West Seattle Whale Watch: Christmas Eve orca visit

December 24, 2012 at 11:32 am | In Seen at sea, West Seattle news, Wildlife | 10 Comments

11:32 AM: Earlier this morning, Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales texted us about orcas sighted off Maury Island. That was a little too far south for West Seattleites to see, so we didn’t mention it here, but now he says they’re headed back north again – along Colvos Passage, on the west side of Vashon, so they might be visible a bit later off North Vashon or Blake Island. Let us know if you see them!

12:46 PM UPDATE: Commenters on the Orca Network Facebook page have seen them within the last few minutes off Olalla (map) – still a ways before they would emerge back into the open Sound off north Vashon Island.

1:37 PM UPDATE: Orca Network commenters are also talking about a DIFFERENT group heading south from Richmond Beach/Carkeek area – could be a whale of a lot of whales off West Seattle if these groups keep heading their respective ways.

10 Comments

  1. Very exciting! We’ll be at the Whale Trail sign at Charles Richey Viewpoint, south of the Lighthouse at about 2:30. We’ll have extra binoculars, too. See you down there!

    Comment by Donna, The Whale Trail — 2:05 pm December 24, 2012 #

  2. Ahh I am once again at work when they come around
    Grumble grumble

    Comment by Jim Clark — 2:27 pm December 24, 2012 #

  3. Several heading north off Alki Point on far side of channel.

    Comment by Gary — 3:17 pm December 24, 2012 #

  4. Large group passing going north. Almost to light house now. Quite away out with a small boat trailing. They are difficult to see because of the distance….but they are there.

    Comment by Orca — 3:20 pm December 24, 2012 #

  5. Past Bouy now and seem to be heading west toward Bainbridge at the moment. Now south and east of buoy where Bainbridge ferry turns.

    Comment by Orca — 3:24 pm December 24, 2012 #

  6. Now only two in sight..just south of the rock.
    Hopping quite a bit. Getting pretty far north and west for me to track.

    Comment by Orca — 3:30 pm December 24, 2012 #

  7. From my angle they would be straight out from the lighthouse.

    Comment by Orca — 3:31 pm December 24, 2012 #

  8. I can see at least 4 now and one has turned west toward West Seattle…about the middle of Elliot Bay…but still out there quite a bit.

    Comment by Orca — 3:34 pm December 24, 2012 #

  9. I can now just see a differnt pair that are in front of a trailing boat…they are almost past Elliot Bay and way east.
    They were pretty spread out and not in compact group.

    Comment by Orca — 3:47 pm December 24, 2012 #

  10. Thanks for the updates! I didn’t spot any myself, but did pass various groups along the shore that might have been having some luck :)

    Comment by WSB — 4:36 pm December 24, 2012 #

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