Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Cowlitz County: Spring Migrants Fieldtrip
Date: Apr 30 18:59:54 2011
From: Russ Koppendrayer - russkope at gmail.com
Hi Tweeters,
Today's (4/30/11) WOS fieldtrip in Cowlitz County was a smashing success
with great companions who were finding numerous species that occur here less
than annually and/or were FOY. There are 7 species of both shorebirds and
warblers in the following highlights of the 95 species we observed in mostly
pleasant weather with only a few short-lived sprinkles.
At our first stop on Dike Road in the Woodland Bottoms we were greeted by
what would be the ubiquitous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER as well as KILLDEER and
LEAST SANDPIPERS when a flock of 12 BONAPARTE'S GULLS flew in. Before moving
on we heard and found a singing HOUSE WREN. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were along
the Columbia. Later at the ponds near the intersection of Whalen & Kuhnis
Roads we found EURASIAN WIDGEON, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in breeding plumage,
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and DUNLIN also in alternate plumage. At other stops in
the Bottoms there was GREAT HORNED OWL adult and chick in a nest, YELLOW
WARBLER and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. A HUTTON'S VIREO was heard.
We were able to count 29 GREAT EGRETS at the heronry in Kalama as well as
more in the wetlands nearby. These white birds in the tree tops are
spectacular. We also added CINNAMON TEAL and BAND-TAILED PIGEON to our list
here.
Walking a dike in west Longview we found 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS as well as a
NASHVILLE WARBLER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. A bit later on Barlow Point
Road we found 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS. At the Mint Farm there were numerous
RING-NECKED PHEASANTS and we heard a VIRGINIA RAIL. Also at the Mint Farm we
saw a pair of ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and WILSON'S
WARBLER. Adding CHIPPING SPARROW to our list was another highlight.
Later in the afternoon we headed toward Castle Rock on West Side Highway and
found another SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the DOT Mitigation Ponds near Sandy Bend
Road. A WESTERN BLUEBIRD at the Toutle River RV Resort was the last notable
bird of the day. Great birding.
Russ Koppendrayer
Longview, WA
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