West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
(Orcas and ferry, by Trileigh Tucker)
FIRST REPORT, 10:36 AM: Via Twitter, our friend Rebecca from Ravenna Blog passes along the news that orcas have been spotted headed this way, off southeast Bainbridge at last report. (No, the whales didn’t take an inland detour; Rebecca has a maritime background.) We notice this is also being discussed on the Orca Network Facebook page too. Heading off for a look – let us know if you see them!
(WSB photo – whale-watching off Beach Drive)
12:02 PM: We are at Emma Schmitz Viewpoint with Donna Sandstrom (above left) from The Whale Trail and others – the orcas are visible even with weak binoculars! They are off north Vashon.
(Tail-lobbing orca, by Trileigh Tucker)
(We should mention, if you get to whale-watch with Donna, she has GOOD binoculars to share, part of The Whale Trail’s public service.)
(WSB photo – orca spyhopping late this morning)
12:42 PM: Just got a text that they’re visible off The Arroyos, in southwesternmost West Seattle. Donna believes these whales are from resident J Pod, with the possibility of some K Pod too.
(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
One more wildlife photo this Thanksgiving night … a seal we got to see for ourselves the other day, driving on our way to something and pulling over upon noticing the unmistakable sign of a Seal Sitters stakeout, a cordoned-off area and a vigilant volunteer. They were out this week even in the worst of the rainy/windy weather on Monday. This time around, they’ve been kept busy by an adult seal nicknamed “Captain.” Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey writes about her on the “blubberblog.” (Robin also has a Thanksgiving message from Seal Sitters that you might want to read.)
Two of the many things for which we’re thankful – West Seattle’s wildlife, and the photographers who share their images so we in turn can share them with you. Tonight, Mark Wangerin sent these three beautiful photos – thanks, Mark! – identifying the birds he photographed on a Thanksgiving Day walk in Lincoln Park as, above, a surf scoter; next, a horned grebe:
And a pigeon guillemot:
Mark notes that the scoter and grebe are common here, and that the grebe and guillemot are sporting “non-breeding plumage.” To find out more about these birds and others found in our area, explore this Audubon website.
(Photo courtesy Dave McCoy)
At Fauntleroy Creek, Salmon Watch 2012 is over. Five late spawners showed up Saturday, then none on Sunday, reports Judy Pickens, with the overview of the record-setting season:
Eighteen salmon watchers documented 274 coho spawners in Fauntleroy Creek between Oct. 24 and Nov. 17. Our previous high was 167, in 2001. We had an estimated 290 visitors, including five school groups. Watchers were able to see that nearly all the fish were hatchery-released (not fish that started life here or came through Salmon in the Schools). All, however, are now providing valuable nutrients to the habitat and we’ll be checking for “home hatch” starting late February.
As noted in our close-up look at Salmon Watch two weeks ago, last year brought only 11 coho to the creek – but that was still better than the completely spawner-less year in 2010.
(Click image for larger view)
Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for her photos of Lincoln Park’s barred-owl pair! Some of what’s up today/tonight – BEFORE we get to a busy weekend – from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CEREMONY: The four-year widening project is complete except for a few finishing touches. What was originally announced as a dedication this morning for the artwork on its columns is now a ribbon-cutting on behalf of the entire project, with the mayor among those on hand. 9 am, under the bridge, east of 1st Avenue South.
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: Meets today from 10 AM to 2 PM at Daystar Retirement Village, 2615 SW Barton Street, in Building # 1 (you can join the meeting at any time). Registration ($5 donation) and social half-hour at 10 AM. Followed by the 10:30 AM Business meeting, and morning study with member Julie Gramm sharing her knowledge of “Creating and Maintaining a Bog Garden.” Commentary on the Design and Horticulture Exhibits precedes the 12:00 noon Brown Bag Lunch, with dessert and beverage provided by the club. The 1 PM afternoon program. “A Look behind the Scenes at HGTV Landscapers’ Challenge” will be presented by Ruth Burrus, former member of the “Landscapers’ Challenge” television-program staff. The speaker will share her experiences of what it takes to put together an episode of this TV series. Visitors welcome. More infrmation at (206) 932-2540 or www.westseattlegardenclub.com.
‘BATTLE OF WEST SEATTLE’ SOCCER: The girls’ soccer teams for Denny and Madison middle schools have both had great seasons – Denny won its division, Madison came in third in its division – and while they didn’t get to play each other during the season, they are facing off at 3:15 pm today at Southwest Athletic Complex for the West Seattle Soccer Club‘s first annual “Battle for West Seattle” Cup.
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART AND GIFT FAIR: 5-8 pm at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California SW) – first of three days.
ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY AUCTION: Doors open at 5:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Interested in checking on last-minute ticket availability? E-mail auction chair Lucy Weber: lucyweb2@yahoo.com
RESTORATIVE YOGA: 6:30-8 pm with Milo Minnis at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor; 5639 California SW). More info here.
LIVE MUSIC: We have listings from C & P Coffee, Feedback Lounge, Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsors), Skylark Café and Club, and The Benbow Room on today’s calendar page – go here and mouseover/click the plus sign on any line to expand that listing.
(November 2nd photo by Scott Painter)
That photo was taken at Camp Long about 400 feet north of the lodge, by the photographer’s estimate. But as you’ll see in this roundup of recent reports received from WSB readers, they don’t by any means limit themselves to parks and greenbelts. The photographs we receive tend to show them in those settings, but here’s one spotted on a neighborhood sidewalk:
Katina, who shared that photo, explained:
My family and I encountered this coyote at the intersection of Walnut Ave SW and SW Hinds (October 28th) at 10:30 am. It was clearly injured about the neck area. It was originally sitting in the middle to the street, but began to run as our car approached. It then slowed down and just stared at us before taking off down 40th Ave SW.
Seven more recent reports are ahead, starting with a pet owner who saw two coyotes make off with her cat:Read More
12:36 PM: There’s a postscript today to last week’s big controversy over a 19-year-old diver removing an octopus from popular Cove 2 at Seacrest.
West Seattle environmental advocate “Diver Laura” James – the first person to tip us last week – monitored the proceedings in Olympia before state Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. In our coverage last week, we focused on plans to push for protection of wildlife at Cove 2, since otherwise, the octopus catch was completely legal. The state explained that public comment was welcome at commission meetings (today and tomorrow are the first ones since the incident). James reports that the octopus catcher, Dylan Mayer, spoke during the public-comment period of today’s meeting, “on behalf of closing Cove 2 for octopus and putting up clear signage.” She adds, “Massive props go to Craig Willemsen, the owner of Silent World Diving Systems, who met with him on Tuesday and discussed it as an option.” Mayer had defended his action in various discussions, including the WSB Forum, with several posts including this one. This morning’s meeting was webcast by TVW, and video will eventually be online here.
ADDED 6:37 PM: The official state news release about what happened today, including Mayer’s comments:Read More
A new resting place for sealife and birds off Alki! A new raft has just been added to the offshore lineup, announces Jason Attaman: “It was secured to our buoy (Sunday) night. This is located at the 3000 block of Alki Avenue. It was launched specifically as a seal and other wildlife platform for all to enjoy.”
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Never mind counting votes. That whiteboard holds the count that mattered the most in West Seattle this weekend – at Fauntleroy Creek. One week after the salmon-welcoming ceremony that included the then-sad news that only seven spawners had approached, and none had made it past a hungry otter – the turnabout is huge.
This is already the biggest season since spawners returned to the creek after a “fishway” replaced a culvert a decade-plus ago:
As of Sunday evening, reported creek steward/volunteer Judy Pickens (above, with visitors Mira Ellis, 3, and Peggy Rubens-Ellis), at least 238 spawners had been counted – exponentially more than the past few years, and by far beating the 2001 record of 167. Here’s what it’s all about:
Those are salmon eggs – the hope for the next generation. More of WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams‘ images from the creek this weekend, as the update continues ahead:
(Photos by Robin Lindsey)
When the Seal Sitters‘ hotline – 206-905-SEAL – rings, “there’s a seal on the beach” is the most common report. Not this time: “There’s a seal on a kayak!” instead. Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey shares the photos and tells the story:
Yesterday afternoon, Seal Sitters hotline operator Tess received a call that a seal pup had hopped aboard a passing kayak and the boater wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. Jeff Kelley and his son, who was visiting from Brooklyn, were taking a spin in their kayaks around Elliott Bay when a pup started trailing them. Suddenly, the pup jumped onto the back of the kayak and was not particularly interested in returning to the water – after well over 30 minutes, they contacted Seal Sitters for advice.
A tired seal pup will sometimes rest on a log in the water – or even hop on a passing logboom being towed by a tugboat to catch a snooze. Or, a kayak or paddleboard. Jeff and his son did exactly the right thing: they let the pup rest, remained in the area and then gently encouraged the pup to abandon ship when they needed to move along on their journey.
Robin has published a longer version of the story on the Seal Sitters’ “blubberblog” site – see it here.
P.S. Another report tells the story of Ma Kai, a pup who’s been showing up nightly for a while – and posing quite the challenge.
The coho spawners returning to Fauntleroy Creek might make this “the biggest year since the fish ladder opened in 1998,” creek steward Judy Pickens tells WSB – as she reports that volunteer creek watchers have “documented 98 coho spawners in the creek. 98!!!” Her exuberance is understandable, given that just last Sunday, as three dozen people gathered for the drum-to-call-the-salmon-home ceremony, the tally was 7 spawners, all intercepted by otter(s). Then came news 10 had made it. And now suddenly, 10 times that. Judy adds, “We don’t have a good fix yet on the percentage of hatchery-release fish vs. wild, but whatever the source, all have sensed good habitat in Fauntleroy Creek.” Every spring she works with local schoolchildren who raise salmon fry in their classrooms (or hallways!) and then come to the creek to release them. (Photo courtesy “Jim of Fauntleroy“)
(Photo courtesy Jeff Hogan NWFSC, taken under permit #13136)
Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, first to let us know on Sunday about the latest sightings of orcas in West Seattle waters, shares that photo taken while he was on a NOAA research boat later in the the day. He reports:
We followed them from roughly Alki all the way up to Mukilteo. We had all the members of J Pod, K Pod and a few L-Pod whales as well. Didn’t see any foraging, but just lots of slow travel and socializing. Collected several fecal samples in addition to all the photo identification work.
He identifies the whale in the photo as K21, a male (if you didn’t already know that because of the large dorsal fin) born in 1986, according to this page on the Center for Whale Research website. J, K, and L pods are the “Southern Resident” groups who live in this region, though they sometimes forage much farther away.
“The circle of life” took on multiple meanings at this afternoon’s Fauntleroy Creek “drumming to call the salmon home” event. First – the circle of those who came to celebrate the annual return, about three dozen participants by our count. Second, the phrase was part of a “call-and-response” inviting participants to share a significant event in their lives since last year’s gathering. And third – organizer and creek/watershed steward Judy Pickens noted that while seven spawners had been counted so far, none had made it up the creek – otter(s) had eaten them. Nonetheless, the celebration was on – with drums of many sizes and types:
That provided a mentoring opportunity, too, as Irene Stewart demonstrated:
Singing accompanied the drumming – that’s organizer Judy at center, music leader Jamie Shilling at right:
(video added) The gathering had begun with Judy recalling the first returning salmon (nicknamed “Harry and Louise”) almost two decades ago, followed by Jamie leading a song:
Mary led young welcomers through a recounting of the story of baby salmon’s comings, goings, and growing:
As noted here last week, volunteer watchers will be keeping an eye out for the salmon in the weeks ahead.
(Added Monday: Video by Ed Brooks, shot from Magnolia as the whales headed back north; link discovered via Orca Network Facebook page)
11:41 AM: We are hearing from multiple sources that orcas are headed this way again! First word that we received came from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales when we saw him here at the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival – and other tips have come in too. Let us know if you see them!
12:57 PM UPDATE: Donna from The Whale Trail says they’re currently “milling around” mid-channel between Me-Kwa-Mooks and Blake Island.
2:23 PM UPDATE: Just got a text – “On Bainbridge ferry heading into Elliott Bay. Orcas EVERYWHERE.”
Mark Wangerin thinks that might be the same coyote he’s photographed before in the West Seattle Golf Course/lower Camp Long area. This photo is from Thursday. And it leads off the latest list of sightings reported by WSB’ers – read on:
Orcas have been spotted north of Elliott Bay, according to Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales, and if they keep heading south, they might be in the West Seattle vicinity by sunset. Not a sure thing – but we’re letting you know so any sightings don’t come as a surprise! Let us know if you get a glimpse. It’s been six days since the last spate of West Seattle sightings.
(2011 photo from Fauntleroy Creek, courtesy Dennis Hinton)
This Sunday is the day set for the annual Fauntleroy Creek community drumming session to call the salmon home. (5 pm, creek overlook at Fauntleroy/Director, across and uphill from the ferry dock) But they don’t seem to be waiting for an invitation – they’re approaching, and we just got word that volunteer creek-watchers are needed:
With the spotting of two coho spawners in the tidepool at the mouth of Fauntleroy Creek, Salmon Watch 2012 is getting under way a few days ahead of schedule. If you’ve thought about being a salmon watcher, this could be the year to see a lot of action. Volunteers schedule themselves for half-hour shifts when spawners are most likely to be present at the fish ladder (SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW). Training on your first shift for adults and youth; children welcome with a parent. Sign up on the porch at 4539 SW Director Place; more information from Judy Pickens at 938-4203 or judy_pickens@msn.com.
(1st two photos by Gary Jones, added @ noon)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:53 AM: Thanks to Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales for the alert that orcas have been spotted off Magnolia, headed southbound. Let us know if you see them – murky out there today but then again, black fins against silver water might be more visible. (Just last week, orcas in West Seattle waters led to beautiful photos – both from WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, here, and from community contributors, here.)
10:46 AM UPDATE: They are reportedly visible now from North Admiral’s NW-looking blufftops.
11:21 AM UPDATE: Now reported to be passing Alki Point. Jeff says they are residents, J-pod.
NOON UPDATE: First two photos added, courtesy of Gary Jones (thank you!), taken near Alki Point. As commenters are saying, they’ve been spotted off Blake Island – we were just down at Lowman Beach and saw two TV choppers overhead, though not the whales (we did see them from the earlier Admiral blufftop stop).
(Photo by Mike Russell)
12:38 PM UPDATE: Still getting scattered sighting reports. Will be linking this story shortly from the BIG STORIES list on the sidebar so you can find it again even as we start adding other stories to the top of the site.
1:26 PM UPDATE: They were seen on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run around 1 pm.
Last time we published a roundup of recent coyote sightings, we included a reader photo from 36th and Hinds. After that, Marvin Music sent photos of what he thinks might be the same one – above – often seen, he says, near his home in the 33rd/Hinds area, though seldom in daylight. And now, it’s time another roundup – starting with two sightings came in barely an hour apart this afternoon. First, from Katy:
Approaching the intersection of 41st and Dawson just a few minutes (4:10 pm sunday) ago I startled a coyote, who turned north on Dawson and trotted along the sidewalk nearly the full length of the block. I glanced away to grab my camera and he/she turned up into one of the yards for cover. My husband swears he saw a coyote with two older pups in the neighbor’s yard about a month ago… These sightings are happening in the middle of the day. We have some folks in the neighborhood that choose to leave feed out for feral cats…I’ve seen raccoons also feeding on those porches. Perhaps these things in turn attract the coyotes… who knows…. I am assuming they will avoid people, but again, who knows. Slightly unnerving.
From Trina:
Just wanted to let you know I saw a coyote in our neighborhood. It was on 26th Ave SW between 100th st and 99th st. Let people know to keep their pets inside!
Ahead, four other sightings from the past week:
Read More
(Click photo for larger image)
Orcas are a beautiful sight in any weather – but their presence in West Seattle waters during the Monday sunset was just over the top. Earlier, we showed you community-contributed photos; now, photos by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, who also was out with the whale-watchers, here south of Alki Point:
Some watched from the water:
And the centers of attention did not disappoint:
(Click photo for larger image)
At Lowman Beach, people strained to keep the orcas in view until it was too dark to see:
The question now – will we see the whales again tomorrow?
(Click photo for larger image)
Let us know if you see them – and we’ll share the news. (Thanks to those who provided updates today, including Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail.)
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.
4:33 PM: We’ve been tracking reports all day that orcas were headed in this direction – spotted in the North Sound, then off Ballard’s Golden Gardens Park – and now Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail says they’re headed southbound toward Alki, albeit slowly. With a couple hours left till sunset, you might have a chance at a sighting!
6:19 PM UPDATE: Thanks for the updates (via the comments) – they really did make it this far south! (See our newer reports with photos.)
Bryan photographed that coyote in his back yard near 36th and Hinds, where he says it’s showed up the past two days. That’s one of four sightings we’ve received in the past five days, including:
*13th and Cloverdale (same area mentioned during last week’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting), last Friday morning. Amy writes, “I was walking home from dropping my kindergartner off at Highland Park Elementary. I was heading west on Cloverdale and saw the coyote on the corner of 13th and Cloverdale.”
*Also in Highland Park, last Thursday. Erin writes, “Saw a coyote … run across our backyard that borders the greenbelt in Highland Park. After clapping loudly to scare it away, I realized there was a second one off in the woods in a different direction.”
*From the Fairmount Ravine area, Jennifer sent in a “found cat” note last week – after, she said, “I just had a coyote chase a young gray cat into my yard. … He sat down across the street from my partner and yawned at him this morning when he interrupted the cat chase by going out to get in his car.”
We report periodically on coyote sightings not in the interest of hysteria, but in the interest of neighbors reminding neighbors that they live among us. For answers to questions such as “what do I do if I see one?” and “what do I do to encourage them to keep their distance?” the state’s Living With Wildlife: Coyotes infopage offers thorough advice. Archived coyote reports published on WSB can be found here; the map we published earlier this year, to show all the places WSB readers have reported sightings since 2007, can be seen here.
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