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Seen at sea 1257 results

From West Seattle waters: A crabby mystery
September 27, 2009 2:44 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

That photo is from “Kona” Greg, who works at Alki Kayak Tours (different Greg from the boss), and wants to know what a king crab was doing in 3-foot deep water off Duwamish Head – or, if that’s not a king crab (which usually roam Alaskan waters), what was it? he wonders:

I was out on a tour Friday Sept 18th and spotted this critter near the Duwamish Head channel marker. I had a guest from Penn. with me. We were in about 3 feet of water and she spotted a crab and asked me what kind it was? I could not believe my eyes when I looked down. It sure looks like a King crab to me. I am wondering if anyone has ever seen a King in Elliott Bay, or has information on what this is if it in fact is not a King. I am in, on, or under water here ALL the time and have been for the last 5 years. I have never seen anything like this. Plus as a PADI divemaster I have over 200 dives right here in West Seattle.

Here’s the other photo he sent:

The only kind of “king crab” that’s supposed to be in Puget Sound is this one – pretty but doesn’t resemble Greg’s photos at all.

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West Seattle wildlife: Seal pup’s rest stop
September 24, 2009 6:40 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Alki photographer Pete R. for sharing photos of a baby harbor seal resting on a float off shore. As we have mentioned here recently, West Seattle-based Seal Sitters say seal-pup season is now in full swing, and ask everyone to be extra careful when these babies turn up – onshore or offshore – taking a break while their moms go off in search of food. Seal Sitters are tracking some of the visitors on their website (read the stories here); that’s also where you can find out what to do if you happen onto a seal that no one’s guarding yet!

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Another way to see seals (and more): Cheap kayaking tomorrow
September 22, 2009 10:49 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Greg Whittaker from Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest e-mailed earlier tonight to say their 10 am-1 pm Alki Lighthouse tour tomorrow didn’t have anyone signed up so he slashed the price to $20. And he attached that cute photo of a little seal checking out a kayak. Whittaker says, “I want to offer it to all those WS people who haven’t come out yet maybe cause they are watching their wallets or simply forgot about us. Currently we have harbor seals pupping, sea lions feeding on salmon, and a few of the first northerly migrants coming through.” Signup info here.

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Seal Sitters update: More pups – please help them survive
September 20, 2009 12:24 pm
|    Comments Off on Seal Sitters update: More pups – please help them survive
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

An update from Brenda Peterson of the West Seattle-based Seal Sitters:

We had another very tiny, nursing pup on the beach Friday night until 1 a.m. She had hauled out at 2 p.m. and was about 2 ft. long, 4 weeks old, with very few teeth, so we knew she was nursing. Seal Sitters were there until the mother finally reappeared in the surf, barked to her pup. The pup suddenly upped and hopped over a log, scooted down the beach and we saw both heads swimming out together. Reunion!

We’ve got a lot of pups on the beach these days. So please remind yourreaders to leash dogs and keep their eyes out. This is pup season. There are also weaning pups who are in a critical transition time for their survival. Call 206 905-SEAL to report pups to Seal Sitters. Volunteer! Also on our website at www.sealsitters.org, there is a new daily blog – we call it the BlubberBlog — that lets the community know about seals showing up on our shores.

Here’s a direct link to the site, where you can read Brenda’s detailed story about the Friday night pup and the nervous moments along the way before that happy reunion.

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Update: West Seattle-based Seal Sitters report more pups
September 16, 2009 6:27 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Video courtesy Seal Sitters)
By Brenda Peterson, Seal Sitters
Special to West Seattle Blog

In the past two weeks we have had 5 pups on the beaches in West Seattle. Please be on alert as you walk the beaches (with binoculars!). If you see a pup please let our Seal Sitter hotline know. Call to report a seal pup on the beach at: 206 905-7324 (SEAL).

One vital thing you can do, even if you do not see a pup, is to let dog people know to leash their dogs because dogs and seal pups can pass diseases back and forth. We don’t want ANY of our pups to get hurt. These seal pups are being weaned and really need rest from their first fishing attempts. This is a critical time for weaning pups; they are often thin and exhausted from their first fishing forays without their mothers.

Though WA State has a healthy seal population, 50% of pups do not survive their first year. The main predators are dogs off-leash and people crowding them. NOAA advises that people please stay the 100 yards back from any resting pup and call Seal Sitters hotline for our trained volunteers. If you see a seal being harassed, please call NOAA’s enforcement hotline at: 1-800-853-1964 or NOAA local stranding hotline at: 206-526-6733.

We cannot cover every beach especially during this busy pup season, so those of you who regularly walk the beach, please be on alert for napping pups.

Last week a new Seal Sitter volunteer named a pup “Justice” after her grandson who was born after 9.11. “Justice” hauled out on a beach on 09.09.09 and was healthy and alert. He lifted his head at every passing school bus and garbage truck. He woke from a deep sleep every time a cell phone or loud voice startled him. Scientists have discovered that seal experience R.E.M. sleep just as humans do! Imagine trying to nap in the middle of an intersection – that’s how our beaches must seem to a seal pup. Thanks for your awareness and please help spread the word. Our Seal Sitter kids have been doing a wonderful job in their schools:

Atop this story is a video of “Justice,” who returned to the waves at 3:00 after hauling out at 8 a.m. It is normal to see seal pups on our beaches. Please educate everyone you know that West Seattle shores are a sanctuary for seal pups. Visit our website at www.sealsitters.org for more information, kids’ activities, and brochures you can print out to distribute on your walks. We hope that seal pups will realize they are among friends here on our West Seattle beaches!

On Tuesday 9.15 we had a pup actually on the sidewalk across from Cactus Restaurant on Alki Beach. Some new Seal Sitters were thrilled to take their first turn watching over this pup, who went back into the water at 7:30 p.m.

What We Need Now:

1. A Twitter person who can do quick, up-to-date blogs for those who want to follow Seal Sitters
2. Schedulers who can make calls so we do not tie up the dispatch line when a pup is on the beach
3. Computer-savvy volunteers who can help us with coordinating updates to volunteers
4. Donations of money or time to help us organize our all-volunteer organization
5. Grant writers so we can get some funding

You can reach Seal Sitters through their website – sealsitters.org.

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Underwater Ivar’s billboards? New video “series” bubbles up
September 15, 2009 2:42 am
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Our trail to that documentary-style video placed on YouTube by Ivar’s started with a post in the WSB Forums, wondering if the video solves the mystery (?) of the Ivar’s sign fished out of Elliott Bay off Alki last month. We had inquired two weeks ago with historian Paul Dorpat, who was mentioned in the initial reports, and here’s what he told us then when we asked “any idea whether it was real or some kind of hoax?”:

The sign is still in the hands of scientists. And they are also, I am told, out diving for the others listed on the map. I, for one, doubt that they will uncover anymore. Ivar would have come to his senses, or he may have only needed one for whatever designs he had. He was famous for chasing the Madrona Sea Monster in the late 40s, and even had a picture of it. I wrote about for an April Fools feature in Pacific. But this sub thing is another thing. You and I will have to wait.

Hmm, mysterious. And when we finally made contact with an Ivar’s PR rep a few days later, she just pointed us back to Paul. Documentary or mockumentary (we can’t help but recall the Jack in the Box Super Bowl saga, though Jack is nowhere near the memorable character Ivar was)? Only time – and tide – and (You)Tube – will tell. (P.S. Global Diving and Salvage, whose vessel Prudhoe Bay is featured in the video, is based in West Seattle.)

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West Seattle scenes: Moonrise, sunset
September 12, 2009 3:41 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle weather

Just a couple pretty pictures as we look ahead to what could be another record-high-temperature day … yesterday set a record at Sea-Tac by hitting 87, but today’s record is 88, and the forecast doesn’t look THAT hot. Anyway, the top photo is from Max, looking toward downtown during Friday night’s moonrise; below, an Alki sunset scene that Greg Wright photographed earlier in the week, focusing on the water instead of the sky:

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West Seattle Whale Watch: Be on the lookout for orcas, again
September 8, 2009 6:49 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Whale Watch: Be on the lookout for orcas, again
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to the photo at left from Rick, we reported Sunday on a group of “transient” orcas being seen in the Sound, passing Fauntleroy, northbound. Tonight, we’re sharing a comment just left beneath that story from Susan with the Orca Network: “A late breaking update – this morning this pod was again seen in Puget Sound – off Shilshole at 10 am heading south, and again at 1:50 pm, still heading south. They have been confirmed as Transient orcas and ID’d as the T137s, with T36A & her offspring T36A1 – they must be heading back down to So. Puget Sound for more of that seal buffet!”

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West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas spotted, northbound
September 6, 2009 12:47 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Rick sent photos after seeing what looked like four orcas heading northbound past Brace Point about 9:15 this morning – that’s the wide shot, with the Vashon ferry dock in the background; here’s a closer view:

There’ve been multiple South Sound sightings of orcas lately, as far south as the Olympia area; according to this Friday story from The Olympian, the ones seen there were “transients,” not belonging to the three orca pods considered “Southern Residents” usually seen around Puget Sound. 3:55 PM P.S. – We are remiss not to mention the Orca Network EVERY time we have an orca story – you can report sightings through their website, where you also can subscribe to their daily e-mail with a roundup of regional sightings and other whale-related news – go to orcanetwork.org. 9:36 PM UPDATE: Rick did report the sighting to the Orca Network, and got a note back saying his sighting helps them confirm that five orcas seen off South Whidbey later in the day were indeed the “transients” that had been hanging out in the Olympia area.

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West Seattle from the sky: Local pilot shares 2 views
August 31, 2009 10:03 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

These photos were taken and shared by Gatewood pilot Long Nguyen, suggesting it “would be cool for folks in WS to see their neighborhood from the air.” He was on a training flight with a student in early August when he took the top photo, which he sent us first, adding this one in a followup exchange:

For a larger view of the 1st photo, go here; for a larger view of the second one, go here.

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“Hundreds” of leaping salmon in West Seattle waters
August 27, 2009 7:30 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Lincoln Park photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli – we hear the fish are here too)
Just got a note from Sam, who reports seeing “hundreds of salmon … dozens leaping through the air as they feed” at the Harbor Island pier. Checking around online, fishing writer Mark Yuasa at seattletimes.com (WSB partner) reported this week that pink salmon are entering the area “in the millions.”

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Photos: Coast Guard exercise participants sail past West Seattle
August 26, 2009 6:48 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Gary J for these photos taken as the Pacific Unity exercise participants sailed past West Seattle shores en route to the downtown U.S. Coast Guard station this afternoon. That’s the Yashima, from Japan, above; next, Canadian hovercraft Siyay along with the USCG’s Midgett:

And from Russia, the Volovskiy:

Here’s more on the exercise they’re involved in, from the preview we published last night.

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Multi-national ship delegation to pass West Seattle shores
August 25, 2009 8:33 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

The Russian Border Guard Vessel Vorovskiy is one of the ships you can expect to see off West Seattle shores tomorrow as Coast Guard ships from several Pacific Rim nations arrive for to continue the Pacific Unity exercise. According to a media advisory tonight from U.S. Coast Guard District 13, “Japan, Russia, Canada and the United States are sending vessels to take part” in the exercise, while “China and South Korea will be participating as observers. Specifically, the partner nations will be coordinating simulated search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement and security operations during the three-day event.” Arrivals are expected on the downtown waterfront around 2:30 pm, so watch for them earlier in the afternoon; others heading this way include the Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft Siyay, shown here in Coast Guard video from the Port Angeles area, where the exercise also has been under way:

The USCG has lots more info online, including links to other video clips, reachable from this special page.

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Mysterious Ivar’s sign fished out of Elliott Bay
August 22, 2009 5:13 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

The WSB Forums have been abuzz about this – and we finally have a link to share from one of the photographers who caught it on camera: An (apparently) old Ivar’s sign fished out of Elliott Bay off West Seattle shores last night. See it here at seattletimes.com. Whether it’s history … is for now a mystery.

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West Seattle scenes: Lowest August tides, this week
August 17, 2009 11:13 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scenes: Lowest August tides, this week
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Chas Redmond for that photo from Seacrest Pier. It’s a reminder that this week includes August’s lowest tides – not nearly as low as the ones enjoyed earlier this summer, but still good enough for shore appreciation. Tomorrow and Wednesday mornings have the lowest tides (here’s the chart), around -2.0, 9:44 am Tuesday and 10:34 am Wednesday. Chas also sent this sunrise photo from Seacrest:

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West Seattle wildlife: Skate? Ray? Help ID this sea creature
August 4, 2009 4:19 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Jill sends this photo and explains, “Out walking the dog on the beach at low tide and saw this dead Manta Ray, or so I think. found south of the Arroyos during low tide. Anyone know, is this common for Puget Sound?” We know “skates” can be found in cold waters – “manta rays” tend to be tropical – any thoughts on Jill’s discovery? Here’s another photo, for scale:

One possibility we’ve come across so far: A “big skate.”

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West Seattle scenes: Hot, hot, hot
July 29, 2009 8:59 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Bill Bacon caught that reading at the First Mutual Bank sign north of The Junction this afternoon. Meantime, Minette sent a beautiful shot of last night’s moonset behind Vashon, seen from Lowman Beach. She says it’s looked like this the last three nights and you might see something similar if you look that way around 10:30 tonight:

We’re mulling a ferry ride as a late-night cooldown measure. Meantime, the temperatures are slithering downward .. but still in the 90s as of the official 9 pm readings at Sea-Tac and Boeing Field (closest “official” to us).

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Tuesday afternoon notes: Heat; USCGC Bertholf; Blue Angels late
July 28, 2009 1:46 pm
|    Comments Off on Tuesday afternoon notes: Heat; USCGC Bertholf; Blue Angels late
 |   Blue Angels | Seen at sea | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

That photo just looks so cool and blue … thanks to Gary Jones for sharing his pic of the US Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf as it arrived in Elliott Bay for Seafair (as previewed here). ADDED 6:25 PM: Gary has video of the arrival too:

Meantime, this afternoon’s biggest Seafair arrival, the Blue Angels, are reportedly running late – latest estimate, 3-3:30 pm at Boeing Field. Now, as for the heat: The newest forecast is still calling for up to 100 today, even hotter tomorrow; we’re compiling a keep-cool list in the WSB Forums (read it and/or add your suggestion/s here). Meantime, the mayor’s having a media briefing about the city’s heat-wave response in about an hour.

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West Seattle scene: Waiting for the tide to come back in
July 22, 2009 12:52 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

The cameraphone photo’s a bit fuzzy but you get the drift, so to speak – today’s low tide left a boat marooned on the Alki flats. Thanks to Stephanie for sending the photo; it reminded us of one we photographed last year – we looked it up and in fact, that one was in July 2008. Today’s low tide bottomed out before noon so here’s hoping today’s unlucky boater will be back afloat soon; there are minus tides for the next few days as well, but none as low as the past few days.

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One more day of notably low tide – and a bit of a weather break
July 21, 2009 10:11 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

We took out the pocket Flip video camera for a quick pan of the beach at Alki, where we stopped to check out the exact moment this morning (about quarter till 11) that the tide hit its lowest point of the month. (As you can see in the video, no major crowds, lots of room to explore.) Tomorrow will be almost as low, in case you have a chance to get out during the late morning — it bottoms out just after 11:30 am. And tonight’s “forecast discussion” from the National Weather Service mentions a “minor cooling trend” for the next day or two, before a bigger blast of hot air comes this way over the weekend (just in time for the Alki Art Fair Saturday and Sunday, and the next West Seattle Junction Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation Saturday night – the original “King Kong”).

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Lowest tide of the month today – and naturalists’ last day
July 21, 2009 6:30 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(photo via Twitter from @andreajwalker, taken Monday at Alki)
Lowest tide of the month today, and John Smersh – co-proprietor of Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) and volunteer beach naturalist – says it’s the naturalists’ last day of the summer. So if you want to low-tide-walk and learn as you go – get out this morning. John will be at Constellation Park; other beach naturalists will be at Lincoln Park. They’re out 10 am-1:30 pm but John notes that the lowest tide is 10:47 am, minus 3.5 feet – it’s still low-ish again tomorrow but not as low as today.

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Homecoming day: USS John C. Stennis, seen from West Seattle
July 10, 2009 7:58 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

As previewed earlier this week, the carrier USS John C. Stennis returned to Bremerton this morning after a six-month deployment. Gary Jones shares the view from West Seattle shores, in the pink light of very-early morning. He writes, “Ahoy and welcome home, USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74).”

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Carrier USS John C. Stennis to pass West Seattle shores early Friday
July 8, 2009 12:27 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea

Per the Kitsap Sun, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis will return to Bremerton early Friday – due in around 7 am – after a six-month deployment, so that likely means West Seattle waterfront views for early risers. It’s headed this way from a stop in San Diego. (The carrier has an extensively updated website, including feature stories like this one about a father and son both currently on board.)

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