More on the West Seattle orca sightings: Who saw what, where

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(file photo of Puget Sound resident orcas, from NOAA)
In our morning report about nearby orca sightings, we mentioned the Orca Network‘s daily “sightings” e-mail (subscribe to it here). The latest one just arrived, and it tells the story of today’s sightings – we’ll paraphrase:

*8:15 am, six orcas reported by captain of ferry Tacoma on Seattle-Bainbridge run
*9 am, orcas reported off Alki Point by captain of ferry Hyak on Seattle-Bremerton run
*9:09 am, orcas reported “at the mouth of Elliott Bay” by captain of ferry Kalama (Seattle-Vashon)
*9:30 am, five whales seen from Alki Point identified as: J1 (Ruffles), J27 (Blackberry), J2 (Granny), J8 (Speiden) and J30 (Riptide) [find out more on individual whales here]
*9:45 am, report of three orcas “traveling southwest from Alki Beach”
*9:45 am, report from a vessel that saw “about 4 whales just south of West Seattle and east of Blake Island”
*10:20 am Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run, passenger reported the captain announcing a pod of orcas, one male and four females: “They appear very active and look to be feeding. … The male appeared to be herding salmon down to the others.”
*10:43 am, captain of the ferry Issaquah reported orcas “milling near the Fauntleroy dock”
*10:50 am, sighting between Vashon and West Seattle
*11:40 am, two orcas spotted heading from Alki Point toward West Point (Magnolia)
*11:41 am, captain of the ferry Wenatchee spotted orcas near Bainbridge
*Noon, chief mate of the ferry Tacoma spotted orcas near Bainbridge

Last report says a Vashon spotter saw the whales heading north around 5 pm “after spending at least 8 hours in south Puget Sound.” Tomorrow, perhaps? Thanks to the tipsters who sounded the alert this morning for WSB-land!

orca lover December 2, 2008 (11:37 pm)

How fitting and sad that these orcas visited south Puget Sound just the same day that the state approved the huge gravel mine expansion on Maury Island that is going to so severely degrade the habitat they were enjoying today.

WSB December 2, 2008 (11:40 pm)

thanks for pointing that out. here is an article posted by the P-I tonight:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/390402_maury03.html
decision by the guy who lost his re-election bid …

herongrrrl December 3, 2008 (2:19 am)

I was thinking the same thing, orca lover. :(

BB_10 December 3, 2008 (8:57 am)

Wow, I wasn’t aware how old Orcas can get! “Granny” indeed! Thanks for posting that link, I’m now going to “adopt” one for my brother for Christmas.

epl December 3, 2008 (8:19 pm)

Nonetheless, WOW! Beautiful.

WSB December 3, 2008 (8:26 pm)

that was a file photo i used in the post last night but we do have actual photos now from yesterday’s sightings – included in this update post from today:
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=12330

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