A SEAGULL AND STARFISH MORNING ALONG CHUCKANUT DRIVE!!!

Larrabee State Park

This morning I woke to the extended whistle of a train. It was just after 7am and I curiously arose to ponder the sound. My first thought was fog, I was right. After the previously warm day and a cold night fog had settled in throughout the Puget Sound and I must say, the fog entices me. I immediately pack my camera and tripod grabbed my coffee and was out the door. I made a short drive to one of my regular spots along Chuckanut Drive (Washington state rt 11). For those of you unfamiliar with the region Chuckanut runs for approx. 20 mile from the town of Burlington in the south to Bellingham in the north. With sweeping views of the San Juan Islands and rugged sandstone coastline the road winds its way in and out of a tunnel of foliage reminiscent of northern New England. With a dozen or so unmarked trail heads and

San Juan Islands from Chuckanut Drive

parking areas as well as the more developed Larrabee State Park the waterfront is very accessible. After a short walk through the woods you can pop out onto any number of rocky outcroppings just above the waters of the north Puget Sound. This is the only location in Washington were the foothills of the Cascades reach the waters of the Puget Sound creating a dramatic landscape of dense forest coastal mountains and rugged sandstone coastline. I decided to head to an area at the south end of Larrabee S.P. know as Clayton Beach. Unfortunately by this point most of the fog was lifting, but I decided to hang tight and enjoy the view and the silence. Not much was happening as far as photos go, until this one seagull arrived. I thought to myself "who wants a picture of a seagull". Not me! Well for some god given reason, I still followed it with my camera doubting anything would come from it. The bird floated along the shoreline dipping in and out of all the little coves, as if in search of something. The gull was looking for some breakfast, it quickly disappeared behind some rocks and lo and behold the bird had a purple starfish in its mouth when it reappeared. I had never witnessed this before, and never imagined that these starfish are part of the gulls diet. Now my camera was fixed, focusing on the gull I anticipated its move. Suddenly, lift off! Quickly the bird was airborne. I clutched the camera firmly! Click!Click!Click, pressing down on the shutter button tenaciously I panned along as the gull flew just past me to a point down shore, and faster then it happened it was over. And so even with all the anticipation and doubt I got a few good frames of what for me was very special and unique moment. And one thing is for sure, I will always think differently about seagulls. Thanks, and I hope all of you had a great weekend. Till next time, cheers...Tim