Waterfowl

Snow goose

Anser caerulescens

Tens of thousands of snow geese from Russia's Wrangel Island winter on the Skagit and Samish flats, feeding in farm fields and estuary marshes.

Seasonality

Peaks across 4 months. Arrives in mid-October and stays through April; numbers peak from November to February.

A mass liftoff is the classic photo; use 1/2000s or faster and a mid aperture so more birds are sharp.
White birds fool the meter, so check the histogram and protect the highlights.
Frame flocks against dark hills or stormy skies for contrast, or slow the shutter for intentional motion blur.

Never flush a flock for a photo; every flight costs energy the birds need for winter.
Most fields are private farmland; photograph from public roads and pull completely off the road.
Stay out of fields and respect posted signs, even when birds are right at the edge.