Today I had younger kids and we found a way to get out on the new river bar
that has developed on the Skykomish River at Al Borlin park. As we walked
across the large gravel flat there was an eagle on the ground across the
river channel eating on a dead fish. As the kids approached the Eagle flew
up and into a Cottonwood at the rivers edge. Immediately, a gull moved in on
the eagles previous meal. As we stood at rivers edge and watched, the eagle
fussed around on the branch, no doubt anxious the gull was getting its
lunch. Finally it flew off and went down towards the gull and fish. The gull
vacated the fish and the eagle swooped in a snatched it up. The gull swerved
around in a tight circle and made at the underside of the eagle where the
fish was being held, perhaps thinking it would snatch a piece in mid-air.
As the gull closed the eagle flipped completed upside down and appeared to,
in the words of the kids, spank the gull with its wing, sending the gull
careening out of control to crash into the river. It was like an aerial
kungfu kickass and the kids cheered the victor as it flew downstream. Cool
drama for a winter outing.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
Snohomish County