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Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: 85yota on May 09, 2025, 05:01:31 PM

Title: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: 85yota on May 09, 2025, 05:01:31 PM
Buddy took this photo a few miles east of skykomish. I'm pretty sure it's a harly, but not sure why it would be so far east?
Title: Re: Harlequin in wierd places?
Post by: RobinHoodlum on May 09, 2025, 05:04:32 PM
Common for them to nest in habitat like that
Title: Re: Harlequin in wierd places?
Post by: Bullkllr on May 09, 2025, 05:05:57 PM
 :yeah:

They nest on rivers, then winter on the salt.
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: 85yota on May 09, 2025, 05:24:19 PM
Ahh thanks guys. I just figured that far east didn't make sense. Penisula rivers I get, or low river in the valleys close to the ocean made more sense. My friend doesn't hunt just said that this is one of the coolest birds hes ever seen in skykomish what the heck is it. I was shocked and figured it was abnormal to be that close to the pass.
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: metlhead on May 09, 2025, 05:25:21 PM
Tieton, Nisqually, Wynoochee and Hamma Hamma where I have seen em
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: metlhead on May 09, 2025, 05:32:59 PM
Also, anyone wanting really good photos, drive out Ediz hook in March. Lotsa birds
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: greenhead_killer on May 09, 2025, 07:00:49 PM
I had pics on my old phone, not sure what I did with it but I saw a pair up the teanaway river about 6 years ago. Up the north fork towards the hatchery. I couldn’t believe it
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: Man Tracker on May 09, 2025, 07:21:44 PM
Some even breed as far east as Glacier Natl Park
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: ASHQUACK on May 09, 2025, 08:28:50 PM
Some even breed as far east as Glacier Natl Park
Glacier does a trap and band study on them. I've spoken with one of the head biologists there. He was a great guy with tons of information on Harliquen.
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: stickbuck on May 09, 2025, 08:41:03 PM
Buddy took this photo a few miles east of skykomish. I'm pretty sure it's a harly, but not sure why it would be so far east?
Pretty awesome to see them up the river systems this time of the year. It is pretty common for them to be found that close to Puget Sound. Craziest place I’ve ever seen a Harlequin was up Taneum Creek west of Thorp. We were driving up the 33 Road and took our usual left hand turn onto the Gnat Flat Rd. It crosses Taneum Creek before it heads up the hill and as we cross the bridge, the kids yelled to stop the truck. I leaned over and looked out the passenger window and was completely shocked to see the most beautiful drake and hen Harlequin. The plumage of the drake was incredible. I snapped a few photos and we continued up the road. To this day, I am still in awe of the route that pair took to get to their nesting grounds for the spring.


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Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: Salmonmoocher12 on October 20, 2025, 08:02:10 AM
I see them in the spring regularly while fishing in the wind river canyon in the columbia
River gorge. 
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: h2ofowlr on October 20, 2025, 09:33:08 AM
Pretty standard.  We see harlies all the way from Montana in the salt water as they nest near fast flowing mountain streams.  When we used to fish the canyon on the Wind River sometimes you would see flocks of them flying up and down that river.  They have also banded them on the Methow River.
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: O. Nerka on October 20, 2025, 09:33:09 AM
They are in the Methow pretty frequently in the spring time.
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: L-ofalab on October 28, 2025, 06:52:50 AM
I have a picture of a drake right under my raised outboard while we were @ Roosevelt
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: metlhead on October 28, 2025, 07:07:13 AM
That is for sure an odd place
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: Roslyn Rambler on October 28, 2025, 09:17:02 AM
Upper CleElum River above SalmonLaSac, the North Fork Teanaway ( as mentioned) & Stehekin River is where I've seen them.

The ones I see on the Teanaway ( 6 years in a row now ) are always on the same 1/4 mile stretch. Very cool duck!
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: hunterednate on October 28, 2025, 11:03:47 AM
I have a picture of a drake right under my raised outboard while we were @ Roosevelt

That is awesome
Title: Re: Harlequin in weird places?
Post by: Itsintheblood on October 28, 2025, 05:01:08 PM
I’ve seen them on Nason creek about 10 miles east of the ski resort at Steven’s pass. Always cool to see them on their nesting grounds.
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