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Posts Tagged ‘Christmas Bird Count’

V-Strom rests in a field with the peak of Mount Baker in the background

It’s a rare sunny winter day in the Skagit Valley of Western Washington. Temps hover at 34 degrees. A fully fueled Suzuki V-Strom sits idle and cold in the garage. News reports mention the Audobon Society’s Christmas bird counts going on throughout the Americas. A dim lightbulb flickers to life in my head and I decide to enjoy some of the backroad pavement through Skagit County farmland to do some motorcycle birding.

Grabbing the motorcycle key from the arm pocket of my riding suit, I unlock the bike’s power. It comes to life and begins warming in the cool breeze.  I put on my riding gear, plug in my Aerostich Warmbib and close the garage door as I leave the driveway. The mid-day winter sun hovers in the south sky and casts deep box- and triangle-shaped shadows as I navigate through the neighborhoods of Mount Vernon, Washington. Each shadow impedes the pavement from thawing the heavy frost. A nervousness comes over me as I approach the in-town speed limit of 35 mph not knowing how slippery each patch of whiteness will be. After a few minutes, the Anakee tires on my bike warm up slightly and provide enough traction to be confident in the day’s ride.

There isn’t a real destination today. I’m a rambling man who will let the ride lead the way. No need for fancy GPS units to speak directions. The only goal is to take in some views of the Puget Sound and the birds along it’s shores.

I head west on the North Cascades Highway (SR20) toward the town of Anacortes. The farmland entices a northbound turn onto the two-lane backcountry roads with names such as Farm to Market Road. There are still many farms here, but “progress” has planted many non-farm homes on small plots of lush green yards. The close proximity to the Puget Sound with views of the mountains and a short drive to the fast-paced Interstate 5 make this  a great place to be home. I soon pass through Bayview with it’s small town population of just 334 people. A cozy spot on the water. There aren’t many businesses in town besides a sole boat maker. Just a short ways north from the town is Bay View State Park. A 25-acre park with camping and other recreation along it’s 1,285 feet of Padilla Bay shoreline. After a quick pause on the shoulder to check out the park I continue north on Bayview Edison Road.

Trees and fields line both sides of the road and offer views of the Puget Sound. Off to the East are the Cascade Mountains and their snow-capped peaks. I pull into a farmer’s field and snap a couple photos. Yes, this is trespassing, but I didn’t think the farmers would mind my skinny motorcycle tires on their already stomped down grass. The familiar sound of ducks quacking emit from the water-filled lowland areas of the field. I take to the nearby road for high ground and see that it is a group of about a dozen mallards making the ruckus just outside the reach of the meager 4x zoom lens of my digital camera.

Majestic Bald Eagle scans lowland areas of Skagit County near Padilla Bay

Birds gently soar above this little backroad. Skagit County is a bird-watcher’s paradise during the winter with scads of birds that follow spawning salmon to the region. As I ride along the roads I scan the skies, fields and nearby trees for aviary delights. I spot the lanky, yet wide wing-span of Great Blue Herons near the small waterways of this former estuary. Just a bit further up the road the even wider wingspan of a Bald Eagle rest idle in a tree about 50 yards off the road. I couldn’t make out just how wide its wingspan was, but Bald Eagles are known to have six feet or more wingspan. The raptor only opens its wings to hop from branch to branch a couple times. This is just a treat to me. These creatures have come back from being endagered from the likes of man’s DDT to having a vast growing population.

There is more riding to be had. So I straddle my trusty V-strom and continue north to the ancestral home of the Samish Indians on Samish Island. This is a small island community with waterfront homes and just under five miles of roads to make the full loop. Me and my motorcycle motor past Camp Fire USA’s Camp Kirby and circumnavigate the island before heading back to the mainland.

V-Strom rests in a field with the peak of Mount Baker in the background

Heading west on Bayview Edison Road I come upon the town of Edison. This tiny town of just over 100 people had one of the United States most prominent journalists graduate from its now closed highschool. During the early years of the Cold War, Republican Senator Joeseph McCarthy began his rampage through our political and personal freedoms in pursuit of Communists in all levels and aspects in American life. It took the true journalistic skills of Edison’s Edward R. Murrow to call out these misleading efforts and end the dark days of McCarthyism.

Soon after leaving Edison the road comes to a “T” with Chuckanut Drive (SR11). I follow it for a couple miles before tearing off to the east on Colony Road. Somewhere along this road I catch a glimpse of a garage with a rusted hunk of metal hanging over its door. I scoot past only to wonder what it was. Curiousity gets the best of me and I turn around to get a better look. Lo and behold it was the rusted remnants of an old 90cc Honda. At least that is my guess. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Hanging sculpture of an old 90cc Honda

Shortly after viewing the motorcycle art, I come to an intersection where I need to decide to take the scenic route or fast route to get home on time. Alas, I told my wife I’d be home and working on projects this afternoon and I decide to take the fast way home. Yet another scenic route has been found in the Northern stretches of the Puget Sound area that is perfect for motorcycles. This one may become my quick escape route when I just need to ride.

I saw beautiful views of the Sound, mountains and birds. Mission accomplished.
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