Spencer Island — Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017

Just 5 miles from downtown Everett, Spencer Island hosts an amazing variety of wildlife, especially in fall & winter. The island's north half is full of duck & goose hunters now, but the south half has a 2 mile loop trail across a tidal marsh and along a couple sloughs. Come in the early morning and you're likely to have the trail to yourself.

Along with migratory birds like ducks & geese you'll see eagles, hawks, falcons, heron and various shorebirds at low tide. If you're very lucky you might see one of the resident river otters in the slough.

Don't overlook the settling ponds at the sewage treatment plant (this small lot down a gravel road is where you should park to begin your hike) because they are often filled with a wide variety of waterfowl.