Semiahmoo Spit Backgrounder: Eagle sunsets. There are lots of great days with sunsets
on the spit. The first two photos were taken in December 2009; the final photo in June 2008.

Semiahmoo Backgrounder: Eagles up close. Through trial and error over the past two years, I’ve finally found one way to get good close-ups of eagles -- Don’t get out of the car. The first two photos were taken late last year. The eagles were perched on a snag in the center of the Semiahmoo Spit, near the road. Normally, the eagle would fly away if you approached it by foot from this angle. But they don’t seem to mind when you roll down your window and remain in the car. Oh, it helps if someone else is doing the driving.

Semiahmoo Spit, 2-12-10. Two pair of eagles were on snags at the same time today, which is a bit unusual. The first pair was on a snag in the center of the spit (first photo.) One eagle was dining on the cutoff portion of the man-made snag tree, while the other eagle watched (second photo.) This eagle later moved to another spot on the snag. (third photo.)

Two in snag


Lunch counter


Teeter-totter

Semiahmoo Spit, 2-12-10. North end snag by marina. Maybe these two eagles were eyeing the other two eagles (previous post.) Today was a bit gloomy so a blue sky would have added a lot to the photos. Still, it was a good day.

Marina snag


Lookout duty

Man alive Ed I sure love all those pics and the titles! Teeter-totter is perfect and it reminds me of the ones you did in your album Thanks so much

That male there at the bottom looks like he got himself a young female. I don't know if you seen that PBS special but it was the same story. His mate had sadly died in a storm and he left the eggs for surival to eat and later found a female that wasn't quite fully matured like that one.

Hi Lori: I have not seen the PBS special, but I hope to catch it on a rerun. Thanks again for the first-aid on the Avatar. -- Ed

Semiahmoo Spit, 2-14-10. No eagles while hiking the spit today, but was able to get a few photos of a Black Oystercatcher on Drayton Harbor’s rocky shoreline. This shorebird can be found from the Aleutian Islands southward along the Pacific Coast to Baja California, according to the Audubon Society’s Field Guide to Birds, Western Edition. This is only the second time in the last year that I’ve seen this shorebird on the spit. This time I had a camera.

Black Oystercatcher, 2-14-10

Semiahmoo Spit, 2-14-10. Unlike the Oystercatcher, Harlequin Ducks are frequently seen on the Semiahmoo Spit. They are often near the shoreline in Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. They were about 100 yards north of the Oystercatcher (previous post)
near the floating breakwater in the harbor.


Harlequins, 2-14-10