WHALES: Mystery sightings today

Two reports of whale sightings today – maybe you’ve had a sighting too? Around noon, Philip reported a whale (“not an orca”) off Three Tree Point headed north. About two hours later, Susan saw this: “I glimpsed the back half of an orca as it rolled northward, not far from the Fauntleroy ferry slip. I waited for it to resurface north of the dock… and waited… saw a blow, but its source didn’t appear to be the B&W of an orca. It surfaced again, and definitely was something other than an orca or humpback. What happened to the orca?” Humpbacks and grays are in regional waters now too; if you see a marine mammal you can’t identify, try a species guide like this one offered by The Whale Trail.

10 Replies to "WHALES: Mystery sightings today"

  • North Admiral May 14, 2021 (5:23 pm)

    Saw a lone whale roll head to tail and blow several times off of Alki (toward the Duwamish Head), 4pm ish. Grey? Definitely bigger and not an Orca. 

  • tjs May 14, 2021 (6:18 pm)

    I saw a humpback from the north end of Lincoln park between 2:30-3:15pm today as it was headed northbound. It was fairly close to shore; I heard it surface with its breath each time before I actually saw it; long back with a visible hump as it dove down.

  • waikikigirl May 14, 2021 (6:30 pm)

    You all who live on or near the water are so lucky to be able to see these kind of things! Hope we find out what kind of whale it is.

  • Shelley P. May 14, 2021 (6:38 pm)

    Yes, lots of people watching from Lincoln Park around 2 pm.  Very close to shore.  You could hear the water blow.  So cool!

  • Brenda Burnett May 14, 2021 (6:44 pm)

    I was walking at Constellation Park at around 3:20 today and saw a HUGE whale (no dorsal fin) surface slowly and spout…twice! What a thrill! It was much bigger than an orca. I would love to know what it was.

  • james ritchie May 14, 2021 (7:11 pm)

    I was working in the 6300 block just above Beach drive, when one of my employees pointed out some movement in the water, at first I thought it was a big sea lion, until it surfaced again and I could see the size. The whale was surprisingly close to shore.

  • WSPK May 14, 2021 (7:18 pm)

    I saw something off Marine View Park just N of Des Moines this morning before 9AM. I could not tell what it was, as the action was too far off shore, but it (or they?) were swimming back and forth very quickly,  making runs of perhaps 100′ at a time. I wondered if it could be Sea Lions which can certainly move fast, but generally don’t hunt that way. Hmmmm, whales? How cool. 

  • Hiya May 14, 2021 (7:42 pm)

    Reports from Orca Network say it was a Grey Whale in the area, moving from Des Moines north through Elliot Bay. It’s pretty rare to see them this south; they’ve been hanging around hat island recently. 

  • Christina May 15, 2021 (8:15 am)

    Any sightings today?

  • Donna, The Whale Trail May 15, 2021 (8:53 am)

    Please contact The Whale Trail by text or phone at 206-919-5397 when you see a whale near West Seattle. We will send a trained observer to ID the whale, alert researchers, and  bring binoculars to share with people watching on shore. Gray whales and humpback whales are often sickly when they reach this part of the Sound, so we are always on the alert for a possible stranding too. We work closely with Seal Sitters, our local stranding network, to monitor body condition, behaviors, and direction of travel. Thanks everyone for your eyes on the water!

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