By Russ Koppendrayer
During February we continued to add wintering and year around resident species to our Cowlitz County year list. The flock of Common Redpolls found in mid January were seen occasionally through the first three weeks of the month for over a month's visit. This county rarity was enjoyed by many.
The rarity added in February was a couple of Pelagic Cormorants in early breeding plumage seen flying downstream at Willow Grove. This appears to be the third record for the county. As the name implies this species is rarely seen away from salt water, with the brackish Gray's Bay being the farthest upstream on the Columbia River to find this species with any regularity.
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