Heart Lake Cormorants

Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Heart Lake is another area in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.  Recall our visit to Whistle Lake in December.  A network of trails takes hikers through undeveloped forest.  Heart Lake also has Cormorants, perhaps in greater numbers than Whistle Lake.  Cormorants will stretch their wings to dry them after diving for fish.  We also spotted Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) and Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) on the lake.  The lighting of this overcast day, however, made it difficult to photograph birds out in the water.

On arrival at the parking area, we were greeted by the woodwind tones of Common Ravens (Corvus corax).  Raven is regarded as The Creator by local Native Americans in stories that remarkably parallel those in the Bible.  Along the trail, a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) called from off in the woods.  The sights, sounds and smells of the Heart Lake forest offer visitors an authentic Northwest experience.

There are more photos of this Heart Lake forest visit posted at Fidalgo Island Crossings.