For Candy et al: General Info for visitors re Skagit River eagles.
We are Skagit county locals, living in Mt. Vernon and have not been up the
Skagit as yet this year - we usually do a New Year's day trip upriver to
watch. There are Eagles here now, though. I spotted three yesterday taking
advantage of the winds bringing in this last weather front. They were
gliding along the ridge just on the East side of Mt Vernon hunting. But
then eagles are a frequent year round sight from our home on the ridge.

For Skagit river eagle watching we head east on Highway 20 from
Sedro-Woolley which takes you "upriver" in local parlance. We start looking
in earnest for perching eagles on the Skagit starting right along the road
(Highway 20) just to the East of Concrete, Washington. There is a pull out
east of Concrete just after a section of road where Jackman creek joins the
Skagit. We have also been rewarded with views of American dippers in
Jackman creek at that location right at the edge of the creek where it joins
the Skagit.

Further upriver a favorite viewing area is along the river at the Howard
Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport, Washington (7 miles east of Concrete,
WA). On several sunny winter afternoons we have not only seen eagles along
the river but one year included a sighting of more than 20 all soaring
together in thermals above Sauk Mountain, which is just to the north of
Highway 20 at Rockport. Our total that day in a brief 5-6 hour foray was 44
eagles.

Your best bet for lodging is back down in the Mount Vernon area along the
interstate where there are several good choices, but also check out the
Three Rivers Inn along Highway 20 in Sedro-Woolley. If you have an RV or
camper van there are sites available at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in
Rockport (a Skagit County Park - information at 360-853-8808.) Howard
Miller is open year-round as far as I know.

Sheryl Bartel
Mt Vernon, WA

Message: 16
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:35:24 -0800
From: "Candace C. Plant" <plantcan at msn.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit River
To: "Tweeters(E-mail)" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <BAY107-W29F7BEBEBFBA2F96563D8ACE5D0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


My husband and I are planning a trip up to the Skagit River on Christmas to
see the Bald Eagle's and was wondering if anyone has been up there this week
and if so, what has been sighted. Also is there any particular spot we
should go to. We are from Oregon and not familar with the area.

Happy Holidays to all,

Candy Plant