzy's patio door.

Urgent Action Alert: Attack on Public Lands

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Last Updated: February 13, 2017

Our public lands in Washington state - the ones that belong to all of us - are under attack. On Tuesday, February 14, your legislators will be voting on a bill that will make it impossible for state agencies to protect existing and acquire new public lands. HB 1008 will force the state to sell off our existing public lands before we can acquire any new public lands. At a time when our population growth is bursting at the seams and preservation of green space and wild space is more important than ever, this is just plain short-sighted  

Click here to contact your Representatives and tell them to vote NO on HB 1008.

As someone who cares about birds and other wildlife, you know that our public lands are home to hundreds of bird species and a wide variety of wildlife, some of which already face huge threats from development, climate change, and other human impacts. In many cases, state public lands provide critical breeding habitat for species fighting for survival such as the Snowy Plover, Streaked horned Lark, and the Marbled Murrelet.

At a time when healthy habitat is dwindling, we should be focused on protecting public lands, not selling them off or creating new barriers.

We must stop this legislation in its tracks. Email your Representative today and ask them to vote NO on HB 1008. Our public lands are just too important.