West Seattle, Washington
28 Tuesday
11:59 AM: It’s been a while since the last reported whale sighting off West Seattle shores, but Linda reports via Facebook that, about an hour ago, she “saw whales between Blake and tip of Bainbridge … from Lincoln Park. Not certain what type of whale.” Checking Twitter for any corroborating reports, we came across one from a Bainbridge resident reporting an orca sighting from “the ferry” with the past 15 minutes. No word on which direction, nor have we heard from our area’s whale experts, but a heads-up is always in order.
12:29 PM UPDATE: Orca Network just mentioned them on FB a moment ago:
We have reports from the Ferry Tilikum of 4-5 orcas in the Fauntleroy ferry lane at 10:32 AM, 6 or 7 seen by Melinda Simon heading north off Alki Point around 11:10 AM and of 6-8 orcas seen by Jeff Hogan at 11:25 in the Bainbridge ferry lane, still heading north. So far no definite ID’s but they are likely transients.
As Rick put it in his note sharing that photo, “a little color on a gray day.” The color is provided by the sails of the boats participating today in the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s 32nd Duwamish Head Race. More than 60 boats are participating, according to the club’s website. Here’s another look at a few of them, courtesy of Marty:
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo of a hovercraft-type vessel that showed up on Alki this afternoon. (Thanks also to Cami for sharing a photo via Facebook.) Not sure yet what it was up to but we’re working to find out! UPDATE: Just a few minutes after we published this, we got a note from Jeff, who says the hovercraft’s skipper was stopping for lunch but didn’t know powered craft were not allowed to come ashore; apparently the arrival sparked several 911 calls, but, Jeff says, the hovercraft’s operator “talked with SPD and was allowed to depart without further actions.” ADDED 5:31 PM: Jeff also shot and published this video – including the hovercraft rising up and heading back out onto the water:
(back to original story) Meantime, a photo from Tuesday – submarine spotted passing West Seattle shores:
Bob Anderson got the photo from his North Admiral backyard; he says the sub was heading northwest.
Nice views from Alki this morning, during the first serious sunbreak we’ve seen in a while: The view of the frosted Olympics with low clouds in the foreground, above, is courtesy of David Rosen from SlickPix Photography; we caught the high tide at Alki, two perspectives below:
Checking the tide table, seems this isn’t even as high as it’s been – it peaks today at 12.4 feet in a few minutes, but the highest tide of the month was 13.2 feet on Christmas Day. P.S. Note the 8 pm -1.2 tide this Friday – if the weather holds, might be a nice low-tide walk for New Year’s Eve.
While it’s by no means unusual to spot stand-up paddleboarders off Alki and other West Seattle beaches, this time of year they’re usually a little more covered-up than these two. Thanks to JayDee for sharing the pic (before the clouds moved in) – he points out the air temperature at the time was 48 degrees. (Just a bit cooler than the 50-degree water temperature.) Forecast, you ask? Windy after midnight; rain returning tomorrow.
The sky’s been clear since first thing this morning. We mentioned the pink-lit Olympics on Twitter, wondering aloud about images; that photo subsequently was shared by West Seattle food writer Kim O’Donnel (whose cookbook-autograph session is mentioned in this morning’s preview) – thanks! Meantime, we realized this gorgeous bald-eagle photo hadn’t been shared yet:
It’s by Robin Lindsey of Seal Sitters, taken during a sunbreak earlier this week; she added:
On my sweeps looking for seal pups, I spotted this eagle perched high above Duwamish Head, enjoying the briefest glimmer of sunlight.
We have pups still using the beaches, including Queen Latifah, who continues to haul out on her City-side rocks. Her schedule has become less predictable, however.
You can always keep up with Seal Sitters’ latest “news on the beach” at blubberblog.org.
(Photos by Gary Jones)
Not sure if it’s still visible but we just received a few e-mails (thanks, Diane, Bryan, and Ed!) pointing out that the USS Nimitz has been passing West Seattle shores while on its way to Bremerton, where its crew of nearly 3,000 will be based while maintenance work is done on the carrier. It was homeported in Bremerton for a decade from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, and has spent most of this decade based in San Diego.
ADDED 9:31 AM: Thanks so much to Gary Jones, who has shared photos of the Nimitz passing our shores – in the top photo, that’s the Vashon Water Taxi heading downtown as the Nimitz continues its Bremerton-bound path; in the 2nd photo, that’s the top of the Alki Lighthouse in the foreground. Also thanks to Jennifer for noting in a Twitter discussion that the Nimitz is on Facebook (with updates about the arrival).
4:23 PM NOTE: The Navy has announced that after the work in Bremerton, the Nimitz will be homeported in Everett.
Sunset on Beach Drive – not nearly as chilly as it’ll be in a few days, with the forecast still mentioning “snow showers” as a possibility for the weekend (no sooner than Friday night). But first, it’s likely to be breezy – up to 25 mph in tomorrow’s forecast. And there’s analysis of last night’s windstorm, plus a brief look ahead to snow prospects, on Cliff Mass‘s site right now.
(Added 10:17 pm, KING 5 aerial of the orcas between Fauntleroy and Vashon today)
ORIGINAL 10:35 REPORT: We’ve received a couple reports of orcas in the West Seattle/Vashon vicinity, including the Orca Network‘s e-mail report that a Washington State Ferries vessel spotted some around 9 am between Bainbridge Island and Alki Point, headed south. We just checked from Lowman Beach and didn’t see any signs, but wanted to share the word to be on the lookout today. 10:53 AM UPDATE: Adding the first of several photos shared by Gary Jones, who caught the images off Alki Point.
Another example of WSB community collaboration: First, we got a note asking “what’s that white ship off Lowman Beach?” – a question we could only partially answer ourselves, replying with the ship’s ID via MarineTraffic.com (but no info on what it’s up to). Shortly afterward, without us even having noted the question publicly, Trileigh e-mailed to share the photo above and this information on what the ship’s doing:
I thought your readers might be interested in seeing the R/V Thompson, UW Oceanography’s research vessel, visible from West Seattle this morning. This is the first day of a four-day deployment as part of the ongoing PRISM project: Puget Sound Regional Synthesis Model. Readers can find out more about PRISM at www.prism.washington.edu/story/Observing+the+Sound. Pretty impressive!
Thanks, Trileigh!
A few people asked about a Coast Guard helicopter off western West Seattle this morning; tonight, it’s explained: A ferry on the Vashon run reported seeing an orange kayak with a paddle and life jacket on board early this morning – but no kayaker. A helicopter looked for two hours this morning; a boat continued searching till early this evening. U.S. Coast Guard District 13 just sent a news release announcing the end of the search, and asking that anyone with information about the kayak call 206-217-6001.
Two photos shared this afternoon – obviously taken before the weather turned. First, Tom sent the top photo, taken at 12:45 pm in his backyard at 21st and Holly (map), observing, “That’s one healthy-looking coyote! He’s looking at our chicken coop…..” (Here’s info on coexisting with coyotes.) Next, from Gary Jones:
In the distance, looking over the top of Alki Lighthouse, Gary believes that was a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser under tow northbound, coming out of Rich Passage from Bremerton. Closer look:
We’re still researching in hopes of figuring out exactly what that ship was.
(Added 3:10 pm, KING 5 video of orcas in the North Sound)
West Seattle-based whale expert Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales called with a report of a large number of orcas heading south from Edmonds not too long ago – and we’ve since heard from Krista that Orca Network is reporting this too (keep an eye on their Facebook page). No way to know if they’ll make it this far south, but we’re sending out the early heads-up just in case. Let us know if you see any! 5:06 PM: Just got a call from Donna with The Whale Trail, orcas visible from Alki area. We’re off to check. 10:12 PM NOTE: By the time we got there, they’d turned from Alki Point toward the Kitsap Peninsula, where they put on quite a show for a while in the early evening, north of Blake Island (we caught a glimpse thanks to binoculars loaned by Donna and Jeff, who were both there). According to the Orca Network‘s nightly report, they were last seen heading south down Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon Island, so keep a look out in the morning just in case they stayed in the South Sound overnight!
While we were covering Friday morning’s orca sightings between West Seattle and Vashon Island, as noted here, orca expert Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales turned up at the same small shoreline park where we were on the lookout – and he had his camera in tow. These are four photos he shared afterward – two of them including ID’s, like this one, J16, with a state ferry on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run:
And this one is J1, the oldest male among the “southern resident” orcas, believed to be in his fifties:
Jeff even got a photo of one orca breaching:
Whenever we get a tip about a nearby sighting, we publish it here (usually with running coverage ensuing) as well as to Twitter and Facebook – this is prime season for the southern resident orcas to come further south in Puget Sound to chow down on salmon, so we’ll likely be seeing more of them in the weeks ahead. One great way to get a daily roundup of regional sightings is through the Orca Network‘s mailing list – sign up here. Its leaders are based on Whidbey Island. Back here in West Seattle, in addition to Jeff’s Killer Whale Tales, there are other great orca-related resources, like Donna Sandstrom’s The Whale Trail.
Beautiful Wednesday night images from Christopher Boffoli: Sunset behind the Olympics was followed closely by this moonrise from behind Alki (seen from the water):
The latest forecast suggests we won’t have another clear night for at least a week. (We’ll see!)
With less than a month officially left in summer – more like about two weeks, unofficially, if you consider Labor Day the summer/fall bridge – the beauty shots become all the more poignant. Top photo, JayDee captured tonight’s glory from the Alki area; next, David Ginsberg‘s view of the Fauntleroy ferry:
And from Friday night’s Alki sunset, David Hutchinson brings us Seagullzilla:
Thanks to everyone who shares photos – all these ways, or via the West Seattle Blog Flickr group.
The most distinctive-looking U.S. Navy ship here for Seafair fleet tours last week, USS Green Bay, sailed out of Elliott Bay today, according to Jamie, who shared photos – above, one of the pictures taken from the King County Water Taxi (WSB sponsor) when Jamie spotted the Green Bay (LPD 20) heading out today, and this one, from a tour during the Green Bay’s Seafair stay:
Jamie also notes, “This amphibious transport dock has a landing pad for helicopters and harrier jets and a submersible dock that is used to launch hovercraft.” You can see video of the Green Bay’s Seattle arrival in our August 4th report on the Seafair fleet parade. It’s currently homeported in San Diego.
These photos are both courtesy of ace Alki wildlife-watcher Guy Smith – top, a seal mom and pup that he says spent a lot of time Wednesday on the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft (rafts like this are a big help, according to Seal Sitters, which has wished there were more) – second, a mini-ferry of sorts also seen off Alki Point – looks terribly familiar but we don’t have time for extensive research to determine its name – recognize it?
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to share photos – either by sending them, or adding to the WSB Flickr group.
ORIGINAL 1:52 PM “SEAFAIR FLEET NOW PARADING PAST WEST SEATTLE” BULLETIN: And downtown next. We’re watching from Duwamish Head. Chopper flyovers too (USCG and TV) Visuals to come!
2:20 PM NOTE: The West Seattle portion of the ship parade is over – HMCS Brandon (710) was the end of the line – but if you’re watching from a downtown window, you probably still have a view. Ship tours are set for Thursday-Sunday; more info here.
3:26 PM: Substituting photo by David Hutchinson atop the story:
The USS Port Royal leads the Seafair Parade of Ships past the Alki Statue of Liberty. In light of recent events, the sentiment expressed by one of the Tribute Plaques installed just in front of the statue becomes even more poignant.
He included the plaque:
3:59 PM: Our video below is a look at the biggest ship in the parade, the USS Green Bay (LPD 20):
It wasn’t listed on the Seafair info page – but we found the US Navy news release with newer information. ADDED 4:45 PM: One of three Canadian Navy ships of the “coastal defense vessel” type, the HMCS Edmonton:
(July 2009 Seafair fleet “parade” photo by Mark Rhea)
Not specifically West Seattle, but widespread interest, and you’ll see some of these Seafair spectacles from here, so here goes: We’re awaiting a specific time-frame for the Blue Angels‘ “mid-afternoon” arrival tomorrow – here’s their previously announced schedule for the week. Then on Wednesday afternoon, you’ll see the Seafair fleet arrive in Elliott Bay, en route to where they’ll dock for tours: 4 ships are expected from the U.S. Navy, 3 from the Canadian Navy – this page on the Seafair site has full details (including tour times). 6:24 PM: Ryan reminds us via Facebook that we should include the link to the I-90 bridge closure times for the Blue Angels’ flights Thursday-Sunday – here it is.
Just came back to West Seattle on the state ferry Tillikum from Vashon (covered the two-race campaign forum – stories in the morning) – without realizing, till the boat was almost docked, that it was a historic run: The last voyage for Captain Lynda Wheeler, Washington State Ferries‘ first female captain. Well-wishes were broadcast on the public-address system just as the Tillikum pulled up to the Fauntleroy dock; the voice urged those on board to applaud Captain Wheeler as she walked off. (We hoped to catch a photo but she was out of sight by the time we drove off the ferry.) In 1977 – according to this timeline – Captain Wheeler became WSF’s first female deck officer (here’s more from HistoryLink).
ADDED SATURDAY 6:48 AM: Turns out someone who read this last night did get a photo – one of the West Seattle-residing candidates at the aforementioned forum. State Sen. (County Council hopeful) Joe McDermott:
I had the opportunity to congratulate her (last) night walking off the boat here at Fauntleroy. She is looking forward to hiking during retirement, but is sleeping in (this) morning.
ORIGINAL 3 PM REPORT: Just heard from Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail – she says orcas have been spotted off south West Seattle shores, Marine View Drive vicinity. They’ve switched directions so no indication of which way they’re headed now; we’re off to look, but wanted to get the word out just in case there’s the chance for others to see them too. 3:16 PM UPDATE: We’re told they’re now just off the Vashon ferry dock, and heading north – about five so-called “transients” – look for a NOAA Zodiac-type craft near them. 4:11 PM UPDATE: A few minutes ago via Twitter, @shermanscorner reported they’re just south of Alki Lighthouse.
The beautiful weather’s back, which means more people heading out on the water. But Seal Sitters has a reminder for you … steer clear of sites where seals haul out, because recklessness – or even simple curiosity – can endanger baby seals’ lives, without you ever touching them or even going ashore. Robin Lindsey‘s latest update on the Seal Sitters‘ website explains.
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