Sights and Sounds in the Skagit Valley

I know the video quality it lacking, but I want to share the sights and sounds from this morning. The swans can be noisy on the ground, but they usually are honking up a storm when they're inbound. You may also be able to hear the ducks and other birds in the background.

Since it was quite cold this morning, a shade under 30, it was easy to hear all the birds. In the first picture, I was caught a bit off guard and nearly missed this immature eagle coming from the East, up and over the barn. The second is a hawk heading the other direction. I think it was a Red Tail.


In the third, there are a few of hundreds of gull that were in the air. Have to admit it was a bit nerve racking this morning, looking up. Know what I mean? In the forth picture there are some Mallard ducks. They're just gorgeous, but they won't let me get too close. With these and all the swans and other birds, there was a noisy chorus going on this morning.

This Great Blue Heron was sitting on the back fence this morning. To help you figure out the size, the top fence rail is six inches high and the fence posts are four by fours. They're big. At this time of the year, there's always one that hangs out behind the barn.

The swans are back.

The big guys and gals have been showing up for the past couple weeks. There was a huge gathering today, in the SE field. Don't know if swanm poop is good fertilizer, but if it is, that field will be in prime shape come planting time. One doesn't realize how big a swan is until one comes gliding low over the patio, preparing to land in a near by field.