West Seattle, Washington
22 Sunday
(Reader photo)
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.
9:10 AM: Thanks to Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail for the tip: “J Pod is exiting Colvos Passage, heading north, We will be at Alki, south of the lighthouse, with binoculars to share.” (Colvos Passage is the waterway along the west side of Vashon Island.)
9:37 AM: Donna says they’re now visible from there.
10:22 AM: Update from Donna – they’re moving fast and now out of sight. She says local researchers Mark Sears and Maya Sears are with them.
A large group of orcas is southbound off south Bainbridge Island, Kersti Muul just texted, saying they might be Southern Residents.
Thanks to Richard for the texted report: “Humpback whale heading north from just south of Brace Point. A couple hundred feet offshore. Just now.”
Transient orcas were in Elliott Bay and visible from West Seattle shores for much of the day on Thursday, as noted here. West Seattle photographer Jamie Kinney caught some amazing views – the first four photos are his, and you can see many more in this gallery on his website.
As reported by Kersti Muul starting Thursday morning, these were transient killer whales (though Southern Residents were seen yesterday too).
The whales brought out a crowd, too – here’s a Thursday photo from Duwamish Head, received from an unidentified texter:
No reports of whales in the West Seattle vicinity yet today, but Orca Network commenters have seen several in the South Sound, so eventually they’ll have to head back this way again.
9:04 AM: Visibility’s a bit of a challenge at the moment, but orcas are out there, according to a texted update from Kersti Muul – a southbound group of transients was off the Bainbridge ferry terminal about half an hour ago, and another group of orcas was further north. Let us know if you see them!
10:03 AM: In addition to her update in comments below, Kersti texted: “Here they come! Southern group of whales now spread out SB from Shilshole to Bainbridge.”
4:54 PM: In addition to the updates all day in comments – thanks! – we have a text from someone who says four are in view right now from the Alki Beach volleyball courts.
4:59 PM: That texter now thinks they might actually be seeing dolphins.
6:25 PM: Kersti in comments and Erin via email tell us there are whales very close to shore along Alki Avenue, off Duwamish Head! (added) Erin sent this photo:
8:42 AM: Three orcas are in Elliott Bay, headed toward downtown, according to a texted report from Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see them!
9:51 AM: Thanks for the updates in comments, and the photo uploaded by A Labs.
5:08 PM: Transient killer whales are in the area, headed northeast from the tip of Vashon Island, according to a texted tip from Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see them too!
5:22 PM: Kersti says they’ve turned around and are now off Brace Point, headed southbound.
(Added: Video and photos by Jamie Kinney)
2:51 PM: Transient killer whales are back in the area! Kersti Muul reports four orcas are northbound, last seen off Brace Point south of Fauntleroy. Let us know if you see them!
3:18 PM: Passing Lincoln Park.
6 PM: Added some of Jamie Kinney‘s video and photos above, from the orcas’ pass by Emma Schmitz Viewpoint on Beach Drive.
12:22 PM: If you’re up for early-afternoon whale-watching, Kersti Muul reports transient orcas are headed this way, southbound, toward the north edge of Elliott Bay at last report. They’re closer to the west side of the Sound, so you’d need binoculars. Let us know if you see them!
4:48 PM: Thanks to Jill Anderson for sending video of the orcas as seen off the Bainbridge ferry earlier!
2:53 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the report: Transient orcas are visible, northbound, from Emma Schmitz Overlook.
ADDED 4:35 PM: New from Kersti: “At least two humpbacks along the line from Alki near Cactus to Eagle Harbor. (Possibly three) heading toward Elliott Bay.”
Kersti Muul reports: “One lone male orca (likely T65A5 heading to meet family) is southbound, outer edge of Elliott Bay, past Skiff Point, Bainbridge Island.” (That’s directly across from West Point on the north edge of the bay.)
Just texted by Kersti Muul: “We’ve got transients coming at a good clip from West Point, Seattle side, southbound. The 65As.” Let us know if you see them!
9:02 AM: Southern Resident Killer Whales have made their customary fall return. Kersti Muul tells us that orcas from J-Pod are in outer Elliott Bay, “spread across (the bay) from south of West Point,” generally headed southbound. Comment if you see them!
9:42 AM: Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail just called and said they’re southbound from Alki Point.
10:03 AM: Donna says the whales are now moving slowly northbound.
Two reports from Kersti Muul: Transient orcas, northbound, about half an hour ago, and a gray whale, also northbound. Both sightings were reported north of the north end of Vashon Island. Let us know if you see them!
(WSB photo from 2015 Alki ‘Free Lolita’ rally)
There will be no homecoming for the last Southern Resident Killer Whale in captivity. The 57-year-old orca known as Tokitae (previously Lolita) has died. She was estimated to be four years old when captured 53 years ago off Whidbey Island. The Miami Seaquarium announced her death on social media, saying in part:
Over the last two days, Toki started exhibiting serious signs of discomfort, which her full Miami Seaquarium and Friends of Toki medical team began treating immediately and aggressively. Despite receiving the best possible medical care, she passed away Friday afternoon from what is believed to be a renal condition.
The Seaquarium stopped making her perform two years ago. Recent plans to try moving her back to Puget Sound were still being developed – as we noted back in April – after years of protests and other advocacy, here and elsewhere, demanding she be brought home.
6:56 PM: Thanks for the reports! We’ve received word of at least two humpbacks seen heading northbound off The Arroyos and Fauntleroy.
8:04 PM: Three whales! John and Jan caught their spouts on video:
From Gary Jones, this sighting less than an hour ago: “At least two whales, most likely humpback heading south just north of Alki Point, well east of mid-channel.”
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