WEST SEATTLE WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas near us again! Here’s where they (were) being seen

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Added Wednesday evening: Photo by Trileigh Tucker)

10:10 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that orcas have been spotted in our area – believed to be southbound between Bainbridge Island and Elliott Bay, so you would want to look from Alki, for starters.

10:37 AM: Thanks also to Alisa from Orca Network, which has at least one commenter seeing from Alki, reporting they are closer to the west side of the Sound than this side, so you’ll need binoculars.

11:05 AM: We are seeing them from Constellation Park, with binoculars. By the ship anchored off Manchester with a red hull.

11:20 AM: The biggest group is still southbound, now off the east side of Blake Island. Also here: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail, who says to save the date 6 pm December 12 for a Southern Resident Killer Whales update at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor). And a spotter is here for WSDOT, which shuts down pile-driving on the Colman Dock project when orcas are close by.

12:33 PM: Orca Network says the whales are now off north Vashon, still heading south. (Speaking of Orca Network, its campaign to free the last Southern Resident in captivity, Lolita/Tokitae, has a fundraiser at Endolyne Joe’s [WSB sponsor] in Fauntleroy, 8 am-10 pm next Monday (November 13th), with 25 percent of the proceeds to be donated.)

12:49 PM: Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales says they’re visible from the Lincoln Park picnic-shelter area.

1:08 PM: They’re still southbound, midchannel, south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The whale-watching boat Chilkat Express (as ID’d by MarineTraffic.com) is just north of them.

2:23 PM: Now a report from Fauntleroy that they’ve turned north – at least, the one big group has – and is again visible in the ferry lane area. “Super close to shore,” Kersti tells us, viewing from Lincoln Park.

3:13 PM: Newest report – visible from Me-Kwa-Mooks/Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook [map].

3:52 PM: They put on quite a show passing Alki Point and are now still NB in the mouth of Elliott Bay.

Kersti Muul November 8, 2017 (11:05 am)

Watching from lowman.

2 groups spread between Blake and Bainbridge west in channel

Petert November 8, 2017 (11:12 am)

At 1108 they’re about 1/2 mile off the SE corner of Bainbridge. Heading south. About 6-8 in number.

WSB November 8, 2017 (11:29 am)

Thanks for the updates! We were thrilled to see them from Constellation but now we have to get back to HQ so further updates appreciated while they are in view!

Herongrrrl November 8, 2017 (11:28 am)

From Me Kwa Mooks Park, large group just north of Tillicum Village on Blake Island now.

Kersti Muul November 8, 2017 (12:33 pm)

Trailing group passing Tillicum village

gooseface November 8, 2017 (2:00 pm)

I see them right now, in the Fauntlery ferry path (and there’s a little boat right next to them)

Jason November 8, 2017 (3:26 pm)

The boat with them is a NOAA research vessel. They have federal permits allowing them to approach the whales.

WSB November 8, 2017 (3:51 pm)

The one now, yes. Earlier, when southbound, it was the whalewatching boat. We are well aware of the difference.
- Jason November 8, 2017 (4:05 pm)
  
  I was responding to gooseface.
  - WSB November 8, 2017 (4:12 pm)
    
    I’m sorry! My fault for reading in the admin panel, out of context. Thanks for educating.
    - Jason November 8, 2017 (4:46 pm)
      
      People get rightly upset when boats approach too close. I wasn’t sure from gooseface’s wording if that was a concern.

bobc November 8, 2017 (3:31 pm)

There is a large pod feeding pretty close to shore straight in front of La Rustica. Moving slowly to the north.

newnative November 8, 2017 (4:29 pm)

Welp, this notification was a success. I have never been able to head to the shore when these come up but today I was able to notify my boyfriend so he could and he got quite the show.

Kris November 8, 2017 (4:51 pm)

Thanks to your post I was able to see killer whales for the first time. Is there a way to get a heads up (a notification) when orcas head down south Pugent sound?

WSB November 8, 2017 (5:10 pm)

So glad you saw them! We don’t currently have text notifications for whales or anything else … a lot of logistics to work out. Kersti has pointed out in the past that Whale Scout, a group she’s with, has text notifications, although they are not West Seattle-specific:
http://www.whalescout.org/scout-notifications/
- Kris November 8, 2017 (5:34 pm)
  
  Thanks!!
  - Jason November 8, 2017 (7:34 pm)
    
    If you’re on Facebook, follow Orca Network. These whales were first reported there southbound near Edmonds around 6:30 this morning.