Eagles lingering on the Skagit

I braved the crud weather up on the Skagit last weekend and saw about as many eagles as people. The eagle watching was still pretty good. I found them perching, feeding, soaring and flying. It seemed like there were more subadults than I usually see, which makes sense because they are thought to stay in the area longer than the adults. The hot spot on Sunday was just downstream from the confluence of the Baker River.

Volunteer Sarah Mintz of Sardis Raptor Center (yes, our own Sarah of eaglewatchers!)

There is one more weekend of the Eagle Festival! Saturday January 28th is the big day with a visit from Sardis Raptor Center with their “Hunters of the Sky” program. Have you ever seen an golden eagle or a falcon REALLY close? Admission is $10. All proceeds go toward care of injured or resident birds at the center. The shows are at 11:00 and 1:00 at Howard Miller Steelhead Park Clubhouse in Rockport.

So I supposed that means that you are guaranteed to see an eagle on the Skagit one way or another this coming weekend!
See you on the river!

Eaglewatchers Program cancelled January 21 and 22, 2012

I have decided to cancel the eagle watchers volunteer shifts for this weekend as a precaution. The heavy rain and rapid warming could cause travel difficulties, and I want to play it safe and wait for things to calm down, weatherwise. I think I will be ready for some sun by next weekend, how about you?

Eaglewatching a go for Sunday

Eaglewatchers viewing stations are tentatively open tomorrow. It looks like snow is a certainty. Be prepared for winter driving conditions! We’ll be up there with shelters and scopes. The opportunity for hot drinks is available at many points along the eagle festival route. Dress warm, drive slow, enjoy and be safe out there.
Rockport Forecast for tonight and Sunday:
Tonight:
Lo 24 °F

Snow showers likely. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind between 6 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday:
Hi 31 °F

Snow showers likely. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Snowing and Blowing

Making sure the canopy doesn't fly away!

Intrepid eagle watchers

Kayakers on the Skagit

Would you like to look through the scope?

Later in the afternoon, on the Nooksack

Quite a windy/sleety front moved up the Skagit today, forcing us to close eagle watching sites early. Shortly thereafter, there was a break in the weather and a pleasant drive home. On his return to Whatcom County, Don stopped by the Nooksack River and saw 75 eagles in half an hour. Wow.

Seeing lots of snowflakes in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow!

Eagle festival activities this weekend

Bald Eagle viewed from Rockport Bridge

If you are heading out to look for eagles over the weekend, dress warm and bring your raingear. Luckily, there are plenty of indoor activities as well which offer a chance to get out of the rain and snow and warm up. Aside from the Skagit River Interpretive Center and Marblemount Fish Hatchery, which are always open weekends throughout the winter, there are some unique activities available January 14 and 15 2012 only.

Dana Lyons

Saturday only in Concrete, the Concrete Heritage Museum is open from 12-4, songwriter Dana Lyons is performing at Concrete Theater at 2:00 ($10), and Ovenells Heritage Inn is offering a hayride and bonfire at 3:30, with chili, coffee and cocoa.

Saturday and Sunday, head to the Marblemount Community Club between 9 and 4 for native American drumming and dancing plus crafts from Upper Skagit artisans. Artwork, breakfast (biscuits and gravy, pancakes, sausage) and lunch (Indian tacos and fry bread!) will be available for purchase. Special performances will be at 2pm each day. 

Samish Indian Nation

Saturday from 2-3, historian and legend storyteller Rosy Cayou of the Samish Indian Nation and Indian drummer Tsul-Ton from the Upper Skagit tribe/Samish Indian Nation will be sharing history and legends of the northwest ecosystem through stories and song.

Sunday from 2-3,  Black Eagle (Neqax Kwelengsen) singing group  of the Samish Indian Nation will share song, dance and stories of the native culture

Also on Sunday, local pilot John Scurlock will present a slide show of aerial photos of the Cascade Range.

This event is FREE!

Skagit River Eagle Survey 1/04/2012

Skagit River near Whatcom County line

Newhalem to Marblemount: 40
Marblemount to Rockport: 36
Rockport to Sedro-Woolley: 47

Total: 123

 

Nice day. Where are the eagles? Word is they are on the Nooksack.

Skagit River Eagle Survey 1/4/2012

Wapiti, camouflaged near river

Newhalem to Marblemount: 36

Marblemount to Rockport: 109

Rockport to Sedro-Woolley: 64

Total: 209

 

Wet! Rain certainly interfered with our visibility at times. A reward for venturing out yesterday: spotting 15 elk by the beach near Cape Horn.

Snowy Owls at Boundary Bay

I apologize for not posting about this earlier. This is really cool, and relatively unusual. Go check em out! Are you seeing owls in Whatcom or Skagit Counties? Let me know.

Skagit River Eagle Survey 12/28/2011

Newhalem to Marblemount: 45
Marblemount to Rockport: 116
Rockport to Sedro-Woolley: 78

Total: 239

 

Heavy fog again in spots on the two lower sections. In clear weather these numbers might have been higher.

Northwest Washington bald eagle viewing update

Do you like to see bald eagles? Well, you are in luck because there are plenty in the area right now.

Traveling up the Skagit River valley on Highway 20 on Monday December 26, I saw 39 eagles at the big bend in the river near milepost 101. That was with the naked eye, out the car window, while the car was moving! (My husband was driving, don’t worry) We did not have time to stop and look, since we were meeting friends to float the upper Skagit. The rain held off, it was a beautiful trip, and we saw probably about 40 birds between Goodell and Copper Creek.

Eaglewatcher volunteer Don has been getting out quite a bit lately. Here is the North Fork Nooksack River yesterday:

North Fork Nooksack December 26, 2011

Don saw over 100 eagles on the Nooksack – not bad! Look at how low all the birds are in this picture! The chum must be plentiful right now.

 

It will be interesting to see where the eagles end up after the heavy rains which are forecast this week begin moving the fish carcasses around.