Skagit, Washington

Friday, I stopped at Mt. St. Helen's, where I took several photographs of the mountain and the valleys. The Touttle River looks more like an Arctic river than a river in a more temperate climate. After the visit there, I went up the Olympic Peninsula via Bremerton. I crossed Puget Sound on a ferry, and spent the night in Burlington. Dinner was at a Mexican restaurant there that was pretty good.

Saturday was the big day. Earlier reports indicated there were over 200 eagles along the Skagit. Instead, there was a deluge of rain. The Sammish Flats were deserted, and the few eagles that made it out were hunkered down. I think I saw a total of 10 eagles.

After a bit of a drenching I decided to venture east into North Cascades National Park, where I attempted to photograph some waterfalls. Of course, it was pouring with rain.

Eventually, the day was a write-off. Dinner was at a Japanese restaurant and was mediocre.

Sunday was an attempt to rescue the trip. I drove down the Skagit, but this time I took a more deserted road on the south bank, and there were eagles. Along a side stream, I got to see some eagles flying out from their roost, and I got to hear them complain about me. Along the Skagit, I saw more eagles. As I headed back to the Sammish Flats, I counted even more eagles. Most were adults, but there were two juvenile eagles. I saw at least 30.

The real treat was seeing a prairie falcon up close. Normally, these birds would fly if a human was within a half mile, but this prairie sat on a telephone pole as I took my photographs. A male northern harrier even buzzed the prairie falcon, and it remained oblivious. I also got a good look at a peregrine.

I headed down to Seattle, where I was staying with my friend Belinda. I visited Snoqualmie to take another waterfall photograph, and then Belinda and I watched the Duke at NC State game. Dinner was Thai, and though mild, I enjoyed the flavor.

I left early Monday morning so I could swing by Mt. Rainier on my drive south. Turns out to have been a mistake, nothing opened before 10AM and I arrived at 8. I took a short hike, and photographed the mountain summit, as the clouds had cleared. The road was closed at Longmire, so I left and drove to Rogue River. Tired, I ordered a pizza.

Tuesday I finished the drive, leaving at 3:30AM and getting home by 10AM. Overall, not as good as expected, but still fun.

Next trip: Tule Lake eagles in February.