Alki alert: Orcas spotted in West Seattle waters

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Just heard from Eva on Alki that a tv report mentioned orcas spotted following a fishing boat along Alki about an hour ago — it’s not on the Orca Network sightings page yet but there’s no question that this is the time of year the orcas follow chum runs into this part of Puget Sound (lots of sightings listed across the water around Vashon and Blake Islands). Let us know if you see any — pix and video appreciated too! 3:20 PM UPDATE: As pointed out in the comments, a tv helicopter has procured orca video (watch it here). And if you want to try listening for underwater orca sound – this is a cool site to check.

MargL November 7, 2007 (1:27 pm)

I wonder what kind of government/agency response there’d be if an orca got caught in a net instead of a baby seal…

Amy November 7, 2007 (1:46 pm)

there is video at http://www.king5.com. Cool!

Jacobsen Bluff November 7, 2007 (3:27 pm)

Watching five Orcas right now- pretty much due west from Mee Kwa Mooks. They are moving north and I see a helicopter and two small boats following them from the south. Nice to see them again!

Max November 7, 2007 (8:10 pm)

My wife spotted the orcas when she was coming across on the ferry from Southworth Monday evening. A crewperson who saw them was really excited; the other passengers seemed uninterested. Go figure.

jseattle November 7, 2007 (8:43 pm)

Orcas have no taste at all. Everybody knows chum are only good when smoked!

Erik November 7, 2007 (9:05 pm)

Amy – thanks for the video link. Orcas are cool.

WSB November 7, 2007 (10:07 pm)

Max – we would have been over the top if we’d had that sighting. We’ve seen orcas here and there in other parts of Puget Sound and BC waters in recent years but the only time we’ve ever seen them close to home was on a Fauntleroy-Vashon ferry ride more than a decade ago. Gonna have to ride the ferry this weekend in hopes of crossing paths with the orcas and the chum …

Jo November 8, 2007 (5:05 pm)

6 or 7 years ago, about 15 members of J pod were right off Alki, across from the ‘old’ Alki Market. They were in very close to the beach, and were displaying alot. Two babies were with them.
I was doing the books at the Market then, and about 4 of us working at the time (the boss, Jim McDevitt included) raced outside to watch.
Pretty soon we heard,”Hey, where’d everybody go?” We’d left a customer inside while we stood out on the street watching the Orcas.