West Seattle Whale Watch: Orcas make a splash!

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Gary Jones for sharing photos of the orcas that put on a show between Alki Point and Bainbridge Island late this morning!

We heard about it via Facebook, went down to the water to see if we could see them, and no luck (again), so Gary’s photos are much appreciated. Expert watchers say all this leaping is because they’re feeding.

We also got a call from a nice person who said he could see them via telescope from his home over Beach Drive (and offered us the chance to use it), but at the time – 12:30ish – they were “way on the other side.”

According to the Orca Network‘s latest Facebook update, these are likely “transients” – orcas that eat mammals (seals, sea lions, whales) instead of fish, which is the staple of Puget Sound’s resident orcas.

enviromaven April 18, 2012 (1:54 pm)

Woo hoo! Thrilling! Thanks for the pix.

Neighbor April 18, 2012 (2:16 pm)

Seeing the orcas feeding in the sound is such a good reminder that what goes down our drains has impacts! Our pods need all the help we can give them!

Jiggers April 18, 2012 (2:26 pm)

Great shots. Orcas are probably the smartest mammals on the planet next to human beings. And maybe smarter than a lot of human beings..

Johnston April 18, 2012 (5:19 pm)

This is one of many reasons why I put up with all the grey, dreary days and keep living here. Orcas! Having fun in the sound on a reasonably nice day! Awesome!