July, 2022
Another eagle!
After my early morning walk to watch that juvenile eagle getting ready to fly (that was amazing!), and then realizing I could be standing there for days before it did fly, I went back to the trailer and then headed off for a walk along a road inside this campground, a road that is sometimes just a few feet from the top of the bluff that looks out over parts of Puget Sound.
The photo below is the view to the south. This is very protected water, protected by Whidbey Island on the right (to the west) and other islands, as well as the Olympic Peninsula even further to the west. LOTS of recreational, vacationing boats travel up and down these waters between Tacoma/Seattle (central and south Puget Sound) and then up to the San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands (and vice versa). Even though lots of boats travel here, there is lots of water, plenty of room for everyone going in any direction. It’s nice to just sit and enjoy the view. 🙂
In the photo above, the dark peninsula of land on the left is a narrow portion of southern Camano Island … and the next peninsula just beyond that one is also part of Camano Island, the very very very southern tip of Camano Island. It’s the southern “tail” of Camano Island. Check the map below and you’ll see the long tail.
In the photo above, the southern tip of Camano Island is on the left. Then there’s Hat Island (or Gedney Island … but the locals all call it Hat Island), with the grey misty mainland behind. The dark land on the right is Whidbey Island.
Photo below is looking south at Whidbey, looking at East Point on Whidbey and the houses along the beach there. Interestingly, East Point is no where near the eastern-most point of Whidbey Island.
Map below. The RED CIRCLE is where I was standing for the views above (and some views further down in this blog). You can see the LONG southern tail of Camano Island. And then there’s Hat Island further to the southeast. East Point (over on Whidbey) is north of Bells Beach (over on Whidbey), and it’s east of Baby Island Heights … it’s that pointy point of land that points directly at the RED CIRCLE. Info about the RED STAR and the RED HEART coming up. 🙂 So, you can see that East Point is nowhere near the eastern most point of land on Whidbey Island. What’s in a name?
I walked on along the road and the path next to the road that runs along a very high bluff above the water. The bluff was at least 100 feet above the beach below, above the water, and it was a steep bluff! One step over the edge and you’d be falling 100 feet to the rocks below.
I love Madrona trees. 🙂 This one (above and below) was spectacular. But the main part of the trunk of this Madrona was now parallel to the earth (and to the water below) because the bluff had caved in, fallen off, right at the root system of this gorgeous Madrona.
One of the park Rangers told me they have a lot of trouble keeping kids (and adults) off that tree trunk. You can see that the tree is hanging onto the bluff/cliff by a thread. Any moment, the whole tree could crash down, 100 feet or more, straight down to the beach and the rocks below. Do people get a thrill out of risking their lives? I guess so.
I loved how beautiful this tree was.
Onward along the road and the path. Below is a view to a point on Whidbey called Baby Island Heights (it’s on the map above). In the photo below you might be able to see a very tiny, tiny island just to the right of that point of land … it’s … Baby Island!
There’s nothing on Baby Island except vegetation. When the tide is exceptionally low, you can walk out across the sand and mud flats to Baby Island from Whidbey (from that point of land called Baby Island Heights, east of Baby Island on the map). But you’d better start walking back to Whidbey ASAP, because 5 minutes after low tide, the tide/water starts coming back in, and that sand bar will be covered in water pronto!
Even at high tide, when it looks like there’s plenty of water between Whidbey and Baby, there isn’t. Boats should not go there. In the image below, Baby Island is the RED STAR. Do not take your boat between Baby Island and Baby Island Heights or you could easily run aground. But if you go out around the west side of Baby Island, then there’s plenty of deep water. Then you can turn south and head past Greenbank, then past Beverly Beach, and all the way down to the RED HEART (in the image below).
That long bay is Holmes Harbor. The RED HEART is where our family lived and where I grew up after we moved back to the USA from the Philippines when I was just 11 years old. I loved living on Holmes Harbor. I loved the sea life, the birds, the beach, the trees, swimming in saltwater almost every day of my life there. Ah me, sigh. 🙂
So being able to see Whidbey Island, and Baby Island, and all the rest, was really special for me on this camping trip. I’d bet most of you Readers aren’t mesmerized by these details. 🙂 But I bet some of you who are boaters will enjoy the details and maybe you’ve even been in these waters. The very southern end of Holmes Harbor (near Freeland) is a monstrous mud flat at low tide, no marinas, don’t go down there and anchor your boat. But you CAN anchor your boat up by the RED HEART for sure. Our small 14-foot family boat was anchored out there. There is plenty depth of water there. 🙂
Ah so, and then, on along that road/path around the edge of the bluff I went. I always look for plants and flowers that are interesting. I spotted this one lavender colored flower. What is it? Maybe it’s considered a weed in some circles. I think it’s fantastically interesting.
And then …
Just another 100 feet or so up the road, I heard it.
Another eagle.
I was on the opposite side of that small bump of land that the state park is on … so I was no where near that juvenile that was attempting to fly. But I sure heard an eagle call.
It took me a few minutes to spot it. This one was an adult. Right in the middle of the photo below.
It didn’t make much noise, didn’t call very often. I wondered if it was the momma or the poppa to that juvenile, although there are a lot of Bald Eagles here on Camano Island. What a thrill to see another one … eagle #2.
Thanks to Jeff Cutler for the donation to support the costs of this blog! I’ve not asked for donations, but they are very welcome and gratefully accepted. My PayPal address is annhay22@gmail.com. I love producing this blog, partly for a record of my own memories that I can read later in life, but equally for your camaraderie on this trip. I could “buy” readers online, but I don’t. I have you folks (about 150 readers) and that’s just fine with me.
They say 3% of readers commenting is way more than average for blogs. But with 150 readers here, that would be about 4 or 5 comments per blog post for this blog. The average number of comments per blog post here is 10! Keep those comments coming. 🙂
Keep on reading, and keep on commenting, and let’s head on up the road. 🙂 More eagles coming up!