West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
Just texted by Kersti Muul – transient killer whales are “still in the area” today, just seen exiting Colvos Passage (which runs along the west side of Vashon Island), heading northbound toward Southworth, so you’ll need binoculars to look for them.
Visibility is a challenge because of the little-bit-of-everything weather but if you have good binoculars, look west for orcas passing through the area again. Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tips. She says right now they’re southbound in the Southworth ferry lanes, toward the west side of the Sound.
(Added: Photo of distant spout, tweeted by Robin L)
Thanks to Robin for the tip! Orcas are in view off Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (Beach Drive SW and Jacobsen), northbound, mid-channel. Let us know if you see them!
(Photo by Rick Rasmussen from December 2021 Southern Residents visit)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Another local organization just dove back into in-person events: The Whale Trail presented updates Thursday night at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), two years after its previous in-person gathering.
The Whale Trail’s founder/director Donna Sandstrom thanked attendees for “tiptoeing back into the world with us.” Here’s what they heard:
(WSB photo: Donna Sandstrom, center, with featured speakers Rachel Aronson and Mark Sears)
THE WHALE TRAIL UPDATES: Sandstrom began with a reintroduction to her organization, starting with her inspiration, Springer, the orphaned orca rescued after getting lost in Puget Sound 20 years ago – Sandstrom’s written a youth-geared book about it, “Orca Rescue!” Springer has given birth to two calves and is pregnant with a third. Sandstrom recapped the amazing story of how once Springer was returned to a cove in British Columbia, her family came for her. She says the story is heartening even all these years later “because sometimes we can get it right.” Then in 2005 she decided to get involved when Southern Resident Killer Whales were listed as endangered. Her founding idea for The Whale Trail was to “let people know where the whales live” – all over the region, not just in a specific confined place. The SRKWs range from Ucluelet, B.C., to Monterey, California. The Whale Trail encourages land-based whale-watching, for one – with markers placed starting in 2010, first on land, then on ferries starting in 2011. TWT has four signs in West Seattle, educating passersby about the species and their home. They have more than 130 sites, including aboard BC Ferries as well as Washington State Ferries. TWT presents programs and events, from impromptu watching when the orcas are around, to Orca Talks like this one.
11:53 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip – transient killer whales are northbound, approaching south West Seattle, closer to this side of the Sound. Let us know if you see them!
2:58 PM: As of Kersti’s latest update in comments, they’re off Alki.
(Southern Resident orcas in Puget Sound, photographed by Mark Sears, NOAA Research Permit 21348)
One week from tonight, you’re invited to The Whale Trail‘s first in-person gathering since pre-pandemic days. Here’s the announcement:
After two years of hibernation, The Whale Trail is ready for a new season! Join us to welcome Spring with special guests Rachel Aronson (Quiet Sound), researcher Mark Sears, and Whale Trail Director Donna Sandstrom. Catch up on news about orcas and programs to protect them, and learn how you can help.
Rachel will introduce us to Quiet Sound, a new program to protect whales by reducing noise and disturbance from large vessel like tankers, container ships and ferries. Mark will share photos from recent field research, including encounters with southern resident orcas. Donna will recap news around The Whale Trail, including upcoming events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Springer’s rescue!
Attendance is limited. Get tickets ahead of time here.
Masks are optional but recommended.What: Whale Trail Spring Gathering 2022
When: Thursday, March 24, 7 PM (Doors open at 6:30)
Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW
Cost: $5
Advance tickets: bpt.me/5404648 (Brown Paper Tickets)Attendance is limited. Masks are optional but recommended.
The Whale Trail’s last in-person gathering was in February 2020, just a few days before King County announced its first COVID cases.
(J37 in central Puget Sound in December 2020, photographed by Kersti Muul)
Happy and sad news about the Southern Resident Killer Whales. First, the happy news – J-Pod has a new calf. The Center for Whale Research confirms the arrival of J59, believed to have been born to 21-year-old J37 sometime in the past few days. The two were seen yesterday in the San Juan Islands. CWR says this is the first J-Pod calf born in a year and a half. This brings the number of J-Pod orcas to 74. It’s too soon to know the calf’s gender.
Now the sad news – two other J-Pod whales are believed to have lost their calves, according to SR3. Their researchers documented three pregnant J-Pod whales last September (as reported here) and now says that during a recent sighting, before the aforementioned birth, only J37 appeared still pregnant. The other two had lost body size, and neither was accompanied by a calf. “Unfortunately, reproductive loss has become normal for this population,” SR3’s report says. (These orca updates were first reported by Lynda Mapes of The Seattle Times.)
1:32 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip – a whale sighting west of Alki, closer to the Bainbridge Island side of the Sound. She says they’re not heading in any clear direction right now and that the type of whale – orcas or baleen – hasn’t yet been discerned either. But if you’re at the beach, with binoculars, take a look!
1:45 PM: Kersti says whale-spotters have since deduced this was a “false alarm” – waves from a ship.
Two orca-related items:
WHALES’ MONDAY VISIT: We mentioned orcas were in the area again Monday. Today, two photos from Trileigh Tucker, who says, “There were about 4 adult orcas and one or maybe even two babies – waiting to hear back from Orca Network about the babies. ON identified them as T124s. The lighting was just gorgeous.”
RESEARCH BUOY: As mentioned in our daily preview list, a King County research boat was out this morning deploying a buoy to listen in on undersea noise, a major threat to orcas. Here’s the video recorded during the livestream and Q&A:
This isn’t off West Seattle – closer to Edmonds – but the research over the next three months will be of interest to orca-watchers all around Puget Sound. Full details from King County are here.
11:46 AM: Midday whale-watching opportunity: Kersti Muul says a “small group of orcas” is milling off the north end of Vashon Island. No travel direction known yet. Let us know if you see them!
11:54 AM: Kersti says the whales are now headed north, slowly.
4:41 PM: They’ve stayed in central Puget Sound most of the day. Kersti just texted to say they’re now southbound off Emma Schmitz Overlook/Me-Kwa-Mooks (4500 block Beach Drive SW).
Not only are sailboats off the peninsula today, there are whales too! Kersti Muul sends word that two humpbacks are in the area, making their way north. At last report, they’re south of Alki. Let us know if you see them!
10:23 AM: Early alert – Kersti Muul tells us Southern Resident Killer Whales are reported to be headed this way, passing Discovery Park on the north edge of Elliott Bay, southbound, Members of J-Pod this time, she says. Let us know if you see them!
11:26 AM: As Kersti notes in comments, they’ve arrived, but visibility is poor (the much-awaited rain has arrived).
10:35 AM: If you have eyes on Elliott Bay, watch for whales – just got word from Kersti Muul of “at least four orcas” seen in Elliott Bay. Let us know if you see them!
1:04 PM: Thanks to everyone for updates in comments. Kersti just texted that they’re now southbound passing Brace Point.
10:07 AM: If you can take a break for some Wednesday whale-watching, we just heard from Kersti Muul that a group of whales had been seen heading southbound through the Seattle/Bainbridge Island ferry lanes, so they should be visible from West Seattle soon if they’re not already, Let us know if you see them!
11:22 AM: In addition to Kersti’s updates in comments, we’ve also heard from Patrick via email, “Two orcas behind the ferry Cathlamet. Looks like they are fishing but they did a full breach. South of Brace Point. Heading South.”
10:09 AM: Resident orcas are in Puget Sound headed southbound, passing through the Bremerton-Seattle ferry lane at last report, Kersti Muul tells us. Let us know if you see them!
10:47 AM: Thanks for all the updates, including what Kersti’s posted in comments below, and a text we just got from Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail reporting they’re now “heading south … near Vashon ferry dock.”
2:40 PM: Note – if you haven’t been checking the comments – that Kersti reports they’re headed back northbound.
12:23 PM: It’s a little murky out there but if you’re up for some whale-watching, Kersti Muul tells us orcas are headed back this way, northbound off the southernmost shore of West Seattle – let us know if you see them!
(Added: Photo by Monica Zaborac)
12:30 PM: We’ve also heard from Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail, who says these are Southern Residents from all three pods. (Update: J and K, she says,)
1:16 PM: Now off Lincoln Park per multiple reports (thanks!).
(Added: Photo by David Hutchinson)
2:13 PM: From Donna: “They are clearly visible from Alki looking west. Leaders are rounding the point northbound and NOAA boat is with them.”
(Added: Photo by Rick Rasmussen)
8:08 AM: Orcas are southbound in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes, per Kersti Muul.
10 AM: Kersti’s latest update in a comment below is that they appear to be headed back northbound – so that should put them in view from here again if they continue this way.
Orcas are visible off Constellation Park, northbound, reports Kersti Muul, so you might be able to glimpse them from Alki for a while.
10:11 AM: Thanks for the tips! We’ve heard from both Kersti Muul and an unidentified texter that orcas are passing Fauntleroy, southbound. Let us know if you see them!
10:51 AM: Seems these orcas are coming home for the holiday – Kersti says they’re Southern Resident Killer Whales.
Thanks for all the tips! Orcas are back in our area today. According to the most recent report, from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, they were southbound south of Brace Point. Kersti Muul says they’re residents (added: J Pod, to be specific). They eventually have to head north, though, so be on the lookout later!
1:25 PM: Southern Resident Killer Whales are visible off West Seattle right now, report Kersti Muul and The Whale Trail‘s Donna Sandstrom – both say they’re from K Pod, The orcas were visible from Constellation Park south of Alki Point, headed southbound. It’s been raining lightly so visibility is not great. Let us know if you see them!
2:09 PM: From south of the ferry dock, Susan Lantz-Dey reports seeing aa lone male across the water by Manchester.
4 PM: Kersti says some J Pod whales are in the area too. Still heading south, “Brace Point-ish” as of a little while ago.
If you’re interested in some Saturday whale-watching, Kersti Muul just sent word that transient orcas are reported to be in the area, emerging from Colvos Passage (which runs along the west side of Vashon Island) and headed toward Southworth. So you can try looking, with binoculars, from west-facing West Seattle. Let us know if you see them!
10:36 AM: Southern Resident Killer Whales are in the area, reports Kersti Muul – south of (update: Faye) Bainbridge, southbound, but closer to the west side of the Sound, so take your binoculars if you go looking. Let us know if you see them!
12:36 PM: Kersti says below that they’ve headed back northbound, north of here.
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