PHOTOS: Orcas off West Seattle
3:29 PM: Just texted by Kersti Muul: Orcas are “super close to shore,” northbound, headed toward Lincoln Park.
7:51 PM: Thanks to David Hutchinson for sending photos of the orcas – transients, he says – as they passed Constellation Park and headed into Elliott Bay.
WHALE SIGHTING: In Elliott Bay
A gray whale is feeding close to shore off Alki. Kersti Muul says it’s about 100 feet out off the 1700 block of Alki Avenue SW right now and was close in off the west end of Alki earlier.
SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Gray whale, northbound (photo added)
1:20 PM: Whale sighting just in from Kersti Muul – a baleen whale, northbound, close to shore, headed toward Brace Point. (That description means it could be a gray or humpback, among others.) Let us know if you see it!
6:12 PM: Kersti noted earlier in a comment that this is a gray whale. Added above, a photo from David Hutchinson, who says he “was fortunate to see the gray whale passing Constellation Park just after 3 PM today.”
PHOTOS: Two groups of orcas in the area
10:07 AM: Eclipse visibility: Iffy. Whale visibility: Good news – Kersti Muul just sent word of two groups of orcas in the area: “Group 1: southbound from West Point. Group 2: west of mid-channel off the north end of Blake Island, unknown direction of travel.” Let us know if you see any!
10:22 AM: Kersti has updated in a comment below. In short, group 2 is headed out of sight (for now) along the west side of Vashon, but group 1 has entered Elliott Bay.
1 PM: Another update below from Kersti; meantime, we’ve added a photo above, sent by Dan Ciske.
6:24 PM: Thanks also to Robin Sinner for the next photo, taken as orcas passed Constellation Park:
PHOTOS: Evening orca sighting!
6:16 PM: Just in from Kersti Muul: “Large group of transient orcas has been southbound and some are now south of West Point – just east of mid-channel.” That means they’re passing through the entrance to Elliott Bay. Let us know if you see them!
(Added: Photos by David Hutchinson)
6:20 PM: Update from Kersti – orcas are now heading into the bay.
6:40 PM: See comments for updates.
10:06 PM: Added two photos above, courtesy of David Hutchinson, who says they were “taken near the west end of the Alki promenade and from Constellation Park.”
ADDED TUESDAY: Photo from James Tilley:
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ORCAS: Sunday whale-watching
Just texted by Kersti Muul – orcas are southbound off Restoration Point (which is on Bainbridge Island directly across the Sound from the mouth of Elliott Bay). Let us know if you see them!
SIGHTING: Gray whale in the area
1:50 PM: Friday afternoon whale watching! Reported by Kersti Muul – a baleen whale is in the area, most recently seen in the Fauntleroy-Vashon ferry lanes, southbound.
4:03 PM: If you haven’t seen Kersti’s updates in comments – she says it’s a gray. (Around here, baleen usually means gray or humpback – though others have shown up on occasion.)
PHOTOS: Orcas in the area; grays nearby, too
11:36 AM: Just texted by Kersti Muul: “Group of transients popping out of Colvos passage now NB toward Southworth.” (Colvos is the waterway along the west side of Vashon.)
1:26 PM: In addition to her update in a comment below, Kersti texted: “We had 2 grey whales near Restoration Point SB a while ago – likely still in the area.” (Restoration Point is on Bainbridge, right across the Sound from Alki – here’s a map.)
2:16 PM: Kersti says the orcas have gone into Elliott Bay.
ADDED 5:40 PM: Thanks for the photos! James Tilley says the orcas engaged in a “breachfest” near Anchor/Luna Park:
David Hutchinson caught one too:
Robert Spears noticed lots of boat activity in the area:
(added) One more photo! This one’s from Dan Ciske:
WHALES: Saturday sighting
11:42 AM: Just texted by Kersti Muul: “Group of orcas near Seattle to Bainbridge ferry lanes … Direction unknown.” Let us know if you see them!
12:09 PM: Kersti says the orcas are now off the north tip of Vashon Island, southbound, but not yet clearly showing which path they’ll choose to continue southward (west channel or east channel).
ORCAS: Whales off West Seattle
Thanks to Jan Pendergrass for the photo. Orcas are back in the area today – seen off Duwamish Head as well as southbound off west-facing West Seattle – so if you have a water view, keep an eye out!
WHALES: First orca visit of spring
11:23 AM: While sun lovers might be sad about the gray sky – here’s a side benefit: It’s easier to see the black fins of orcas slicing through gray water than it is to see them in blue water on a sunny day. And if you can break away, or have a window with a bay view, you can look for some right now: Kersti Muul texted to report, “Large group of transients (10+) just entered Elliott Bay proper, north end, Seattle side, southbound.” Let us know if you see them!
11:33 AM: See Kersti’s update in the comment section below.
WHALES: Orcas in the area again
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!
VIDEO: Orcas in Elliott Bay
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:
PHOTOS: Orcas in Elliott Bay
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:
WHALES: Southern Residents’ J-Pod in the area
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.
WHALES: Orcas in the area
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: In the area
Orcas are passing West Seattle, per a text from Kersti Muul – NB in the Vashon ferry lanes.
PHOTOS: Orcas pass West Seattle, head toward south Puget Sound
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!
(Added: Photo by Greg Snyder)
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.
(Added: Photo by Dan Ciske)
3:03 PM: More photos added above and below!
(Added: Photo by Dan Ciske)
Orcas in Elliott Bay
They were visible from 54th/Alki, Kersti Muul tells us. But beware that cold north wind!
UPDATE: Orcas off West Seattle
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: Sunset whale-watching
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.
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