Swans, Snow Geese, Herons, & Bald Eagles Around La Conner

What are you doing this weekend?

How about taking a birding field trip, ending the day with Fine Northwest Cuisine, and then cozying up in a waterfront suite or an artistic guest house. La Conner is your watercentric birding getaway.

Trumpeter and Tundra Swans migrate south from their summer homes in Alaska to the Skagit Valley. They peak in numbers around January with the majority returning home by the end of March.

While out birding you will encounter the Snow Goose which is also white, much smaller and has black wing tips. Snow Geese gather in gigantic flocks of thousands in fields, and fly by thousands to the water around sunset. Their honking is thrilling to hear.

Watch out for the Great Blue Herons who like to hang out next to the sloughs. Then look up to the tree tops to spy on Owls, Bald Eagles, and Hawks. You may also see the Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon and the Northern Harrier.

Happy Birding Around La Conner!

Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson

The Light of La Conner

From between a small break in the clouds, sunrays strike at the local farm fields of La Conner and warm them in golden brilliance. Rows of lavender, red, yellow and pink tulips deepen in color under the moody shadows. Mount Baker’s snowcap peak juts majestically skyward glistening from the glimpse of sun. This ever-changing light of La Conner has inspired our heroine of this story, Susan Schanen, and motivated her profound respect for the environment. Susan and her husband, Casey, came from an extended line of restaurateurs; perhaps this is where the first seeds for their ideas were sown. As a long time resident of La Conner Susan used the illuminating skies as her muse to expand on her dream... a place that would embody her belief in nature with fresh organic locally picked produce and seafood. As a husband and wife team, Susan’s vision was realized and Nell Thorn Restaurant was created.

Susan believes deeply in ‘what she takes from the environment she must give back’ and incorporated this concept into a zero waste policy at Nell Thorn. With the help of the local Waste Management program Nell Thorn has been able to achieve a 95% waste free environment. Even the cooking oil is sold and converted into Eco-friendly bio diesel, with the proceeds going to the local Friendship house.

From the deck of Nell Thorn Susan connects with the fast changing light of La Conner. The skies continue to feed her inspiration to sustain and support not only a healthy and outstanding restaurant for her customers, but also an Eco-friendly environment.

Savor La Conner! Fine dining by the sea & valley with food fresh from the harvest.