West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
For the second day, orcas are in the area. Kersti Muul texted earlier this morning that they were southbound but already passing Arbor Heights; then another texter reported less than an hour ago they were northbound passing Vashon. Orca Network commenters are seeing them off west-facing West Seattle too. Let us know if you see them!
12:43 PM: Here’s an opportunity for Friday afternoon whale-watching: Kersti Muul just texted with a report that “a big group of transients” headed southbound just entered Elliott Bay off Magnolia. Let us know if you see them!
3:35 PM: In addition to the updates in comments, we now have video! Thanks to Jamie Kinney for sharing this:
2:37 PM: If you have some time for Saturday afternoon whale-watching, head toward the Elliott Bay shore – Kersti Muul just texted that transient killer whales are heading into the bay. Let us know if you see them!
3:51 PM: Jamie Kinney sent that camera-screen shot of an orca he saw from Don Armeni Boat Ramp. He says they’re still visible from there right now!
4:43 PM: And shortly thereafter, the whales headed out of the bay, per commenter EH.
6:41 PM: Thanks to those who’ve sent photos! These three are from Jamie:
And these two are from Robert Spears:
2:38 PM: After heading south this morning, whales from the Southern Resident orcas’ J-Pod are northbound again and right across the Sound from West Seattle, reports Kersti Muul. She says they’ve exited Colvos Passage (on the west side of Vashon) and are headed for the east side of Blake Island. Let us know if you see them!
3:51 PM: Gary says in comments that as of a few minutes ago, they were passing Alki Point, still northbound.
2:42 PM: Just got a text from Kersti Muul that orcas are visible from Constellation Park, looking across Puget Sound toward the Southworth ferry terminal. They’re northbound. Let us know if you see them!
4:10 PM: Still in the area, according to an Orca Network commenter who reported orcas just south of Restoration Point on the south end of Bainbridge [map].
Orcas are passing West Seattle, per a text from Kersti Muul – NB in the Vashon ferry lanes.
10:14 AM: Via text from Kersti Muul: “Orcas (several) SB from Bainbridge Island to Seattle ferry lanes, very close to Seattle side. Very surface active. Multiple males.” Let us know if you see them!
(Added: Photo by James Bratsanos)
10:53 AM: Kersti updates in a comment below that they’re still southbound, approaching Lowman Beach as of a few minutes ago.
11:28 AM: Photo added. They’re reported to be Burien-bound at this point – but eventually they’ll have to head back this way!
12:18 PM: Another photo added. We’ll update this story later if we get word the orcas – transients, per Kersti – are headed back this way.
3:03 PM: More photos added above and below!
They were visible from 54th/Alki, Kersti Muul tells us. But beware that cold north wind!
3 PM: Orcas are in the area again, seen off Alki Point Lighthouse, per Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see them too!
3:07 PM: I They’re southbound, now off Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4500 block Beach Drive), Kersti says.
3:34 PM: Now off Lincoln Park.
Orcas are headed northbound past West Seattle, approaching Brace Point, Kersti Muul just texted.
P.S. If you missed their Elliott Bay visit Friday, we received reader photos last night and added them here.
(Photo by Maya Sears, NMFS Permit 27052)
Back on Tuesday, we published photographer Brittany Noelle‘s report about discovering a new baby orca with the Southern Residents’ J-Pod. Now whale advocates are excited about the calf’s relatively speedy gender reveal. He showed himself to West Seattle researchers Mark and Maya Sears, and The Whale Trail‘s Donna Sandstrom sent us their photos and details last night:
Mark and Maya Sears were out with J pod again (Thursday). They encountered J60, and confirmed he is a male! They encountered the whales near Point No Point on the north end of Bainbridge Island.
It can sometimes takes a while to determine gender of an orca – when they are young, the only way to tell them apart is by the markings on their underbellies. A whale has to roll over so the markings are visible – which J60 did (Thursday), twice!
(Photo by Maya Sears, NMFS Permit 27052)
J60’s mom is J40 (aka Suttles), a 19-year-old female. This is her first calf (that we know of). Maya said that J46, a 13-yr-old female named Star, spent a lot of time around the new calf too.
An interesting bit of history – Mark and Maya were the first people to spot J40 in 2004, when she was a newborn calf. The Sears encountered J40 and her mom J14 (Samish) mid-channel between Lincoln Park and Blake Island on December 21, 2004:
(2004 photo of then-newborn J40 and J14, by Mark Sears)
Nearly nineteen years to the day after they spotted J40, they spotted her first calf (J60).
There’s long been speculation that central Puget Sound is a calving ground for the southern residents. At least for J pod, that appears to be true!
(Photo by Maya Sears, NMFS Permit 27052)
There are now 10 calves under five years old in the southern resident population, and six of those are female. The future of the population is here! Whether they survive and thrive into adulthood is up to us.
Here’s how people can help:
-Give the orcas the acoustic space they need to forage, rest, and socialize.
-Watch southern residents from shore, and stay 1000 yards away from them at sea..
-Take the pledge at givethemspace.org and encourage your friends to take it too.
-Download the free app Whale Alert to learn when southern residents are near. Share any whale sightings with the app too..This year Washington State passed legislation to establish a 1000-yard acoustic buffer around the orcas. The setback will become mandatory in 2025 – a welcome step forward. But the orcas need our help today. Take the pledge and help us give J60 a fighting chance!
J60’s birth brings the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales’ population to 76.
The photos were sent to us tonight by Brittany Noelle of PNW Orca Pod Squad Photography, who reports:
As you may know, J-pod has now spent 5 days in inland Puget Sound. Today while traveling southbound from Kingston the whales made an usually close pass at Jefferson Beach and then Fay Bainbridge [map], where photographs were taken by myself, Brittany Noelle, with PNW ORCA Pod Squad Photography and Salish Wildlife Watch, of a new J-pod calf (mother unknown at this time).
If you look closely at the top photo, you’ll see the telltale pinkish hue of a baby orca – explained here. This sighting was a ways north of us, but J-Pod was seen off West Seattle just three days ago.
Thanks for all the tips! Orcas are in Elliott Bay – seen off Duwamish Head. Transients, according to Kersti Muul. Headed westbound, according to tips from Bill and Steve about 10 minutes ago.
(J pod southbound in Puget Sound November 2023, by M. Sears – Permit 21348)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than 40 people filled C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) Thursday for The Whale Trail‘s winter gathering – with the theme on that solstice night, as executive director Donna Sandstrom put it, “finding light in the darkness.”
She opened with The Whale Trail’s origin story, going back to her involvement with the rescue of Springer the orphaned orca 21 years ago, fast forwarding to the challenges the Southern Resident Killer Whales face today – they could be extinct within a century if the factors contributing to their decline don’t change. At its heart, The Whale Trail is a long stretch of viewing spots with interpretive signage along the Pacific Coast (inland waters like Puget Sound too, with locations including four signs in West Seattle), “from San Diego to Prince Rupert, B.C.,” but in practice it’s much more – like Orca Talks and gatherings such as this one, dating back to 2010 – plus other forms of advocacy (Sandstrom served on the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Task Force created by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2018).
That task force addressed many threats to the resident orcas’ survival; Sandstrom’s special interest was shipping noise, including that generated by whale-watching boats. Now there are rules to reduce it, as well as a voluntary pledge program for other boaters. Then, starting in 2025, all boaters will have to stay 1,000 yards away. Sandstrom told attendees that she is serving on an advisory group working on how to ensure all boaters learn about this rule – “we want to make it easy for (boaters to help whales).”
Though the SRKWs’ population isn’t growing, there is reason for hope, Sandstrom said – their three pods (J, K, and L) have nine calves under 5 years old, and six of them are female. She said it’s important for people to leave gatherings like this one “inspired.”
She also paid tribute to longtime supporter Chas Redmond – “he was a super-connector and a joyous human being.” Now, highlights from the guest speakers:
11:26 AM: Orcas from J-Pod are off West Seattle, per text from Kersti Muul – southbound off Alki Point as of about 15 minutes ago. Let us know if you see them!
11:55 AM: They’re now northbound.
1:53 PM: Per a text from Kersti Muul, orcas are southbound, just past West Point. mid-channel, visible from Alki. Let us know if you see them.
2:22 PM: See comments for updates, including that these are Southern Resident Killer Whales.
ADDED SUNDAY EVENING: Thanks to David Hutchinson for photos! Above, one of the orcas; below, people viewing from Constellation Park:
(J pod southbound in Puget Sound November 2023, by M. Sears – Permit 21348)
Two weeks from tonight, on December 21st, The Whale Trail‘s winter gathering will bring updates on the Southern Resident Killer Whales – here’s the announcement from executive director Donna Sandstrom:
Join The Whale Trail and friends for our annual Winter Gathering. Hear updates about southern resident orcas from researcher Brad Hanson, Ph.D. Learn about current approaches to assess the health of the population, and what the data is showing.
Featured speakers also include Washington State Orca Recovery Coordinator Tara Galuska, and researchers Mark and Maya Sears. Tara will share updates about state actions and priorities for SRKW recovery. Mark and Maya will present recent orca encounters in central Puget Sound, including J pod’s overnight trip to Quartermaster Harbor.
Celebrate Solstice and the progress we have made in protecting southern resident orcas. Learn what you can do to help J, K and L pods today. Together we’ll find light in the dark for the whales!
Get tickets now, this will sell out. This is an in-person event only.
Where: C & P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW
When: Thursday December 21, 7 to 8:30
–Doors open at 6:30.
Tickets: $5 suggested donation.
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com
2:10 PM: Thanks for the tips! Orcas have been making their way north, in view from west-facing West Seattle. Most recently, Kersti Muul tells us, they’re passing the south end of Blake Island.
2:15 PM: Added above, an anonymous reader’s photo of two of the male orcas as seen off southernmost West Seattle.
2:53 PM: Passing Alki Point, per message from Mike.
3:50 PM: Some have gone into Elliott Bay, per comments below.
10:15 PM: Thanks to Robin Sinner for sending the photo below: “Got a spy hop at 3:37 pm from Anchor Park”:
ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: Thanks to Alex W for sending this video:
10:46 AM: This is the third day a young humpback whale has been seen in Elliott Bay. Kersti Muul tells us its official ID is BCY0995, and that it was born last year to a humpback known as “Smiley.” Today it’s near the downtown waterfront again. She says its lingering in the area is not necessarily a good thing, and explains in a comment on Wednesday’s report:
… It is a bit concerning (not only for safety reasons). Humpbacks are particularly prone to being struck as they are not as aware of their surroundings as other species of whales. This is an app that you can put on your phone that alerts vessels like the ferries to whales’ presence in the area. It’s a great tool that we use to help whales and wildlife in yet one more way. Here is the link.
Soundwatch will be heading out to keep an eye on this calf and take some pictures.
1:51 PM: Added video above sent by Manuel, showing the humpback breaching.
4:41 PM: David Hutchinson sent photos of Soundwatch, mentioned by Kersti above and in comments;
Meantime, Jamie Kinney sent this photo of the humpback’s fluke as it dove:
That’s one view of the humpback whale seen in Elliott Bay on Tuesday, photographed by Robin Sinner, looking across from Colman Dock – Robin also caught it diving:
And we featured Marina Clough‘s photos of the humpback breaching in our Tuesday report. You might get a chance to see it today too – Kersti Muul texted to report that a humpback is in the bay, closer currently to the grain terminal on the north side of the downtown waterfront. Let us know if you see it!
12:17 PM: A humpback whale is in Elliott Bay off Duwamish Head “in the ferry lanes,” according to a text we received a short time ago from Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see it!
1:21 PM: From John via email, “Several sightings of blows and tail fin out from Smith Tower, ferry terminal and orange cranes.”
4:14 PM: Thanks to Marina Clough of @westseattleviews for sharing her photos of the humpback breaching near the downtown waterfront!
Transient killer whales are in Elliott Bay right now, Kersti Muul reports via text – westbound off Duwamish Head and “very close.”
9:52 AM: Just got a text from Kersti Muul that orcas are southbound off Brace Point “in the shipping lanes.” Might be too far south for you know, but they’ll eventually have to head north again! Let us know if you see them.
10:17 AM: And in fact, they’ve already turned around, Kersti reports, now northbound off Blake Island.
12:24 PM: In comments, Kersti says they’re now off Bainbridge.
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