Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:15 am Eagles, Bunnies, & Moss (Stilly, Skagit & Rockport) 1/5/08
Daniel and I drove around to look at eagles along the Stillaguamish & Skagit, and look at moss and ferns at Rockport State Park.
We were surprised to see 14 eagles along the Stilly between Arlington & Darrington. Most were by the river, but some just outside Darrington were perched in a tree and flying over fields on the other side of the road. I don’t have a zoom lens to take quality photos, but I enjoyed watching them and taking some photos anyway.
In Rockport, we stopped at the Skagit Interpretive Center, which is now located near the river at the Howard Miller Steelhead Park. If you haven’t ever been there, it’s interesting to learn about how the eagles nest higher in the mountains at night and hunt by the river during the day, and also to learn how much they migrate around, moving anywhere from BC to farther south in Washington, and from the coast to east of the mountains. The eagle count is declining from its December peak as it usually does.
Between Rockport & Darrington we saw another 14 eagles, but most of them were too distant for my camera. However, the area does boast the largest concentration of giant zoom lenses that I’ve seen in quite a while.
In Marblemount, we stopped at Clark’s Cabins to feed the bunnies and have lunch.
Then we visited Rockport State Park and hiked two short loops.
First we hiked the Fern Creek Trail, which had lots of Quarkian greenery.
Then we hiked the Sauk Springs trail, which had the biggest trees in the park, plus partial views out over the river valley.
In the parking lot, we found Hiker Mama’s truck, but missed seeing her in person.
-------------- "Matt, you are truly full of it. But you take great --- pics, in spite of that." Scrooge
I get more enjoyment out of watching Eagles. I am very lucky to have a nesting pair on my lake that I can watch each and every day. In the Spring watching Osprey hunt is even more impressive. I am glad you took the time to enjoy the sights.
Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 12260 | TRs | Pics Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:24 am
Matt, your green fuzzies pic is the exact location of my "monkey tails" pic!! That particular scene is a whole eyeful of snaking green branches. It's the most amazing display of mossy tails I've ever seen, so it's easy to recognize. I also remember that irritating red snag that was in the way of my composition
So how do you get to the Sauk Springs trail? It's on the S side of the highway, isn't it? I didn't see a pullout, but it was getting dark when I left the park and didn't look too closely....
I love the bunnies at Clarks'. Didja eat there? Ms. Tootsie makes the best crust for the chicken pot pie. It's the best! She puts a cookie-cutter heart on top of each one, too!
I always see more eagles between Arlington and Darrington than I do on the Skagit. I guess 'cause I don't often go to the Skagit to see them.
-------------- "The next couple of miles smelt like burnt turkey and kept reminding me of thanksgivings with my ex-wife. "
chris-mbhc, NWHiker's Bulwer-Lytton contestant for 2011
I was trying to think of a caption that would describe the shape of the branches. "Tails" works best. "Tentacles" or "snakes" seemed a bit threatening. Either way, they're fuzzy, both because of the moss and because of the shaky photo in the low light.
I like eating at Clark's because it's a family business that has such a long history in the area. The flag was hand-swen by some ancestor in the Buller-Clark family.
There is no separate parking for the southern two trails, and the sign isn't visible from the road. If you walk west from the ranger station, the trails begin just before a guard rail that is on the south side. Once you step down off the road, there is a trailhead sign and diagram. Or, if you go on the trail that runs south of the campground, there is an unmarked branch leading south to the road, with the Sauk trails on the opposite side.
From the southern trails, there's quite a drop-off and overgrown view down to the river, but I forgot to take a picture. The log Daniel's standing on actually projects out over the drop. He was making me nervous, because the bark under his feet looked loose.
-------------- "Matt, you are truly full of it. But you take great --- pics, in spite of that." Scrooge
Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:21 pm Herons and other wintering birds
This was my Holiday visitor...backyard, daytime and complete with the strange noise they make. I enjoy this fellow since he frequents the trees for the night. The pups sometimes disturb him and off he goes, loudly protesting in the darkness.
On second thought, I am posting one of those eagle shots. We are so lucky hereabouts to see them in our daily lives, whether hovering over downtown Mercer Island or Ballinger Village Shopping Center, or nearly flying into my rental's big windows (one time was enough...the mature Bald eagle lifted and went over the roof just in the nick of time...wish I saw that coming...what a shot it would have been!).
SB,
Thanks for the pics of the birds near your home. That's cool that you get to have them near enough to watch their daily habits.
BeyondLost wrote:
Quote:
I love the bunnies at Clarks'. Didja eat there?
Not the bunnies! My grand kids would never forgive you.
Not now, but apparently the bunnies originated as part of the menu. Scattered around the restaurant are a bunch of old articles about the history of the area. Somewhere is a story about the bunnies. I haven't read it recently, but it goes something like this. Once upon a time, there was too large a population of bunnies on Whidbey. Some people from the Clark or Buller family went out and captured some bunnies by riding on the bumper of an old car and using a net. The bunnies originally were for making rabbit stew and such. Later a bear tore open their hutch. They escaped and have bred naturally around the cabins ever since.
-------------- "Matt, you are truly full of it. But you take great --- pics, in spite of that." Scrooge
SB,
Thanks for the pics of the birds near your home. That's cool that you get to have them near enough to watch their daily habits.
BeyondLost wrote:
Quote:
I love the bunnies at Clarks'. Didja eat there?
Not the bunnies! My grand kids would never forgive you.
Not now, but apparently the bunnies originated as part of the menu. Scattered around the restaurant are a bunch of old articles about the history of the area. Somewhere is a story about the bunnies. I haven't read it recently, but it goes something like this. Once upon a time, there was too large a population of bunnies on Whidbey. Some people from the Clark or Buller family went out and captured some bunnies by riding on the bumper of an old car and using a net. The bunnies originally were for making rabbit stew and such. Later a bear tore open their hutch. They escaped and have bred naturally around the cabins ever since.
My post was tongue in cheek and a joke, BUT rabbit is rather tasty.
My first 4H project as a kid was raising New Zeeland white rabbits and, of course, they did end up on the dinner table. Growing up on a farm one learns early on not to get too attached emotionally to what you raise.
-------------- "Do not hurry. Do not rest." Goethe
"If you rest you rust." Helen Hayes
"I would rather wear out then rust out." Helen Klein
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