Looking for a Lovely Winter Outing?

Perhaps you would like to combine a pleasant holiday shopping spree in La Conner with a lovely, peaceful outdoor adventure.

A trip to Skagit Valley, with or without the shopping, is a welcome reprieve from urban life. If you are a bird lover, or even just someone who appreciates the great outdoors, the answer to your quest may lie in beautiful Skagit County. 

Nestled between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, the Greater Skagit Delta in the heart of Skagit Valley is one of the most critical wintering habitats for waterfowl in the Pacific Northwest. The area is known as a true haven for migrating birds and migrating city-dwellers alike. 

The diverse ecosystems of the Skagit Wildlife Area, featuring open water, mudflats, tidal marshes, and lush uplands, are home to an array of wildlife, including federally threatened species like bald eagles and marbled murrelets.

“Over 90% of the state’s wintering waterfowl can be found within this captivating landscape," said Skagit Tourism Bureau CEO Kristen Keltz. "The unique blend of estuary and farmland serves as vital habitat, supporting duck and goose populations at historically high numbers, thanks to abundant food sources." 

With over 100,000 acres of rich habitat and farmland, the region offers unparalleled opportunities for both seasoned birders and curious newcomers. “Whether people are avid birdwatchers, nature photographers, or simply seeking an outdoor adventure, they’ll witness first-hand why Skagit Valley is known as a premier birding destination.”

Thousands of wintering swans and geese can be spotted in the farmlands of Skagit Valley, photo by Rakan Alduaij, courtesy Skagit Tourism Bureau

The list below describes some of the birding areas in Skagit County that can be visited in winter and throughout the year.

For those with Google Maps or other GPS-enabled apps on their phone, the provided coordinates can help you locate the destinations.  

1. DECEPTION PASS STATE PARK: Rosario Head (48.415936 -122.664247), Bowman Bay (48.416589 -122.651293) – best fall to spring. You can see 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. At the Pass Lake area within the state park (48.417071 -122.643899), look for diving ducks and forest birds. Brushy areas are good for finding migrants.

2. ANACORTES AREA: Washington Park can be found above the Washington State Ferry Landing on the west end of Fidalgo Island (48.498873 -122.692653). This park provides the best birding 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. You can also find 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) offers varied forest and wetland habitats with many possibilities, including migrating hawks seen from Mt. Erie (48.453802 -122.626026).

3. MARCH POINT: Fidalgo Bay (48.477294 -122.573157) – fall to spring – is a great place for Brant (particularly gray-bellied species), scoters, Long-tailed and other sea ducks, cormorants, and herons. Padilla Bay (48.494433 -122.554143) offers a great variety of wintering water birds (and Caspian Terns in summer). Snow Buntings have been found in this area in winter.

4. SAMISH FLATS: Between Padilla Bay and Alice Bay (the West 90 particularly: 48.547668 -122.4874989) – fall to spring you will likely spot many raptors, waterfowl, and passerines—it's also a 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.

5. SKAGIT FLATS: Fir Island (48.349580 -122.392004), which is the area between the north and south forks of the Skagit River offer great birding fall to spring. It's a good place to see Snow Geese, Trumpeter, and Tundra Swans, as well as raptors, Western Meadowlarks. Jensen Access (48.338421 -122.433554) showcases geese, shorebirds, sea ducks, eagles, Snowy Owls. At the North Fork Access (48.355569 -122.460000), you may see Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers. At Skagit Bay- Skagit Wildlife Area – Wylie Slough Area (48.325001 -122.378109), look for 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.

6. 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.

7. CLRAE LAKE AREA: At 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.

8. 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.

9. 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 warbler, American Redstart, MacGillivray’s, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson’s, are possible, as well as Willow and Pacific-slope Flycatchers. Most of the species listed would be found in Spring and Summer. 

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• The Skagit Tourism Bureau has created a one-stop spot for visitors to learn more about this birding paradise: https://www.visitskagitvalley.com/birding-skagit.

• On the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s eBird site, visitors can research the location and species of birds they’d like to see: https://ebird.org/home

• The Cascade Loop Great Washington State Birding Trail also features sites in Skagit County, which states that the Cascade Loop features 225 of Washington's 346 annually recorded bird species: https://wa.audubon.org/node4211/cascade-loop 

WHERE TO STAY

After a day of activities, 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.

Please note:

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.