Hi Tweeters,

I've been doing most of my birding away from home for the last couple weeks
and was unaware that there was a substantial smelt run in the lower Cowlitz
River for the first time in a few years. There are thousands of gulls
attracted to this and in a quick trip out there in a downpour after 3 PM I
found 6 species roosting at the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 1185 West
Side Highway between Longview and Lexington. I just used bins from my car
and didn't check any over the river. Mostly MEW, CALIFORNIA, &
GLAUCOUS-WINGED but also present were a few RING-BILLED, WESTERN & HERRING
as well as hybrids. If there is anyone interested enough in gulls to check
this out, I would suggest using exit 42 off I-5; crossing the river into
Lexington and then going south on West Side Highway. There is construction
with detours at the bridges in Kelso causing congestion and confusion.

Russ Koppendrayer
Longview, WA
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