Sunday I floated the Skagit from Marblemount to Rockport, thanks to Liz R.. and a number of other King County staff. Fortunately I dressed well for the cold wet weather, and it was a lovely trip despite the conditions. Most of the eagles that we saw were concentrated very roughly around the section closest to Hiway 20, near the berry farm and the church. We saw about 60 eagles, almost all adults; almost all were stoically perched, with only a few seen in flight. Avian highlights included a flock of about 50 ravens, a couple of dippers, and a couple of dozen holes in a north bank that might be from rough winged swallows. Many dozens of dead spawned out chum salmon lined various gravel bars, making quite an aroma. While it wasn't a spectacular trip in terms of birds, it had an ambiance that was rich in sights and smells and the lack of urban sounds. Leafless big leaf maples and alders were soggy but impressive with their layers of lichens and moss. Moments before we beached at the Rockport steelhead park the sky cleared a tiny bit, and the subsequent drive home was spectacular with the sunlight hitting the snow covered peaks.

Kevin Li
Ballard, USA
kdli at msn.com