West Seattle (and vicinity) scenes: Ferries to feathers
WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli shares two views of the Washington State Ferries vessel Issaquah, usually on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run but currently in drydock at Todd Shipyards:
Also along the West Seattle waterfront: David Hutchinson provides a new view of one of this spring’s most famous local families:
David writes:
There are currently 24 goslings being tended by 2 pairs of adult geese. You can see them roaming the lawns between Salty’s and the Don Armeni boat ramp each day and then leaving in a group after sunset for the beaches of Jack Block Park to spend the night. By the end of July, they will have grown to near adult size and will have learned to fly.
We closely followed the development of last year’s group of goslings and found it very fascinating. Hopefully, despite their controversial status, people will take advantage of this opportunity to see nature close up and will be tolerant of their presence over the next several months. Sadly, last year we observed individuals setting their dogs on groups of adult geese with goslings and quite a few kids seemed think that it was amusing to throw rocks at them as they swam by.
For more information about Canada Geese, check www.canadageese.org/faq.html
We received another goose-family photo today from Manuel:
P.S. Not West Seattle-specific, but if you too are a bird fan, you might enjoy reading the latest on Seattle’s urban peregrines (they’re not mentioned so far this year, but some have been known to nest under The Bridge).
More West Seattle weekend scenes: Pinniped & paint
Thanks to Lina Senzer-Rose for sharing the sea lion photo taken by husband Scott Rose – many others who rode the King County Water Taxi (our major coverage of today’s kickoff is here) probably got a good look too! – One more weekend note, Scott C tipped us that lane lines on The Bridge have been re-striped – this photo doesn’t quite do it justice, but we verified ourselves they’re strikingly brighter. Knock wood that we aren’t in for further rounds of road-eroding weather badness.
We had one other bit of road news – we’ve published so much news this weekend that you might have missed it or not gotten to it yet – the Fauntleroy Way repaving contract was awarded, and the bid came in low enough that they will be able to stretch the repaving southwestward to SW Holly. We’ll be checking this week for updates on when that work’s likely to start.
Time and tide: West Seattle shores, revealed
WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli shares that low-tide look from earlier this week. Tides are back on the upswing but if you’re a low-tide fan, you only have to wait a few more weeks for the rocks and other secrets to be revealed (here’s the chart).
West Seattle scenes: Sunset sailing; camp on campus
As Rick R. put it, tonight’s sunset was simply golden — that’s the view from Fauntleroy. (Probably no encore tomorrow — the forecast looks wet and breezy.) A couple miles east, and a few hours earlier, it was Day 2 of Spring Break Camp at Denny Middle School in Westwood:
Denny principal Jeff Clark sent those photos with word that this camp is recordbreaking:
Yesterday and today, we have had 225 kids at school increasing their skills in reading, math, writing, science, and music. Our break camp programs are designed to create learning opportunities for our students beyond the regular school year calendar. The previous attendance record for a break camp at Denny was approximately 100 students, so this week’s daily total of 225 is amazing. I would like to congratulate our outstanding students for their efforts and thank our terrific staff for making this opportunity possible–go, Denny Dolphins!
Got news about your school, group, or ? — please let us know — the various ways to reach us are all listed here.
Coast Guard chopper off Alki
Twitter user “seakobi“ sent that via TwitPic, taken from Alki about half an hour ago – and we got notes from Barb and Robin wondering about the helicopter. Clearly a Coast Guard chopper, but we aren’t having any luck getting the CG on the phone; no rescue calls on 911, so perhaps training? May not be able to verify till tomorrow, but if you happen to know, please chime in. And thanks to “seakobi” for the photo. ADDED 8:34 PM: And this one too:
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: From comments, official confirmation (and yes, the IP address checks out):
The crews from Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., and Station Seattle were doing their weekly helicopter operations training March 31. Nice photos from your reader.
Paul Roszkowski, Chief Public Affairs Specialist, U. S. Coast Guard
Different kind of rescue on Alki tonight: Beached sonar device
That sonar-equipped, self-propelled seafloor-mapping device caused a stir along Alki Avenue this afternoon, then again tonight. Around midafternoon, its owners say, it failed a test; then someone apparently mistook it for an overturned kayak and rescuers briefly responded. It wound up on the beach in the 1300 block of Alki — where some passersby wondered if it were a “torpedo” — and there it stayed till a crane could be brought in a short time ago to retrieve it:
It couldn’t just be carried off the beach, its owners explained, because it weighs 1300 pounds. (Here’s a little more about it.) So they had to summon the crane (and police came out to be sure it could get close enough to the seawall, safely). 9:12 PM UPDATE: Adding video of the crane operation. (Note, the mapping device achieves liftoff about 49 seconds in.)
West Seattle whale-watching alert: Orcas heading this way
Just got a call from West Seattle-based orca expert Jeff Hogan, who says there’s been a sighting around Bainbridge and they’re headed south – so heads up if you’re anywhere near the West Seattle waterfront. Updates as we get them. 11:12 AM UPDATE: Jeff called again – says “they’re a mile off Vashon, heading south.” 1:45 PM UPDATE: The Orca Network has more details on today’s sighting near Bainbridge:
March 19
Orca Network received a call from the Ferry Kitsap at 10:50 am, reporting a pod of orcas 1 mile off Alki Pt, between Alki & Restoration Pts, near the Tango Buoy, heading south.
March 19
We are watching what looks like 4 Orcas in a line between Rolling Bay, Bainbridge Island and Carkeek Park, Seattle. They are close to the south bound shipping lane heading south. Looks like one male, two females and not sure about the 4th one. Saw the first one at 8am.
UPDATE 8:30am: The four came in by Skiff Point, Bainbridge Island still heading south. A mother and a juvenile are also out in the south bound shipping lane off of West Point. The juvenile is particularly frisky – jumping clear out of the water.
ADDED 4:15 PM: Here’s a link to KING5 aerials shot today.
Two visual souvenirs of West Seattle’s fabulous Friday
Ever wish you had the perfect video to send to friends/family out of state who haven’t been here on a sunny day and can’t understand why you love West Seattle so much? We suggest this could be THE clip to share. WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli went out for a drive, with his camera riding high in the back, and that video is the result. (See if you recognize ALL the streets!)
Meantime — it was still a lovely day as the clouds rolled in later; Dan in Sunrise Heights sent this photo from the ferry Kitsap:
Tomorrow’s forecast: Cloudy. At least we have the memories!
Photo and update from Puget Sound orcas’ thrilling appearance
Jeff Hogan of West Seattle-based Killer Whale Tales, who brought us first word of the big orca group that passed through on Friday, shares that photo of L-pod whales along with an update on his adventures as they headed north:
I got the opportunity to go out on the “fecal follow” boat with our friends from NOAA Fisheries after (watching from West Seattle shores) … We caught up with the 40+ members of L Pod at the Kingston Ferry terminal and stayed with them for nearly three hours as the whales moved northwards. The scientists I was with were trying to collect fecal samples, (yes..poop!) as well as fish scales left over from predation events.
The scat samples will allow the scientists to measure and determine a variety of things, including hormonal levels in the individual whales. These levels can be used to determine many systemic problems in the individual whales, like stress, illness or even something positive like pregnancy in females.
Check out this link to find out more (May 2008 KING5 story).
The prey samples collected will help to narrow down what these animals are eating throughout the year. Right now it looks like their diet is nearly 90% salmon, and mostly Chinook or King in the summer and Chum in the winter. The DNA recovered in the samples can also identify exactly which stream those salmon come from and can help to steer recovery of those specific runs.
By the time the orcas had moved to northern waters, three Seattle TV stations had recorded aerial video; here are links to those 3 clips – KOMO (4), KING (5), KIRO (7). Find out more about the “southern resident” orcas here.
West Seattle Whale Watch: Keep an eye out in the morning
(December 2008 photo by Jeff Hogan)
This afternoon, Jeff Hogan from West Seattle-based Killer Whale Tales called to say a sizable group of orcas was reported off Point No Point on the Kitsap Peninsula (map) and possibly heading this way. No sightings reported by sundown but Jeff – who provided us with photos and info about West Seattle’s last major orca sighting in December (photo above) – e-mailed this update tonight:
Turns out up to 20 plus killer whales were at the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry and still heading our way. It’s quite possible that they will be off WS in the morning. My scientific colleagues are very interested in getting out on the water to collect both photos and scat samples, especially if the new baby is with them. If any WSB’ers see them, please contact Orca Network at 1.866.ORCANET or they can call me at 206.660.0835. I will let WSB know what is going on as soon as I know something.
Two babies have been sighted/photographed with Puget Sound orcas recently, in fact – photos are on this page at the Orca Network’s website. (9:50 pm note – we just received the Orca Network’s nightly “sightings” newsletter – you can subscribe here – and it includes several sightings of this group, with the last one reported at 5:10 pm, passing Carkeek Park.)
West Seattle weekend scenes: Low tide; smooth sailing; cleanup
Lina Rose says she and husband Scott Rose are glad they saw the most recent edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – they decided to go on last night’s low-tide walk across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, organized by Camp Long, and their memorable discoveries included the beautiful creatures shown in Scott’s photos above and below:
Lots of future Camp Long adventures ahead – browse online here. Earlier in the day, a different sight on Puget Sound – the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s Duwamish Head Race (thanks to Hopey for the heads-up it was happening), photographed by Gary J:
And first thing Saturday morning, dozens of volunteers — including the mayor — fanned out in the South Delridge/White Center business district for a Clean-and-Green spruce-up event:
Those two pix are WSB staff photos, but the great Puget Sound pix preceding it came from WSB’ers – if you have a photo to share with your West Seattle neighbors (and others who use WSB to keep in touch with WS), please e-mail us any time at editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
West Seattle scenes: Spectacular sunset
Thanks to WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli for capturing the beauty of tonight’s sunset, from Beach Drive.
Reminder, Christopher’s photography will be featured at Ama Ama (WSB sponsor) next Thursday night, 6-9 pm, on the inhouse bigscreens, during the Holiday Edition of the West Seattle Art Walk.
West Seattle orca sightings update, with photos from Alki!
Just received that photo and the one below this post from Jeff Hogan, executive director of Killer Whale Tales, who was more closely involved than most people with the sightings we reported yesterday (anyone seen them today? we think we MAY have seen them in the distance, south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock, within the past hour, but our binoculars leave much to be desired). Jeff e-mailed:
I just wanted to let my new West Seattle neighbors know that we have members of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale Community in the area. Yesterday they spent most of the day off Alki Point and were easily visible for the better part of the afternoon. I am including two photos I took from the beach, one is picture of 13 year old J30 and the other has J8, a 75 year old female in the foreground and L7 a 47 year old female in the background. I spent most of the day on the water with a group of NOAA scientists, collecting fecal samples, (yes, poop) as well as scale samples from their prey. If anyone sees them on the water please give me a call at 206.660.0835 or call the Orca Network hotline at 1.866.672.2638.
Here’s the photo of J30:
Our coverage from yesterday is here (first report) and here (Orca Network sightings details, plus a link for more on the individual whales). For more information on Killer Whale Tales, here’s its website.
More on the West Seattle orca sightings: Who saw what, where
(file photo of Puget Sound resident orcas, from NOAA)
In our morning report about nearby orca sightings, we mentioned the Orca Network‘s daily “sightings” e-mail (subscribe to it here). The latest one just arrived, and it tells the story of today’s sightings – we’ll paraphrase:
*8:15 am, six orcas reported by captain of ferry Tacoma on Seattle-Bainbridge run
*9 am, orcas reported off Alki Point by captain of ferry Hyak on Seattle-Bremerton run
*9:09 am, orcas reported “at the mouth of Elliott Bay” by captain of ferry Kalama (Seattle-Vashon)
*9:30 am, five whales seen from Alki Point identified as: J1 (Ruffles), J27 (Blackberry), J2 (Granny), J8 (Speiden) and J30 (Riptide) [find out more on individual whales here]
*9:45 am, report of three orcas “traveling southwest from Alki Beach”
*9:45 am, report from a vessel that saw “about 4 whales just south of West Seattle and east of Blake Island”
*10:20 am Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run, passenger reported the captain announcing a pod of orcas, one male and four females: “They appear very active and look to be feeding. … The male appeared to be herding salmon down to the others.”
*10:43 am, captain of the ferry Issaquah reported orcas “milling near the Fauntleroy dock”
*10:50 am, sighting between Vashon and West Seattle
*11:40 am, two orcas spotted heading from Alki Point toward West Point (Magnolia)
*11:41 am, captain of the ferry Wenatchee spotted orcas near Bainbridge
*Noon, chief mate of the ferry Tacoma spotted orcas near Bainbridge
Last report says a Vashon spotter saw the whales heading north around 5 pm “after spending at least 8 hours in south Puget Sound.” Tomorrow, perhaps? Thanks to the tipsters who sounded the alert this morning for WSB-land!
Bulletin: Orcas spotted off Alki/Beach Drive
(photo added 10:57 am – they’re out there SOMEWHERE)
That very quick note just in from David: “Orca pod spotted off Alki Beach at 9:45 am!!!!” We’re getting in the car now. Add comments if you see them – where, when, which way. Photos welcome. 10:52 AM UPDATE: Just back from driving the entire length of West Seattle waterfront, both directions. Got the nice sunbreak photo above (looking south from just south of Alki Point), but no whales. However, as noted in the comments, they seem to have headed southwest; this post on Beach Drive Blog says the same. So they’re out there somewhere – keep a lookout. This is the time of year when the orcas often venture into central Puget Sound. The Orca Network sends daily e-mail with the latest sightings from all around Puget Sound (including the San Juan Island waters where they’re most often seen); you can sign up for it here. 3:05 PM UPDATE: Got e-mail from Mike, who thinks he may be seeing them in Elliott Bay from downtown.
Another reason to be thankful: West Seattle’s water wonders
Fauntleroy’s Ron Richardson sent that Thanksgiving Eve photo, along with the next one and the story that follows:
Jason, a Fauntleroy resident, brings his paddle board to Fauntleroy Cove two or three times a week.
Wednesday is a perfect day for Jason to share the cove with the Washington State Ferries. Jason works for REI and is obviously very proficient with one of their new product lines. The board can be navigated and propelled by a single long paddle or it can be rigged with a sail to use as a wind surf outfit. Folks in Fauntleroy are used to seeing Jason aboard his rig in fair weather and foul. Look for him around Alki as well.
-submitted by Ron Richardson (who is continually rewarded by his walks through the Fauntleroy neighborhood)
We love to share photos, with or without stories, from all over West Seattle – send ’em to editor@westseattleblog.com any time! Ron also recently shared a story with our partner site White Center Now, a belated Veterans Day tribute to Al Skaret – you can read it here.
these days. Just posted last night – an update on
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