West Seattle whales: Orca sightings

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photos by Dan Ciske, added 10:30 am)

7:12 AM: Thanks to Laurie for e-mailing to report a sighting of two orcas, southbound off Emma Schmitz Overlook around 6:47 am. This would be the second day of sightings in central Puget Sound – Trileigh tipped us to this Orca Network discussion Monday, but to our knowledge they didn’t turn up right off West Seattle.

10:30 AM: Thanks to Dan Ciske for sending photos taken about an hour ago from the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry!

12:46 PM: Two recent comments (thank you!) indicate orcas are heading northbound past West Seattle shores.

1:29 PM: Still out there! Just in from Norman Sigler via Twitter:

just spotted Orcas breaching off of Alki Point. Boats are way to close @westseattleblog @orcanetwork

— #StillSanders (@NormanSiglerPol) June 28, 2016

Carolyn duncan June 28, 2016 (12:43 pm)

Orcas at Fauntleroy ferry dock headed north. Huge male and a female passed West Beach condos about 12:20 pm.

Tomas June 28, 2016 (12:45 pm)

1240. Just spotted two orcas heading north to Lincoln Park

Ryan June 28, 2016 (1:36 pm)

2 males spotted at Alki point. Lost their location. 2 males

WSB June 28, 2016 (1:37 pm)

Thanks! We just added another Alki Point sighting called to our attention via Twitter. Appreciate the updates! – TR

Chuck June 28, 2016 (1:37 pm)

Man, with the depleted salmon runs (salmon season is closed in Puget Sound this summer, I believe), it really makes me wonder how these guys are faring. I believe they prefer King salmon, but the Coho are at historically low levels.

Ryan June 28, 2016 (1:39 pm)

Orcas have now moved in the bay. Currently near the Seattle/Bainbridge ferry as she is getting close to downtown Seattle.

Les June 28, 2016 (2:14 pm)

Yesterday afternoon while kayaking I saw two Orcas west of Alki Point about a half mile of shore

Howard Garrett June 29, 2016 (7:23 am)

Chuck, Transients don’t eat fish. They eat the seals that eat fish so they do the Residents a favor.

Chuck June 30, 2016 (1:40 pm)

Thanks Howard–I missed any reference to transients, but always get the who-eats-what backwards anyway. Good to know these particular Orcas are (hopefully) doing well on a seal diet.

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