Hi Tweeters,

Jeff Jendro and I did some birding in Cowlitz County yesterday (6/25/11).
Among birds of interest was a pair of HORNED LARKS at the Port of Kalama
North Property with one of them singing. While I'm not certain of the
subspecies of these birds I'm quite confident they were NOT the streaked
Horned Larks. Also at this site we saw 8 PURPLE MARTINS incuding a pair that
was going in and out of a cavity in an old snag.

Above Merrill Lake at the junction of FR 8100 and and Weyerhaeuser Road 7500
we found a singing TOWNSEND'S/HERMIT WARBLER hybrid. The bird had the face
pattern of a Townsend's but there was no yellow on the breast and minimal
flank streaking. While I haven't done extensive research this is the first
"non-pure" Hermit Warbler in Cowlitz County for me in the June 1 to
September 1 breeding window. I've also seen no Townsend's in that window. By
walking down the 7500 road a short distance we came across what appeared to
be a "pure" HERMIT WARBLER and saw a COMMON NIGHTHAWK flying overhead.

Continuing up FR 8100 to an intersection just below the Kalama Horse Camp
where the pavement turns hard right and a gravel road goes straight we
found two NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS that had the local passerines excited. A fun
and interesting day.

Russ Koppendrayer
Longview,WA
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