A day birding the Flats

My first day out birding the Skagit and Samish Flats this Autumn. It was a perfect day for wandering around and looking for raptors- extremely cold and crystal clear skies. It also gave me a chance to practice with my long lens.The biting wind penetrated my clothes and stiffened my hands.  Guess I've been lulled by the warmer than usual temperatures we've had lately. I found swans, snow geese, red-tailed hawks, lots of rough-legged hawks and northern harriers, bald eagles, plenty of great blue herons, a huge flock of dunlin with the requisite black-bellied plovers and northern shrikes. No falcons or short-eared owls this trip.

I spent much of my time at the West 90 on the Samish Flats. This area is well known for the abundance of raptors because of the abundance of voles. I was not disappointed. The northern harriers and rough-legged hawks were numerous and active all around the parking area.

rough-legged hawk just before diving to catch prey

I found it very challenging to follow them with my camera on the tripod. At one point a rough-legged was directly above me, hovering and looking straight down at me. It was a magical moment to be so close and meet glances with this arctic raptor.

rough-legged hawk diving

Both the rough-leggeds and harriers followed the same hunting path making them predictable enough to follow with the camera.  I'm happy for digital cameras as I took a bajillion photos with only a couple that are marginally good. I also discovered my lens needs cleaning. Sheesh! A fellow photographer and birder graciously gave me a few tips on setting up my camera. I need more practice....

dunlin Samish Flats


There was a large flock of dunlin to the north flying tightly together back and forth, turning white then black as they dodged some unseen threat. I had hoped for a falcon with no luck, although I wasn't working hard to find them. Next trip out will be more focused on the birds and not worrying about grocery shopping...

"Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns."
Georg Eliot