We had yet again a different Skagit experience in January 2011. Snow geese were missing! Not totally — we did see flocks of 1000+ a couple of times — but the fields full of snow geese weren't to be found in our 10 days of looking. What we did find were record numbers of bald eagles and trumpeter swans, continuing the upward trend noted last year. We counted 48 bald eagles in a single day starting in the Samish Flats and moving south. Trumpeter swans are usually found in family groups of three to five birds, but this year they formed flocks of 1000+, especially on the east side of I-5 south of Mount Vernon. This is an unusual location for large flocks of anything. This was also a very wet year, although happily without the actual flooding that sometimes happens in the Skagit in January.

Video and other still images from this trip may be found at our Flickr site, flickr.com/photos/lmligocki/collections/72157626455425025.

Click on each image for a larger view plus caption.

Black oystercatcher Select		Bald eagle roost Select		Bald eagles in tree Select
Trumpeter swan wading in puddle Select		Great blue heron with reflection Select		Trumpeter swans feeding Select
A congregation of great blue herons Select