Fidalgo Island Crossings

This past week, I caught a couple of glimpses of Mount Baker .  This active volcano in the Cascadia Subduction Zone is Washington's third tallest mountain , the fifth tallest in the Cascade Range and the most glaciated of all the Cascade peaks.  It can be seen from several places in this area.  This first photo was taken from the dike in the tidal wetlands of the Skagit River Delta .  This Fish and Wildlife unit is one of the best birding sites in Skagit County. While I was taking the photo of the mountain, a young Bald Eagle flew right over me.  When I hiked back out, I spotted him perched above the dike trail in a dead tree.  He posed nicely while I took his picture.  When I moved on, he let me walk directly under him without even flinching.  I saw a total of five eagles on this hike, including one at the nest south of the duck blind. The next day, I went out to the Samish River basin and the " West 90 " site, another great birdin...

Go hiking. I'm serious. On Saturday, there was some dryness in the throat.  Was I coming down with a cold or just a little dehydrated?  I drank water.  By Sunday the nasal congestion was setting in.  It was a cold.  I drank more water.  All weekend, I planned to hike out into the Skagit River wetlands at Wiley Slough on Monday.  I wanted to see if the Cedar Waxwings had come to devour the wild Pacific Crabapples that grow along the dike.  This was quite a spectacle in 2011,  Would a cold compel me to cancel my plans? This morning, I woke up with a fulminating, stage four cold.  I was terminal.  It was time to write my will.  Then I recalled an article I read about how getting outdoors seems to treat depression.  Maybe it would also be good for a cold.  I decided to go anyway.  First a shower which always makes me feel better, then off to Fir Island .  I armed myself with a packet of tissues and my...

The Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum, H. maximum) in the Carrot family is a spectacular wildflower.  As its name implies, it accomplishes herculean proportions.  It can grow to 8 feet (>2 meters) in height and the flower heads can be a foot (30 cm) across.  The leaves are even larger.  They can be found growing from sea level to subalpine elevations throughout most of North America. All of the plants pictured here are growing along the dike at Wiley Slough in the Skagit State Wildlife Recreation Area .  They also grow along the road where I live.  This year's display is especially impressive.  Greater than normal rainfall could be the explanation.  My weather station measured 2.64 inches (670 mm) of rain for April and 2.51 inches (640 mm) in May.  This is 1.66 inches (420 mm) above average for the two-month period. I learned something important researching for this post.  As in the photo, the plants like to grow along trail...

Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) On Monday morning, I was hiking the Spur Dike at Wiley Slough in the Skagit River delta.  I came upon a vehicle and a group of people out on the dike, something quite unusual.  They were donning chest high waders and preparing spray cans.  I was curious about what they were doing. Their mission was noxious weed control.  Recall that this part of the Skagit River delta is being restored to improve habitat for the endangered Skagit run of Chinook Salmon.  Their specific targets were Yellow Iris and Purple Loosestrife . Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) is a wildflower native to Europe including Britain, western Asia and north Africa.  It is a beautiful flower and  revered by Europeans .  The famous Fleur-de-lis symbol of France is believed to represent the Yellow Iris.  In North America, it has escaped our gardens and become a threat to wetlands.  It can outgrow and displace native vegetation. ...

I took this admittedly odd and marginal photo this morning.  I was hiking along the dike at Wiley Slough in the Skagit River delta .  This is a unit of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife .  Hanging in the tangle of brush along the edge of the dike, I spotted a guy's shredded Fruit-of-the-Looms and one sock.  I know there is a story here, but I can't figure out what it is.  Perhaps someone can help fill in the details.  Let me set the scene: The dike is part of a system that protects the low-lying farmlands of Fir Island, Washington .  The spur dike at Wiley Slough serves as a trail out into the wetlands of the Skagit River delta.  Many activities take place here include duck hunting, bird watching, hiking and dog training.  At different times, you may find the waters flowing either upstream or downstream.  This will depend on the river levels and the tides of Skagit Bay.   Lush botanical gardens ...

The Wild Rose fruits of  Rosa nutkana  is a sign of autumn in the Pacific Northwest.  These were growing along the dike at Wiley Slough in the Skagit River delta .  The hips linger on the canes long after the leaves have dropped, providing a food source for lucky wildlife.  They are a favorite of Douglas Squirrels , but too bad for them, I have never seen any of those critters out there.

Plants are like chimes in the cosmic clock.  When leaves sprout on trees, we know it is spring.  Leaves changing colors and falling to the ground are like bells signaling the arrival of autumn. One of my favorite places to hear these bells is along the Spur Dike at Wiley Slough on Fir Island, Washington.  The dike serves as a trail into the wetlands of the Skagit River delta.  The site is open to the public for seasonal hunting, hiking, birding, dog training and botanizing.  The site is managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife .  Visitors should remember to bring their Discover Pass . The visitor to these wetlands will find a sumptuous botanical garden.  The variety of native plants and trees is without number.  The chiming of autumn here is just now beginning and colors are taking on hues of yellow and red. The appearance of fruit is another bell tone in the carillon.  Pacific Crab Apples ( Malus fusca ) ...

The spur dike at Wiley Slough on Fir Island, Washington provides a trail deep into the wetlands of the Skagit River Delta.  The first time I came here, I was blown away by the grandeur of this place.  I have returned several times and each time, I have discovered something new.  On my first visit, I noticed a couple of nest boxes for birds had been put up on some of the trees.  This was most unexpected to find in what otherwise comes close to being a wilderness. This site is the Skagit State Wildlife Recreation Area .  It is managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife .  Activities include public duck hunting, hiking, birding, dog training and botanizing.  Hunting season is over now so these Northern Shovelers ( Anas clypeata ) can feel safe raising their young. On my most recent visit in late May, I noticed that there were actually several nest boxes along the trail.  The dike extends out about a mile and a half (2.4 k...