West Seattle Whale Watch: Orca photos, round 1

October 8, 2012 at 8:32 pm | In Seen at sea, West Seattle news, Wildlife | 10 Comments

First of two rounds of orca photos tonight, as they put on a show right up till (and past) sunset – these photos are contributed by WSB’ers. Top photo with the kayaker is courtesy of Mike Scharer. Next, by Gary Jones:

Also by Gary, this view with Alki Point Lighthouse in the foreground:

With the setting sun, next one is from David DeSiga:

ADDED 9:23 PM: Another Gary Jones photo with a breaching orca:

By all accounts, these are “southern residents” – the orcas that spend most of the time between the San Juans and south Puget Sound. (added) And here’s a view from David Hutchinson at Constellation Park south of Alki Point:

2nd round of photos coming up.

10 Comments

  1. ABSOLUTELY FREAKING INCREDIBLE!!!! – GORGEOUS GIFT! Bless these sweet souls :)

    Comment by love -everyminute — 8:56 pm October 8, 2012 #

  2. what a gift!!!!!

    Comment by golden — 9:09 pm October 8, 2012 #

  3. Fantastic! Saw them out by Blake Is. from Lincoln Park at dusk — thanks so much for the photos, WSB.

    Comment by anon — 9:14 pm October 8, 2012 #

  4. You’d think after 20 years of frequenting Alki, I’d actually ever see these beautiful Orcas. I was even there today at lunchtime. I guess timing is everything. Thank you for the photographic evidence that this really does happen! Which reminds me that someone on Capitol Hill snapped pics of the Northern Lights last night…

    Comment by Charlie — 10:24 pm October 8, 2012 #

  5. … and WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams JUST got the Northern Lights from Alki … putting up that photo before we put up his whales-and-whale-watching photos later … then I just might sneak out of here and go look for myself. Stand by …

    Comment by WSB — 10:27 pm October 8, 2012 #

  6. So beautiful, but frustrating to miss it yet again. I almost went to Alki tonight too. Any way to get a text to alert me they are around? I’d beeline to the beach if I knew.

    Comment by D-Mom — 10:40 pm October 8, 2012 #

  7. I bee-lined to the beach after I saw the post with pictures from Alki. Unfortunately, where the lights had been seen only appeared to me as a faint extension of the glow of the city lights in the sky. I did see the Big Dipper, so there was that! Maybe it’s time to book a trip with Icelandair. ;)

    Comment by Charlie — 12:19 am October 9, 2012 #

  8. I was watching when Mike took the photo of the whale by the Kayaker. Mike, thanks for letting me use your binoculars.

    Comment by mz — 6:40 am October 9, 2012 #

  9. It was amazing! Thanks for letting us know.

    Comment by J — 9:57 am October 9, 2012 #

  10. We were coming back from Victoria on the Clipper on Monday afternoon and just as I was wondering to myself if the noise from the boat would bother whales, my husband looked up and saw an orca swimming right off the east side of the boat! Then, everyone watched as it breached several more times before we had passed by. Another passenger said she thought the whale was chasing a harbor seal. It was the perfect ending to a great trip!

    Comment by Denise — 7:39 am October 10, 2012 #

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