SFR Skagit Eagles

[flybill]

With the nice weather, I'm going to drag my mother out to see the eagles! Just wondering if there are a good number of them this year.

I will throw a rod in to bring with me, but fishing isn't the focus and would only be if she wants to hang around. She's 81 and dealing with a lot!

TIA

 

[offensivename]

There were a good number of folks on the 530 bridge by Howard Miller with binoculars on Saturday so I assume they were staring at something. Saw a few flying around on the sauk as well.

 

[flybill]

There were a good number of folks on the 530 bridge by Howard Miller with binoculars on Saturday so I assume they were staring at something. Saw a few flying around on the sauk as well.

Thanks! I usually drive up past the Sauk to Howard Miller. That's probably where we'll go.

 

[kerrys]

Thanks! I usually drive up past the Sauk to Howard Miller. That's probably where we'll go.

If you’re coming from the Darrington direction better check on 530. It was closed just past the Suiatle

 

[flybill]

If you’re coming from the Darrington direction better check on 530. It was closed just past the Suiatle

Yeah, the thought occurred to me and I will check! Thanks for the reminder!

 

[Smalma]

I understand that hwy 530 is open to one lane of alternating travel.

With the floods and low chum runs the numbers of Skagit eagles is down from what they were a couple decades ago. That said photographers I know are finding some birds.

An alternative for your mother might be a day trip on the Skagit/Samish flats. Likely to find swans, eagles, snow geese, various duck species, shore birds, ravens, owls, hawks and other bird species. A good place to start would be Fir Island near Conway. There are a number of eagles (adults and Juveniles) on the Island and with up to 5 eagle nests on the Island some of the birds are doing housekeeping (packing stick for their nest. They will be laying their eggs later this month and may see a pair around the nest with one "sitting" on the nest. In a couple months the adults will be bring food to the hatchlings. On Fir Island there are several public access areas where a short walk will put you in some viewing areas. Skagit Headquarters, the Snow Goose reserve, Jensen access and North Fork access are a few.

Going north from Fir Island along the Best road to hwy 20 and then northward to Bayview and Edison areas will also put one in prime bird viewing areas.

While there are no steelhead opportunities int he area there are several nice places for lunch. Over the next 3 months or so there is enough and variety of opportunities to merit monthly visits.

curt

 

[flybill]

I understand that hwy 530 is open to one lane of alternating travel.

With the floods and low chum runs the numbers of Skagit eagles is down from what they were a couple decades ago. That said photographers I know are finding some birds.

An alternative for your mother might be a day trip on the Skagit/Samish flats. Likely to find swans, eagles, snow geese, various duck species, shore birds, ravens, owls, hawks and other bird species. A good place to start would be Fir Island near Conway. There are a number of eagles (adults and Juveniles) on the Island and with up to 5 eagle nests on the Island some of the birds are doing housekeeping (packing stick for their nest. They will be laying their eggs later this month and may see a pair around the nest with one "sitting" on the nest. In a couple months the adults will be bring food to the hatchlings. On Fir Island there are several public access areas where a short walk will put you in some viewing areas. Skagit Headquarters, the Snow Goose reserve, Jensen access and North Fork access are a few.

Going north from Fir Island along the Best road to hwy 20 and then northward to Bayview and Edison areas will also put one in prime bird viewing areas.

While there are no steelhead opportunities int he area there are several nice places for lunch. Over the next 3 months or so there is enough and variety of opportunities to merit monthly visits.

curt

Thanks! I appreciate that, and first I have to convince her to go. I like the idea of Fir Island! She has a few bird feeders in her backyard and yell's at the squirrels. Her neighbor across the street feed the crows, they come when the neighbor opens the garage door and make a racket!

She has good days and bad days. I also don't want get in the way of any recovery after the floods.

 

[M_D]

I was up there yesterday…on the Skagit above the 530…..until about 1p.

If I saw or heard a dozen eagles in the 4 hours, that would have been a lot.

That said it was a beautiful, battery recharging day. Check out the pic I posted in the cell phone pic thread.

There weren’t many people out or much traffic yesterday. So if nothing else…maybe your mom would simply like a nice drive in a beautiful place. The sun on the snow covered mountains upstream of the Khan was awesome.

FWIW, I also drove up the Sauk to the skagit Valley Rd bridge.. No traffic problems to that point but the river was milk