SATURDAY REPORT: Thanks to the texter who reports a humpback whale sighting off Jack Block Park, headed northbound, a while ago. Not sure how to tell what kind of whale you’re looking at? Here’s The Whale Trail‘s page about humpbacks.
ADDED SUNDAY: Thanks to Colin for sharing the photo, added above, via a comment.
Humpbacks in the winter? Thought they went south for the winter…
Is there some way to get a text alert or email when folks spot a whale or an orca? I would love to get out nearby with my cameras and get some photos sometime. The orca network does not have that functionality.
If you are tech-handy and want to do something pretty hacky and minimal work, you could set up a custom RSS feed off of WSB’s RSS feed and get notified for each new entry via text. I keep thinking about doing it myself.For a similar approach, see https://www.pcworld.com/article/2359360/ifttt-master-chef-secrets-get-important-news-fast-with-this-feed-rinse-super-recipe.html .You basically would create a custom RSS feed based off WSB’s RSS feed, and then you use a free service that alerts you off of that. It doesn’t even have to be a service that will send SMS. Many carriers, like Verizon, have an email address you can send an email to to get texts (e.g. <phonenumber>@vzwpix.com).
We (The Whale Trail) are working on it, Ernie. Stay tuned!
Yes it seemed unusual but it was swimming just offshore parallel to the coast – about a block from Blue Moon Burgers on Alki Ave. Definitely a small humpback. It breached 4 times while I could see it well and it’s dorsal was unmistakable.
Here’s a snap of the whale. It was about 100 feet off Alki beach heading south west along the coast. Strange for how close to shore it was. We saw it come up for air about 6 times before it was out of sight. 
Thanks all for the report and the photo. I’m sending a link to this post to Cascadia Research, which monitors unusual marine mammal sightings in our area, especially large whales. (Report sightings to them directly at 360-943-7325 or toll-free at 800-747-7329. Note the date, time, and location of the sighting and a description of the animal and number seen and your contact information.) Keep watching!
Various folks in my family had the same reaction as Amanda, when I mentioned this story to them. One cried out, “What ? Oh no; that’s not good, they are supposed to be in warmer water right now!” Any idea whether this sighting was actually a bad thing? I am not the animal expert of the family.
3 PM Sunday, two whales spotted off Lowman Beach. Very close to shore!
Spotted a smaller humpback (bumpy head, hook shaped dorsal fin) cruising north near Me-Kwa-Mooks Park at 3pm on Wednesday. About 200 feet off shore, lots of spouts.
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