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West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas return!

January 19, 2019 12:05 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo by Monica Zaborac)

12:05 PM: Another orca alert from Kersti Muul: Whales have been spotted in the Bainbridge Island ferry lanes, southbound, so are likely to be within view from West Seattle soon. As always, please let us know if you see them!

12:29 PM: An update from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales – seven to ten orcas, closer to the Bainbridge side but coming into view off Constellation Park south of Alki Point and likely visible from Emma Schmitz Overlook/Me-Kwa-Mooks within half an hour.

ADDED SATURDAY EVENING: Thanks to everyone who provided location updates in comments. Adding a photo sent by Monica Zaborac.

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11 Replies to "West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas return!"

  • Kersti January 19, 2019 (12:26 pm)

    Passing yellow channel marker SWSouth tip of Bainbridge

  • Chris Stripinis January 19, 2019 (1:37 pm)

    I’m at Emma Schmitz now and don’t see anything.  Are they further south now?

    • WSB January 19, 2019 (1:46 pm)

      We haven’t heard any updates. Always a gamble!

  • Watcher January 19, 2019 (1:48 pm)

    From Mee Kwa Mooks park we see them spouting (via binoculars) near north Vashon coast.   Very far away.  

  • Kersti January 19, 2019 (1:50 pm)

    I’m on ferry. Just went over them Sb from vashon ferry dock.KitsAp side

  • Whale watcher January 19, 2019 (2:00 pm)

    Breaching off of Vashon shore. Moving south fast.  Visible via binoculars Lowman Beach.  2pm. 

  • Jen January 19, 2019 (2:04 pm)

    2:00pm they are way over on the Vashon side, south of Dolphin Point. Still southbound and look to be moving quickly. I can just barely see them with binoculars from the Arroyos area.

  • Whale watcher January 19, 2019 (2:04 pm)

    Breaching and spouting along Vashon.  Visible via binoculars from Lowman park. Moving south fast.  

  • Azimuth January 19, 2019 (2:17 pm)

    Definitely a gamble. Just took the 1:30 to Bremerton ferry and didn’t see anything.  :-(

  • M January 19, 2019 (3:14 pm)

    I saw 2 small groups of 2 to 3 around 2 PM from Arroyos.

  • Lynn January 19, 2019 (9:34 pm)

    I was at the Alki Bathhouse at noon with my son and saw a group of observers with binoculars.  Totally nosied my way into this friendly group and they let me use their binocs- thank you!Saw a fin, faaaar away. So exciting! Then a seal surfaced, checked us humans out, dove back in. Further south on Alki beach a bald eagle was circling right over the beach, fishing. Amazing day to spot wildlife!

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