I went in search of pelicans, the charismatic megafauna I’d come to expect at Deer Lagoon in summer. No such luck. I’d gone at sunrise, hoping to catch them before they flew off to other fishing sites. But no. I felt like the paparazzi arriving at the back stage door too late. The celebrity had departed. Or perhaps, never arrived. Aiming my binoculars east and west, I peered into the distance. Nope, Elvis had left the building. A high one note call permeated my disappointment. Looking up, one small bird perched on the highest limb called to another unseen across the trail. My Merlin app told me it was a Willow Flycatcher. Who knew? I walked on by a cheery row of purple fireweed, and then red rosehips. Blackberries ripened among thorny branches that lined the trail. Coming out of the woods a heron out on the mud flats, seemed to wake, face the rising sun, and tuck its head back under its wing, hitting the snooze button. Turning toward the dike I heard a commotion in the cattails. Chattering red winged blackbirds warned of my arrival. Sitting atop a cement tank, I propped my camera on my knees and took photos of a cluster of gulls, terns, geese and ducks in the distance. A marsh wren posed bright and bold among the reeds at my feet. The cry of an Osprey drew my attention overhead. As it flew by, I could see it had caught a good breakfast. Alighting on a piling, it dined with a water view. So there weren’t pelicans. There were plenty of other birds about, and beautiful scenery, especially at sunrise. Sparrows led me onto the dike as swallows swept by inches above the water. I soon encountered their prey, Swarms of mosquitoes lay in wait as I neared the only tree on the dike. With my collar pulled up, I held my breath and walked briskly to the other end. The tide was low and with the month long drought, more mud was showing at the south end of the dike than I’d seen before. A killdeer called. Shorebirds skittered along the water’s edge, poking their needle noses into the mud, and then skittering on. By this time the glow of the rising sun had faded a bit. Clouds were moving in. The profile of Double Bluff stood in shadow. I walked almost to the end and paused wondering when to turn around. “Just a few more yards,” I thought. In a moment, there was my prize. Two otters cuddled on the bank at the very end a channel. I’d seen their scat but wasn’t expecting this. They played and rolled around on the bank as I watched undetected. So it wasn’t Elvis, but the Beatles weren’t bad. To find out where to look for interesting birds, visit Whidbey Audubon here. Maribeth Directions: From Freeland take Highway 525 south to Double Bluff Road and turn south. In a half mile turn left on Millman Road, then turn right on Deer Lagoon Road. Park at the road end but please don’t block anyone’s driveway.
Bus or Bike: The nearest bus stop is at Hwy 525 and Double Bluff Road, about 2 miles away. The road has a wide shoulder and is almost flat, so it’s an easy bike ride. Two bikes fit on the bus bike rack. The Route 1 bus serves this bus stop 7 days a week. Please wear something bright while biking or crossing the highway to catch the bus. Mobility: The new entrance to this trail makes it accessible for those using a wheelchair or pushing a stroller. The surface is a medium sized gravel which may be bumpy in the first 200 yards, then it turns to packed dirt. The trail is nearly level and wide enough for wheelchairs to pass.
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Maribeth Crandell has been a hiking guide in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. She's lived on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island for decades. As a frequent bus rider she easily makes connections between trails and transit. Archives by date
May 2024
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