That’s one of several reader photos we’ve received of an unceremoniously strewn pile of stuff on the sidewalk and street in front of the Westside Flats apartment building at 3233 SW Avalon Way. The first reader to mention it said the pile showed up sometime last night. Police logs indicate it’s been reported, but it’s still there as of a short time ago. We advised one concerned reader that sidewalk/street obstructions can be reported to SDOT‘s 24/7 dispatch line at 206-386-1218; they called but got stuck on longterm hold. The city of course has mechanisms for reporting illegal dumping, but this seems more urgent than Find It Fix It. What led to it, we don’t (yet) know.

(First two photos by Steven Director)

Thanks for the photos! This turned some heads in the Alki area this afternoon, particularly once it was airborne:

Information in the top photo points to two websites, neither Seattle-based – the Airtime Aircraft site (Florida) says this is a “Light Sport Amphibious Trike,” calling it “The Perfect Recreational Aircraft.”

(Photo by Javier Fosado)

This one is registered in Florida, too, to Amphibian Air, whose social media page mentions a road trip – with a photo taken here today – but no details (we’re sending a message to ask).

ADDED: Dave responded to our message with this comment below, saying he’s in the area offering “introductory flights.”

Thanks to Eddie for the photos! In today’s highlight list, we mentioned the annual sighting of “no-parking” signs on Harbor Avenue because Seafair Torchlight Parade floats would be parking in a port lot. Eddie caught some of the floats crossing the low bridge this morning:

The parade starts at 3 pm near the Space Needle and heads southbound on 4th Avenue to Seneca.

Some of the parade entries travel hundreds of miles to participate.

Missing a backpack? These two were seen in Gatewood, per this texted report:

I walked by two probably dumped backpacks on Glenridge (almost at the top near Austin Street).

Two readers found two items on local streets and are hoping to get them back to their owners:

STROLLER: Beth sent the photo and says, “We noticed that part of a stroller bassinet was dumped in our yard today (likely last night). I just noticed another part of it appears to be in my neighbor’s yard. I believe this is an UppaBaby Vista stroller, which retails for about $1000. Wondering if anyone is missing theirs.”

LAPTOP: Will found this “in the middle of the northbound lane of Fauntleroy at the intersection of SW Juneau. Cars were trying actively to avoid it, and it does power on. It could have possibly fallen out of a cyclist’s backpack. The login page says ‘John T.’”

(That one could have been lost, rather than stolen/dumped, so it’s also posted in the Lost/Found/Non-Pets board in the WSB Community Forums.) Either of these items yours? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.

From the WSB inbox, two discoveries from the “dumped-possibly-stolen” file, so we’re featuring them here rather than on our Lost/Found board:

The items above were found in the street at 40th/Brandon; the item below, described as appearing to be “1” glass 24”x82”,” was found roadside on Gatewood Hill:

If you’re missing any of that, contact us and we’ll connect you to the finder.

Sent by Casey at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (north of The Junction):

This suitcase was by the front door of First Lutheran Church this morning, open and rifled through, containing personal items looking like possibly stolen out of someone’s car returning from the airport. Call us, or email admin@flcws.org if it looks like yours. 206-935-6530

10:37 AM: We saw/heard that very loud two-jet flyover while covering an unrelated outdoor event in North Admiral. Looking into it!

12:03 PM: Since the Museum of Flight is at Boeing Field and very plugged in to the happenings there, we asked MoF spokesperson Ted Huetter what he knows. While he said he doesn’t have specifics about these jets, “the planes are Harriers. There are seven at Boeing Field today. There were a number of them here last month before heading up to Alaska for training exercises.” (The U.S. Marine Corps flies them.)

12:19 PM: The training exercises Ted mentioned were part of Red Flag Alaska 24-1, which wrapped up a few days ago.

(Photo sent by Kellie, sighting near 41st/Alaska)

They’re not turkeys, though they’re often mistaken for them. The wandering Guinea Fowl of West Seattle have been seen for months north of The Junction – we’ve featured them in some of our galleries of bird photos sent by readers. But these past few days, readers have sent photos of them closer to the heart of The Junction, expressing concern for their safety – the next photo was from Kristin, who emailed this morning to say, “They’re on the corner of 41st and Oregon. Cars on Oregon are dodging them.”

Those two photos above are from today; the next one was sent by James last week, taken near 41st/Genesee, closer to the north-of-Junction location of most previous sightings people have mentioned to us:

If these are your birds, we’d be interested in the story behind them, after so many sighting reports – westseattleblog@gmail.com.

The photo and report are from William:

Someone’s steering-wheel lock, umbrella, and iPhone cable were found on the street this morning at 38th and Juneau; after checking in with the neighbors no one’s car had been stolen, so perhaps the stuff wad dumped here from another stolen car? The stuff is still outside if it’s yours…

From the inbox – a possibly stolen/dumped passport was found by someone who’s hoping to get it back to its owner:

I found someone’s passport on the grass strip west of the car wash. Between 35th and 36th, SW Graham. It was by itself. I will send it to the U.S. Department of State Consular Lost and Stolen Passport Unit (CLASP) … if I don’t hear back.

If it might be yours, email us and we’ll connect you to the finder.

The photo is from Meagan Loftin, who noted, “Leprechauns have been out on 41st Ave again. The green stripe is refreshed.” This is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition on 41st SW north of Admiral Way. We went by this morning for a look, too, and photographed the shamrock at the stripe’s end near SW Hill:

Who are the paint-equipped leprechauns? That remains a mystery. When we showed it 15 years ago, a commenter said this tradition dates back to the 1970s!

Ruby, Leona, and Tatum from Troop 43450 were enjoying a sunbreak when we stopped by for a photo this morning outside Easy Street Records in The Junction, one of multiple places you’ll find local Girl Scouts selling cookies this weekend. You can use the search box here to see where else cookie booths are set up, and you can go here to find online sellers who are delivering (or to donate cookies to people in the military). This year, local Scouts are selling nine varieties, $6/box; cookie-booth season continues through March 17th.

The photo and report are from Laurie – we’re publishing it here rather than in the Lost/Found section because the circumstances suggest possibly stolen/dumped rather than simply misplaced:

Saw this gym bag on my walk this morning. I didn’t look inside but maybe you can post in lost and found. Found halfway down stairs at 60th & Spokane on the left side.

One week until Valentine’s Day. But we learned last week, not all heart-light displays are a salute to the lovers’ holiday. In Gatewood, neighbors decked their block with hearts as a tribute to a departed neighbor. And tonight’s photo, from Pauline, is a tribute to her mom – named Joy: “Mom really was about Peace, Love, and Joy.” (If you have heart lights up, photos welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)

Valentine’s Day is exactly two weeks away. While out walking this evening in Gatewood, we noticed a mini-trend:

Within the span of just a few blocks, three homes had Valentine’s lights. We photographed the illuminated hearts at two of them:

So in the spirit of Halloween and Christmas lights, we’ll extend the invitation for this season too – if you have or see a particularly festive Valentine’s display, we’d love a photo – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!

From the inbox this morning:

MYSTERY TRAILER: From Corey:

This trailer made its way to our block this morning. We will submit to Find-It-Fix-It but wanted to give someone a chance to pick it up it it’s theirs. It’s located at 18th Ave SW and SW Trenton Street in Highland Park. Close to the north end of 18th and Trenton.

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Corey says in a comment below that the trailer is now gone.

BAG OF BELONGINGS: From Jennifer:

This looks like it belongs to someone. Dumped near the Murray (Wet Weather Facility) at Lowman Beach. Hope it finds its way home.

Were they stolen and dumped? Or just lost? A reader is hoping to get photos to their owner:

They were in a torn-apart photo album (no cover or binder). They were strewn all along Admiral Way, sort of near Schmitz Park. I even crawled under a couple vehicles to get some. They were very wet and covered in debris. My daughter and I just spent hours cleaning and drying them one by one.

If these might be yours, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you with the finder.j

Thanks to Don Brubeck from West Seattle Bike Connections for the photo and report:

Here is a 11/20/23 photo of driver Paul with SDOT’s electric compact street sweeper working on the SW Avalon Way bike lanes. He had to get out to remove some branches by hand. This is a welcome sight for people riding bikes, with all the fall leaves in the lanes becoming a little slippery when wet and hiding who knows what.

As announced in September, SDOT is in the middle of a six-month test of this sweeper, part of a larger look at how much of its fleet could go electric.

We didn’t hear about today’s Seahawks flyover in advance, but a couple people mentioned it afterward. And James Tilley sent this photo:

He notes, “Just after the flyover at the game, they made another pass over Alki, presumably on their way to land at Boeing Field, as they were dropping gear as they flew over the beach.” According to the Seahawks website, these were “two EA-18 Growlers from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.”

Thanks to everyone who messaged us about a film-crew sighting on the Lincoln Park waterfront today. According to the texter who sent the photo above: “Spoke to one of the organizers. It’s a short film. They are hoping to submit to Sundance. All local crew (Seattle-based).”

Today’s been a very aerial day … first the Guardian One helicopter, then the C-17 over Elliott Bay, then two fighter jets loud and low just before dusk (we were under the awning at the high-school football game so could only hear, not see, them, and they weren’t on tracker). People at the Mariners’ game confirm it was a pregame flyover (here’s a pic).

ADDED: In comments, Jason uploaded photos including this one, plus a link to video.