New Time for Qysterville/Leadbetter Field Trip

Details

Last Updated: April 13, 2026

The New Start Time for our 4/25 field trip to Oysterville West Beach Access and Leadbetter Point State Park is 10:15 am, instead of 8:30 am.  The reason for the change is to better align with the feeding of the shorebirds. If we start at 8:30 am, we hit Oysterville too early and with the higher water, the birds will be dispersed.  We would also arrive at Willapa Bay before the flats are exposed and we will miss the peak feeding concentration window. More info about this field trip is available here.

Cowlitz County Bird List - 2026 March Update

Details

Last Updated: April 03, 2026

By Russ Koppendrayer

Migration continued bringing new species throughout the month of March into Cowlitz County. Twelve new species were added to our composite year list. Nine expected species were bookended by three code 4 species on the first and last days of the month. Code 4 means that these species have been found more than five times in the county, but are seen less than annually. On March 1st a Swainson's Hawk was found in the Woodland Bottoms. This bird was in an unusual plumage that may have been a young bird just molting into its adult plumage. Also unusual was the date this bird was found. Either incredibly early or trying to overwinter, it belonged either farther south or in eastern Washington habitats. This species does incorrectly show as Code 5 on the current list, but that is wrong as there have been at least seven previous records. I'll try to have that corrected for the 2027 list.

Also found on March 1st was a Swamp Sparrow at Canal Road. A species that winters in Washington in small numbers, it likes to skulk in weedy, brushy wet places. A nice find by residents in that area.

And finally thirty days later on March 31st an American Goshawk was seen in flight  in the foothills in the eastern part of the county. Quite possibly a migrating bird as this species is more prevalent east of the Cascades and farther north into Canada and Alaska. Certainly not impossible that it is a resident bird however.

Keep your eyes and ears open as migration will continue to ramp up over the next couple months.

Download the pdf here.

Message from our new Field Trip Coordinator David Slater

Details

Last Updated: April 03, 2026

Hello everyone,

I’m pleased to introduce myself as the new Field Trips Coordinator for our Audubon chapter. I’m looking forward to helping create fun, educational and inclusive birding experiences.

Birding is most rewarding to me as a collaborative activity. Every participant—whether beginner or expert—brings unique observations, skills, and perspectives. A key goal of mine is to foster an environment where everyone feels encouraged to contribute: helping to spot birds (and even plants and other animals), sharing insights, and asking questions. Every contribution matters, and working together makes the experience richer for the entire group.

I am also seeking individuals who may be interested in leading, co-leading, or helping with field trips, as well as those who would like to learn how to become leaders. Support and mentorship are available, and enthusiasm and willingness to work with the group is far more important than expertise.  Please reach out to me by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We have birding trips planned for April 25, May 2 and May 22.  Please see our website calendar or read the Whistler to learn more about the field trips and to sign up.

I look forward to seeing you in the field!

Spring 2026 Willapa Whistler is available

Details

Last Updated: February 23, 2026

The Spring 2026 Willapa Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content: 

• Invitation to the Annual Meeting, Banquet, and Program
• 2025 Christmas Bird Counts Results
• Membership Form
• NW Birding Events
• A Message to our national members
• Call for Earth Day volunteers
• Tiny Dynamos: The Clever Adaptations of Warblers
• Wahkiakum Wild Bird Fest 2027
• Field Trip: Oysterville West Beach Access and Leadbetter Point State Park
• Field Trip: Julia Butler Refuge

Cowlitz County Bird List - 2026 January Update

Details

Last Updated: February 09, 2026

By Russ Koppendrayer

While we didn't find any super rarities in the first month of 2026, we did come across some very interesting birds. A White-winged Scoter at the Woodland Bottoms and a couple Yellow-headed Blackbirds on the Kalama waterfront were the only species found that were less than annual, but each has numerous records of occurrence.

We also had a few species seen that are not typically viewed as winter species. First was a Sora found at Canal Road that liked a spot out in the open and was seen repeatedly and by a number of birders. While most individuals of this species migrate farther south in the winter there have been winter records in the past. Many of these records are from birders who comment that the bird was silent. As they can be quite skulky and more  frequently heard than seen, is it possible that there are more wintering individuals than we believe?

A species that seems to have an odd pattern of being present in western Washington winters is Barn Swallow. After their nesting season they seem to be entirely gone by late September.  Increasingly over the years they reappear in small numbers around the first of December and continue to be found until late January. then rarely spotted again until late March when they begin to arrive in bigger numbers. If these are indeed birds trying to overwinter, where do they go in the windows of time they are not seen? What explains this pattern if they are not spending the winter?

Always more to learn about birds.

Download the pdf here.

Cowlitz County Bird List - 2025 Final Update

Details

Last Updated: February 09, 2026

By Russ Koppendrayer

We had a productive last three months of 2025. In addition to picking up a few of our missing annual species, we managed to locate White-winged Scoter, Eared Grebe and Swamp Sparrow, all of which are less than annual in Cowlitz County.

But the stars of the period were a pair of Black Scoters that graced the Columbia River at the Woodland Bottoms for a few days in mid November. A first ever record for the county, the male and female were together and seen by many observers. This was the second new addition to our county's bird list in 2025, with the other being the Parasitic Jaeger found in September.

We are now off and running with a new year of birding. Here's to a great 2026.

Download the pdf here.

Winter 2025 Whistler is available

Details

Last Updated: December 02, 2025

The Winter 2025 Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content: 

• Flocking Together - Presidents Message
• WHAS 50th Anniversary Celebration
• 2025 Christmas Bird Counts Info
• Membership Form
• NW Birding Events
• Cool Adaptations of Pacific Northwest Winter Ducks
• Breeding Bird Survey
• Conservation Field-work Opportunity Coming Soon!
• Ongoing Citizen Science at home “Project Feeder Watch”
• WHAS Officer Nominations 2026
• Indian Jack Slough, Memories and Update
• Suzanne Louise Whittey Obituary
• WHAS Birding packs

Cowlitz County Bird List - 2025 September Update

Details

Last Updated: October 02, 2025

By Russ Koppendrayer

Attached is the Cowlitz Year List updated through the end of September. This report is my first ever to include three months. We experienced a fairly slow July and August when we added four species, all of which we expect to find in that time frame in most years. 

But that changed in the middle of September when a Parasitic Jaeger was found at Sportsman Club Road. True to its nature of making its living by harassing terns and gulls to get them to drop their food, it was in hot pursuit of a couple gulls. Occasionally found along the Columbia River in fall migration, it seemed like an overdue addition to our Cowlitz bird list. A few days later a Sanderling made an appearance in the Woodland Bottoms.  Still less than annual, we've been finding this species more regularly in recent years.

On the penultimate day in September a Rusty Blackbird was found in the massive mixed species blackbird and starling flock dining on the spilled grain at the elevator at the mouth of the Kalama River.This was the fifth record for this species in Cowlitz County. Then on the final day of the month a Pectoral Sandpiper was located at Canal Road. While we find juvenile birds of this species during most fall migrations, this was a first for Canal Road. The incredibly dry summer has dried most more typical locations we find Pectorals, it also untypically produced mud flats at Canal Road in September and increased the number of shorebirds seen there. 

Here's hoping for an exciting last three birding months to 2025 in Cowlitz County.

Download the pdf here.

Fall 2025 Whistler is available

Details

Last Updated: August 27, 2025

The Fall 2025 Whistler is available now.

Read more of its content: 

• Happy Birthday! WHAS celebrates 50th years
• Membership Form
• NW Birding Events
• Photo Impression from Recent WHAS Events
• Wilson’s Warbler: Charismatic Flirt
• Vaux's Swifts Viewing in Rainier, Ore
• WHAS History is a Legacy of Civic Engagement and Love of Natur

See the Fall Migration of Vaux's Swifts in Rainier Ore

Details

Last Updated: September 03, 2025

Vaux's Swifts are starting to roost in the Riverside Community Church chimney in Rainier. See a live view into the chimney here (https://vauxhappeningor.click2stream.com/), best view the camera around sunset or sunrise.

Folks wishing to check out this phenomenon for themselves will have the best chance from half an hour before sunset until half an hour after sunset. The southward migration of the swifts starts at the end of August, affording us more opportunities to view thousands of them entering the chimney. You can watch them from the corner of W D St and W 3rd St on the north side of Riverside Community Church.

Check it out and say hi to Carolyn, Juni and Terri.