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WildLookout

Opportunity scores are planning aids, not sighting guarantees. How scoring works

Wildlife welfare comes before any photograph.

Sightings from eBird
Weather by Open-Meteo
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Tiles by OpenFreeMap · Terrain from AWS Terrain Tiles

Waterfowl

Brant

Branta bernicla

A small, dark sea goose that winters on the eelgrass beds of Padilla Bay, Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay, with numbers building into spring.

Seasonality

Peaks in February, March, April. Present from late fall through spring; peaks from February to April as migrants stage on the eelgrass.

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Behavior

Feeds almost entirely on eelgrass, tipping up in shallow water on lower tides.
Travels in low, wavering lines just above the water.
Gathers in loose rafts offshore at high tide.

Photography tips

Plan around the tide: a rising tide over the eelgrass brings flocks closer to shore.
Get low at the waterline for eye-level photos and smooth water backgrounds.
Dark birds on bright water need positive exposure compensation to hold detail in the black heads.

Field ethics

Don't walk out onto the flats toward feeding flocks.
Keep dogs leashed; brant flush easily and lose valuable feeding time.

Where to look

Semiahmoo SpitWhatcom County · Peaks in February, March, April
Point Whitehorn Marine ReserveWhatcom County · Peaks in February, March, April
Padilla BaySkagit County · Peaks in February, March, April