Is it the weather? Unusual sights at Alki and Arbor Heights

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle beaches | WS miscellaneous

(bees photographed by Rick, who reported them)
First: We’ve received reports this afternoon by phone and e-mail that the water at Alki looks “gross” (among other descriptions). Haven’t been there yet to check firsthand, and can’t find any official reports of a problem – we had a suspected algae bloom on the western West Seattle shores not that long ago, but reports say this is green, not brown. Meantime, from Arbor Heights, a report of a bee swarm near 37th/102nd. Maybe all this has to do with the heat? We’ll be checking … ADDED 6:39 PM: Via Twitter, a diver offers the opinion it’s an algae bloom. We found this state Ecology Department photo from May – sounds like the descriptions we received; here’s general information from People for Puget Sound.

JayDee July 3, 2009 (7:38 pm)

It looks brown when seen from the hill. I suspect the “severe clear” and sun is prompting this bloom. One can see it defining the tidal eddies.

Bonnie July 3, 2009 (7:48 pm)

A long time my husband and I were out on the deck here in West Seattle on a hot day and a huge bee swarm came at us. Scary! Luckily we were able to get inside within seconds before we were stung.

diane July 3, 2009 (7:58 pm)

I was sitting at main Alki beach, next to bath house, with all the families, kids, babies; about 4 – 6pm
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the kids kept running away from the water saying, ewwww, it looks like poop, it stinks; and it did
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about 6pm, at the bath house seawall, it looked like green diarrhea; very disappointing and frustrating on hot summer day, packed beach, no one could stand to go in the water; well it really wasn’t water; it was green slimy stinky muck, lapping up on our beautiful Alki Beach
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the shower at bath house was VERY busy

Doug July 3, 2009 (10:46 pm)

Definite algae bloom. We took the ferry over to Vashon and saw it all the way across.

anonyme July 6, 2009 (10:49 am)

There is at least one beekeeper west of this location on SW 102nd St. Swarms occasionally escape or move. However, these are highly beneficial honeybees, and unlikely to do much stinging. There are quite a few folks on Craig’s List who would be happy to remove swarms from unwanted locations by non-lethal means. PLEASE DON’T SPRAY!

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