The North Puget Sound region in Washington state, especially the Greater Skagit Delta, is one of the most important waterfowl wintering areas in the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Flyway, supporting over 90 percent of the waterfowl wintering in western Washington. If you’re a nature lover, bird-watcher, or outdoor enthusiast, you’ll want to consider making the trek to this destination to watch the amazing wildlife in the region.
The Skagit Delta’s unique blend of estuary and farmland provides some of the most important waterfowl habitat in the Pacific Flyway. In fact, duck and goose numbers in the Skagit Delta are probably higher than in any time in history because of the food sources provided by farmland. This unique relationship has helped offset the loss of waterfowl habitat along other parts of the Washington coast.
Skagit Valley Wildlife – courtesy of Rakan Alduaij / Skagit Valley Tourism
After a day of birdwatching, be sure to unwind in one of Skagit Valley’s charming accommodations. Whether folks prefer a cozy bed and breakfast, a rustic cabin, or a luxurious inn, there are plenty of options that offer a warm welcome and stunning views.
The list below describes some of the birding areas in Skagit County. On the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s eBird site, visitors can research the location and species of birds they’d like to see. The Cascade Loop Great Washington State Birding Trail also features sites in Skagit County. While visiting Skagit Valley, people are expected to practice responsible birding by respecting wildlife habitats, staying in designated areas, and keeping a safe distance from birds to ensure their natural behaviors and environment remain undisturbed.
Deception Pass State Park: Rosario Head (48.415936 -122.664247), Bowman Bay (48.416589 -122.651293) – best fall to spring – most species of the region’s loons, grebes, cormorants, sea ducks, gulls, and alcids. Bald Eagles, Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, and Belted Kingfishers. Also, forest birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, kinglets, chickadees, nuthatches, and crossbills. Pass Lake (48.417071 -122.643899) –diving ducks and forest birds. Brushy areas are good for finding migrants.Anacortes Area: Washington Park (48.498873 -122.692653) – best fall through spring – outstanding seabird watching area including Pacific Loons, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Marbled Murrelets, gulls, cormorants, and many sea ducks including Harlequin Ducks. Bald Eagles and shorebirds, such as Black Oystercatchers, are likely. Rhinoceros Auklets are present from July to October and Ancient Murrelets are possible November to December—many forest birds in the wooded areas. Guemes Channel (48.503900 -122.670290) – from the San Juan ferry terminal to Cap Sante (48.513407 -122.599219) includes Red-necked Grebes, Long-tailed Ducks, alcids, and cormorants. Anacortes Forest Lands (48.466394 -122.619748) – varied forest and wetland habitats with many possibilities, including migrating hawks seen from Mt. Erie (48.453802 -122.626026).March Point: Fidalgo Bay (48.477294 -122.573157) – fall to spring – Brant (particularly gray-bellied race), scoters, Long-tailed and other sea ducks, cormorants, and herons. Padilla Bay (48.494433 -122.554143) – many wintering water birds and Caspian Terns in summer. Snow Buntings have been found in this area in winter.Samish Flats: Between Padilla Bay and Alice Bay (the West 90 particularly: 48.547668 -122.4874989) – fall to spring – many raptors, waterfowl, and passerines—good area for Snowy Owls (some years), Short-eared Owls, Peregrines, Gyrfalcons. Prairie Falcons, Merlins, and Kestrels are also present, making this a target area for finding five falcon species. Red-tailed -Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers, and Bald Eagles are common. Herons, Canvasbacks, large flocks of Dunlins, Black-bellied Plovers, dabbling ducks, and large numbers of Eurasian Wigeons among flocks of American Wigeons are some of the possibilities.Skagit Flats: Fir Island (48.349580 -122.392004) – (the area between the north and south forks of the Skagit River) fall to spring – a good place to see Snow Geese, Trumpeter, and Tundra Swans, as well as raptors, Western Meadowlarks. Jensen Access (48.338421 -122.433554) – geese, shorebirds, sea ducks, eagles, Snowy Owls. North Fork Access (48.355569 -122.460000) – Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers. Skagit Bay- Skagit Wildlife Area – Wylie Slough Area (48.325001 -122.378109) – woodpeckers and other terrestrial species, Great-horned Owls, Northern Shrike. In summer, there are many nesting species, including Marsh Wrens, Virginia Rails, Soras, Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Wood Ducks, Tree Swallows, and Northern Flickers.Butler Flats: Green Road Pond (48.524514 -122.334809) – Hawks and winter waterfowl. Spring and summer: Marsh Wrens, Yellowthroat, and other wetland species. Lazuli Buntings have nested on nearby hillsides along with many other more common species.Clear Lake Area: Beaver Lake (48.445888 -122.221061) – Redheads, Ring-necked, and other ducks winter here. Trumpeter Swans are possible here. Johnson-DeBay Slough Swan Reserve (48.468971 -122.258543) – may have Trumpeters, Hooded Mergansers, Canvasbacks, and other ducks. Whimbrels are found in this area during spring migration.State Route 20, Rockport to Marblemount: Skagit River Bald Eagle Area (roadside viewing area at 48.491828 -121.549955) – This valley corridor in winter hosts Bald Eagles feeding on spawned-out salmon, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Merganser, American Dipper. In summer, Osprey, Spotted Sandpipers, Black and Vaux’s Swifts, Northern Orioles, and Lazuli Buntings are possible.State Route 20, Upper Skagit Valley Area: Heading upriver east from Marblemount, the diverse forest and river habitats host a variety of species including Spotted (very difficult to find) and Barred Owls, Ruffed and Sooty Grouse, Pileated and other woodpeckers, Ospreys, Varied and Swainson’s Thrushes, Steller’s Jays, Pacific Wrens, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted nuthatches, Purple Finches, and Western Tanagers. Warblers, including Orange-crowned, Nashville, Yellow, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s Yellow-rumped, American Redstart, MacGillivray’s, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson’s, are possible, as well as Willow and Pacific-slope Flycatchers.State Route 20, County Line Ponds: (milepost 116.5) (48.640479 -121.313526) Late spring to fall – Riparian area with many species possible in season including Hammond’s Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Marsh Wren, Red-eyed Vireo, and American Redstart.State Route 20, Hardy Burn Area: (milepost 151) (48.568583 -120.780637) Summer to fall – around sand pit below Mt. Hardy Burn – Numerous species have been recorded here, including Sooty Grouse, Northern Goshawk, Mountain Chickadee, White-winged Crossbill, Black and Vaux’s Swift. Hardy Burn – Hiking up to the burn., look for Black-backed, Three-toed, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Mountain Bluebird, Calliope Hummingbird, Gray-crowned Rosy finch, and Spruce Grouse.State Route 20, Rainy Pass (48.514718 -120.734684) and Washington Pass (48.526344 -120.650865) Areas – summer to fall – Clark’s Nutcracker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbill, Gray Jay. Pygmy Owl is possible.
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