PHOTOS: Southern Resident Killer Whales, visiting West Seattle

Through the morning and afternoon, we published updates on Southern Resident Killer Whales in the area, first southbound, then northbound before sunset. Tonight, some photos! Thanks to David Hutchinson for the first and third photo, Kersti Muul (today’s original tipster) for the one directly below:

Kersti says members of all three resident pods were in the area today; her photo above shows Onyx (L87) and Nugget (L55).

We just missed the whales by the time we got to Alki to have a look, but Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail was there, assisting with land-based viewing, which is one of TWT’s missions.

7 Replies to "PHOTOS: Southern Resident Killer Whales, visiting West Seattle"

  • TM January 23, 2020 (9:49 pm)

    Awesome! Great pics, thanks for sharing

  • lowmanbeachdrive January 24, 2020 (8:10 am)

    Wow, great pictures!! Really outstanding.

  • Blinkyjoe January 24, 2020 (1:09 pm)

    Really great photo! Is this the pod that for some reason does not eat seals, AKA ‘bacon of the sea’? Hopefully they develop a taste for seal and keep from starving on a salmon-only diet. 

    • WSB January 24, 2020 (1:12 pm)

      Southern Residents favor fish. It’s the transients (aka Bigg’s) that like seals, even other (smaller) whales, etc.

  • anthony berry January 24, 2020 (1:18 pm)

    Awesome pictures my heart goes out to the southern resident pod my prayer is for them to survive 

    • Emily January 25, 2020 (11:40 am)

      Prefacing my following statement as encouragement. Prayers are great. Prayers accompanied by action are even better. If you aren’t already, make sure your family and friends are participating in eco-friendly activities concerning: – what you eat (sustainably & ethically raised foods),– how you act (limit one use products to the absolute minimum if used at all and recycle as much as possible)– & what you support (voting in local & national elections for government officials & law makers who vote for and uphold environmentally friendly legislation & supporting ethically & sustainably run businesses – supporting legislation protecting the Southern Residents their territory, and their food source!

  • Dayanna Valderrama January 28, 2020 (12:23 am)

    It overfills my face with tears of joy that these beautiful precious whales peeked their faces out to everyone for a bit! This fills my heart with so much happiness & hope. Hope that people & fishermen will respect & value their food source & territory. In hope that these awful chemicals affecting their health & the food chain will be cleared away. It is devastating enough to me that this situation has been everlasting & their endangerment continues. Although, I know all the prayers & support accumulated will replenish the oceans with more of these special creatures that we, human beings, don’t deserve. Sending all my love & sincerest prayers to them all the way from Florida! 

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