Salmon Returning to Hylebos Creek

While it may not feel like we had much of a summer, it has officially moved on.  It is fall, and the salmon are starting to return to Hylebos Creek.  I spent 15 minutes yesterday watching the creek from the 4th Ave bridge in Fife, by the Lower Hylebos Marsh, which is going to be our primary Salmon Watcher location this year.

From the bridge, I was able to see some ripples that indicated fish.  Then, after watching for a few minutes, I looked into the deep riffle near the bridge, and saw a pale shadow facing upstream.  I wasn't sure if it was some grass in the creek, or a fish, but as I watched, it slowly advanced toward the bridge.  It had to be a fish. Vegetation does not usually move upstream.  It got closer and closer, and the water got more and more shallow, until I could see that it was a female Chinook.  She paused before the fast water cascading over the rocks, gathering her energy, while I wished her good luck and cheered her on.  She burst out of the water, floundered a little in the fast water and I was afraid she wouldn't get past the shallows.  Then she did, and I ran to the other side of the bridge to watch her swim upstream until I couldn't see her anymore.

It was so exciting, I didn't even think to take a photo, with the camera that was in my hands.