West Seattle Whale Watch: Orca sightings!

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(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.”

SallyM October 28, 2012 (12:49 pm)

Watching a group of them just north of Blake Island right now!

bn October 28, 2012 (12:52 pm)

12:52pm – at least 4 orcas milling around near the north end of Blake Island.

bn October 28, 2012 (1:26 pm)

They’re heading north again.

WSB October 28, 2012 (1:34 pm)

Thanks for the update!

AIDM October 28, 2012 (4:02 pm)

Thanks for the information. By the way, is there a WS whale sighting twitter feed or some kind of text message list one can sign up for, so we can be alerted via text message when they are visible from the peninsula?

Chris October 28, 2012 (4:13 pm)

AIDM – check out Orca Network on Facebook and Twitter – they’ll keep you in the know!

Donna, The Whale Trail October 28, 2012 (4:52 pm)

AIDM, we’re working on it. You can also check The Whale Trail’s Facebook page. If we know they’re here, we let everyone know too.

In the meantime – another great day on The Whale Trail! From the Richey Viewpoint (just south of the Lighthouse), we watched them move slowly south till they were halfway between Blake and Vashon Islands. They seemed to be foraging at that point – lots of chum salmon around right now! Then, unusually, they turned around and headed north again. We last heard that they were breaching off Golden Gardens about an hour ago.

NOAA researchers were out with them, and confirmed that it was J and K pods – 45 whales in total! These whales are endangered, and watching from shore is one way we can support their recovery.

Great meeting you all down there today and hope to see everyone and the whales again soon!

WSB October 28, 2012 (6:00 pm)

I missed them entirely – we drove the shore on the way home from the festival and of course nary a whale visible (or else I need MUCH better glasses). Thanks for the update, Donna. And thanks to Jeff for the morning heads-up. We’re most happy to be among those getting the word out so folks can see and appreciate them!

herongrrrl October 28, 2012 (6:36 pm)

It’s rare that they are so close to our side you can see them unaided. Which is why I always have a pair of binoculars in my car! :)

m October 28, 2012 (6:37 pm)

Out sailing today. Must have been between 10 and 20. Saw them off West Point at about 3PM and watched as they slowly travelled north. Last they had reached the northern side of Shilshole. One breached completely.

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