Bald eagles are soaring in Bellingham area. Here’s when, where to watch them

Look in the sky! Is it a plane? Is it Superman? No, it’s a bird.

Bald eagles, which can be easily identified by their white heads, brown bodies and bright yellow talons, can be found in Washington state all year long, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Although adult birds “begin fall migration when lakes and rivers freeze, usually migrating coastward or to open water,” the lab said, they return to breeding grounds when the weather permits, usually in January through March.

Where can you find America’s national bird in Whatcom County?

Here’s what to know before you embark on your next eagle viewing adventure:

What are best times to see bald eagle in Bellingham?

Bald eagles tend to be more active in the morning, when they gather in trees along the Nooksack River in and around Bellingham to enjoy their breakfast, according to Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.

“From about sunrise to 10 a.m. is your best bet for catching bald eagles feasting on salmon,” the tourism board said on its website.

“The golden hour before sunset is another time when you’re likely to see lots of activity as the eagles get in one last bite of salmon before they bed down for the night,” Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism said.

While you may find an eagle or two soaring through the sky when the weather is warm, the wild birds tend to congregate near rivers on cool, cloudy days.

“Like us, they prefer to spend dreary days eating and digesting food,” the tourism board said. “You may also spot them perched in trees alongside the water, waiting for the rain to pass.”

Even the year can make a difference for eagle viewing opportunities.

‘“Even-numbered winters tend to have higher rates of salmon returning upstream to spawn, which makes for a better showing of eagles,” Whatcom County tourism officials said.

What are top spots to watch eagles in Whatcom County?

Bird lovers throughout Whatcom County have plenty of options when it comes to eagle watching locations.

You can see “majestic bald eagles” feasting on fish at Deming Homestead Eagle Park at the North Fork of the Nooksack River, near Deming according to Whatcom County Parks & Recreation.

“From December through March, many bald eagles gather here to feed on spawned out salmon carcasses that wash up on the sandbars created by the channels of the river,” the Washington Trails Association said on its website, calling Deming Homestead Eagle Park an “excellent stop” where birds can see spotted sandpipers, harlequin ducks and more in the spring.

The Welcome Bridge along Mosquito Lake Road is another “great place for spotting eagles as they hunt for salmon in the Nooksack River,” Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism said.

It’s about a 16-mile drive from Bellingham along the scenic Mount Baker Highway.

You can see bald eagles nesting high in evergreen trees in Blaine, a 30-minute car ride north of Bellingham, according to the official website of the Cascade Loop scenic byway.

This area has been recognized as an “important bird area of Washington” by Audubon Washington.

At Tennant Lake Wildlife Area in Ferndale, you can use a 50-foot viewing tower overlooking “a shallow lake surrounded by extensive wetlands, open fields, forest and riparian zone” to watch 150 species of birds, including bald eagles, the Cascade Loop website said.

Were eagles impacted by winter storms?

While eagles were not directly affected by winter storms in Western Washington, their food supply likely was.

According to the American Eagle Foundation, fish makes up 70% to 90% of an eagle’s diet.

The Nooksack River — bald eagles’ main source for seafood locally — faced unprecedented flooding due to heavy rains, The Bellingham Herald previously reported.

How much do Bellingham birding tours cost?

Want to watch eagles while meeting fellow Bellingham-area birders?

Triad River Tours in Bellingham offers drift boat bald eagle tours down the Skagit River for $115 a person. The three-hour wintertime tour, which begins in Rockport, offers a chance to witness the raptors up close from heated rafts.

“Our drift boat tours are a great way to experience the beauty of the Skagit,” Triad River Tours said on its website. “Whether you are a nature lover, amateur or professional photographer this tour will leave you with a lasting impression of the Skagit and the migrating eagles that return every year.”

Professional naturalist Kate Brown will lead a Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Semiahmoo Park in Blaine on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 9 a.m. Tickets cost $15.

Species commonly sighted at the park range from bald eagles to buffleheads, goldeneyes and white-winged scoters, according to Bird Bellingham.

Brown will also lead a “relaxed” birding walk around Lake Padden on Sunday, Feb. 8.