West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
Another round of nighttime low-low tides has accompanied the full moon, and Rosalie Miller has shared photos of the wildlife she saw on the shore at Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint/Constellation Park (along the north end of Beach Drive SW). Above, a Pacific Octopus; below, a Monterey Dorid:
And a Northern Leopard Dorid:
Still time to get to the beach for tonight’s lowest tide, -2.4 feet at 10:28 pm.
Two West Seattle coyote sightings reported by readers, both in the Alki area:
TONIGHT: The photo and report were sent by Janna:
This guy trotted down 59th, hung a left on Hinds, and was hanging out on the Alki UCC lawn when I last saw him. I know they’re in Schmitz Park, but I haven’t seen any out in the Alki neighborhood before. Early, too – it was only 7 pm!
MONDAY NIGHT: Mary sent this quick video showing her dog’s reaction to a “pack” sighting near Alki Point:
I saw a pack of 3 across the street from my house as I was walking back to my house. Originally I thought another Husky was loose until I saw another one come up behind. They seemed well-fed and healthy and not too scared of me or my Husky. This was Monday night just before midnight off Admiral Way and 64th across from the baseball field.
As always, we want to note that we share coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm. They and we are best served by keeping a distance apart – flyers like this explain the best ways to encourage that.
(Photo by Tom Trulin)
Salmon in the Schools teachers are leaping into 2025 – today was pickup day for the eggs they’ll be raising at their schools for the next few months. Above at right is Gatewood Elementary teacher John Revello, with Salmon in the Schools volunteer Phil Sweetland, picking up eggs in Fauntleroy today; (added) below is after the arrival at school.
Gatewood is one of 15 participating West Seattle schools this year, involving classes from preschoolers to young adults, raising more than 2,000 eggs; 500 others will be raised by a volunteer “as back-up fish to ensure that all students have fry” to release in Fauntleroy Creek this spring, explains Salmon in the Schools volunteer Judy Pickens. She adds that these are “coho eyed eggs from the state’s Soos Creek Hatchery on the Green River. The Fauntleroy Watershed Council partnered with Salmon in the Schools for today’s pickups and will assist as students come to the creek in spring to release fry –
Some Sundays, we counter-program the Seahawks game with a bird-photo gallery, if stockpiled reader contributions allow. And we have six today, as the team closes out its season …
The first three are from prolific contributor Jerry Simmons, sent in the past month or so. Above, a Steller’s Jay; below, a Golden-crowned Kinglet:
And here’s a Yellow-rumped Warbler:
Christopher Boffoli photographed a Cormorant on a piling near Seacrest:
Rob Christian found a Barred Owl:
And Jon Anderson sent this Hummingbird close-up:
We also publish readers’ bird photos some mornings with our daily event list, so if you’re a bird fan, be sure to check that too. Meantime, though the Seahawks’ season is ending, we’ll publish bird galleries throughout the year as photo supplies allow, so thanks in advance to everyone who continues to share photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best address!
(Photo courtesy NOAA Fisheries, taken under NMFS Permit #27052 on January 1)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When researchers got a look at the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales’ newest calves on New Year’s Day, they were off West Seattle.
One of those calves, J61, has died and is being carried by her mom, J35 “Tahlequah,” as shown in the NOAA photo above, the same orca who carried a dead calf for 17 days in 2018. The other new calf, J62, seems “robust” so far, according to the researchers and other experts who just spent an hour talking with journalists on a conference call in which we participated.
(Monday photo of J62, by Tisa Annette, from land near Point No Point)
The federal researcher who was out with the whales on Wednesday was NOAA’s Brad Hanson (who has spoken in West Seattle at The Whale Trail‘s gatherings).
Though researchers weren’t able to get out on the water between December 23 – when J61 was newly born – and December 31, they believe she lived just a handful of days and had died by the New Year’s Eve sighting, at which J35 (who had a still-alive calf between the two who died) was “pushing something around.” They might not get many more chances to observe the whales, as this is the time of year when they depart for fishing grounds elsewhere.
In response to our question about the sighting locations yesterday, Hanson said they first saw J35, with J61 on her head, north of Alki, and left her south of Alki Point – ee explained that they try not to stay with the whales too long, for fear of disrupting them. That’s another reason they won’t be trying to recover J61 for a necropsy – J35 is very attached to her, and by the time she abandons the calf, it will be too late in the decomposition process – even if her carcass was recoverable – for it to be of value.
What’s the difference between the behaviors of the two calves, comparing the original live sighting of J61 and the new sighting of J62? Even before J61 died, J35 seemed to be pushing her around, Hanson said, while J62 appears to be swimming and surfacing “normally.” That calf was seen Wednesday near the Vashon/Fauntleroy ferry lanes. (That’s the second part of this two-part NOAA video package.)
(Video courtesy NOAA Fisheries, taken under NMFS Permit #27052 – view fullscreen here)
They’re not sure yet who its mom is; West Seattle-based researcher Maya Sears reported that it’s “still most closely associating with J19 and J41,” and NOAA’s Candice Emmons says “Most likely J41 is the mother and J19 is the grandmother, given their ages,” and there also was an indication in September that J41 was pregnant.
J61 and J62 were the first J-Pod calves since 2022, when J59 – who is still alive – was born. The first year is the biggest hurdle for calves, researchers say, but the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales – now numbering 73 – have more hurdles than other orcas; the Northern Residents and Transients are both reproducing far more successfully and prolifically, according to the researchers. They don’t know the exact survival rate of Southern Residents, because they believe some calves are being born and dying without researchers ever having seen or learned of them.
(Photo courtesy NOAA Fisheries, taken under NMFS Permit #27052 on January 1)
So what exactly is the carrying-dead-calf behavior about?
The researchers say “grieving, or mourning” is a fair assessment – “we do see this behavior in other long-lived, socially cohesive animals.” It’s probably “social” behavior, they added, as “calves become central to the social nature of the pod.” But it’s not without risks to the bereaved mom – what she’s doing is likely taking a lot more energy, and researchers aren’t certain whether she’s able to forage for food while doing this.
To grow the population, said NOAA’s acting recovery coordinator Grace Ferrara, they are trying a “multi-pronged approach.” Increasing the salmon supply for the Southern Residents is important. So is noise reduction – as part of that, our state’s new rules for boaters took effect – 1,000 yards away from the whales.
They are also working on better ways to monitor the Southern Residents’ health; another participant in today’s briefing was Joe Gaydos of the SeaDoc Society, who was described as taking a lead on developing better tools to assess the whales’ health, while another participant, Michael Weiss from the Center for Whale Research, is working on a database with health information for individual whales.
MORE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN RESIDENTS: Recommended during the briefing was this Orca Network page with information about specific whales and pod-population info.
One more way to spend your New Year’s Eve … exploring the beach at the -2.5-foot 11:13 pm low-low tide!
Rosalie Miller sent photos of what she encountered on the beach at last night’s similarly low tide – a kelp crab, red rock crab, and mottled star.
If you go out exploring, tread lightly!
(November photo of Southern Resident Killer Whales’ visit, by Jamie Kinney)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Humans are making a difference for orcas, Donna Sandstrom declared as she opened The Whale Trail‘s “Welcome the Orcas 2024” gathering, in honor of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales that spent weeks in Puget Sound.
Sandstrom described last week’s gathering in The Hall at Fauntleroy as a “superpod” of participants – not only the attendees, but also partner organizations including Seal Sitters, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fauntleroy Community Association, American Cetacean Society, and Washington Conservation Action. Sandstrom also thanked the sponsors whose contributions allowed the meeting to access a larger room so that more could attend, as well as the many volunteers who were helping with the event.
Sandstrom opened with The Whale Trail’s origin story, her involvement with the rescue of wayward whale Springer – “Springer’s ultimate gift to me was hope” – she wrote an acclaimed young-adult book about Springer (now the mom of two calves), “Orca Rescue!” Her book was nominated for another award this year, the 2025 Sasquatch Award, which means 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are reading it, “and that makes me so happy.” It continued, after she founded The Whale Trail in 2008, as a way to let people know where the whales (not just orcas) travel and can be seen – TWT’s interpretive signs are up and down much of the west coast of North America, and aboard Washington State Ferries. More than 150 sites so far, in four states and two countries. She also talked about her involvement with Gov. Inslee’s resident-orca-recovery task force, “championing noise reduction.” That led to rules for how close boats could get to the resident orcas, as well as a commercial whale-watch licensing program, with new rules kicking in soon (more on that shortly).
She listed five things that gave her hope:
1. Public process that worked
2. Sea change is under way (awareness of the noise issue)
3. Transboundary resolve and collaboration – “everything we do here is mirrored in Canada”
4. Southern Residents show signs of responding – 2022 was the first year they returned to Salish Sea every summer month for the first time in 5 years. Also, they have 9 calves under 5 years old, including six females. “Our job is to make the Salish Sea a place that can sustain them.”
5. Orca mom Tahlequah‘s resilience – she’s had a calf since the dead onr she carried around for so long, now-2-year-old Phoenix, “That’s resilience. That’s hope.”
Sandstrom also listed three things you can do:
-Watch from shore and stay 1000 yards away at sea
-Support TWT and other nonprofits
-Don’t give up
Then the night’s guest speakers took the stage.
MARK AND MAYA SEARS: The father-and-daughter research team are highly prized guests at The Whale Trail’s gatherings, with updates on the SRKWs from their research during the orcas’ visits. First – to show how far things have come – Mark showed a flyer from the mid-’70s, “when they were still capturing these whales.”
He called that “not just bad science, but no science at all” – until finally the federal government put a stop to captures. He started working with them decades ago, collecting samples from the whales. He showed a chart of the population decline – saying “the endangered listing hasn’t really helped” so far.
The Searses have a permit to approach the whales for photo ID, predation events (when the whales eat), and fecal/mucus samples. Maya’s specialty is photo identification when the orcas show up. – “we kind of keep tabs on who’s been out there with us.” She explained that the dorsal fin and saddle patch are most helpful with ID.
Then it was back to Mark for a discussion of prey – the residents are fish-eaters, the transients tend to eat marine mammals. “When the residents kill a fish, we go in and collect” what’s left – gills, scales, etc.; the orcas break fish into chunks and share with other whales. Sometimes these samples can reveal which river or hatchery system the fish came from. He explained how researchers can tell the difference between chum, coho, and chinook.
As for the transients, he said they “really go after harbor porpoises these days” – those mammals’ population has exploded in Puget Sound. He also showed how they track whales in search of fecal/mucus samples – via their “footprints” in the water.
Maya said researchers are looking to find out more about whales’ health – samples can show that, too: parasites, for example – and there’s a theory that when they’re sick, they don’t eat, so seeing a whale that appears to have lost weight might just mean it’s ailing. The researchers use drones to examine the body shapes of whales, both for illness and for possible pregnancy. She said they work with partners for sample analysis – SeaDoc Society, San Diego Zoo, Wild Orca, and NOAA. They’re “always looking for a large sample” because they can analyze those for many things, from genes to hormones to bacteria.
She got into some specifics about how they test the samples – testing for bacterial/fungal infections, for example. The testing is a lot like pet testing at veterinary labs – on paperwork, “instead of cat or dog, we check a box that says ‘other’ and write in ‘killer whale’.” (That evoked audience laughter.)
The SRKWs spent so much time in Puget Sound this fall, the Searses were running ragged, Mark said, He showed a map of an area off south Whidbey Island that has much to offer the whales. “A lot of the fish that come in early – the chums and cohos – seem to mill around this area… especially early in the fall.”
(November photo of visiting Southern Residents, by Robin Sinner)
That’s why J Pod was here for 28 days in a row, October 19 through November 15 (then they returned Nov. 19-23, and the L’s were here November 30 and December 10. He showed photos of the orcas’ various types of behaviors during their visit. “We can’t wrap this up in a scientific context – it’s more things that we’ve noticed,” adding Maya, saying the orcas “seem to be more in a ‘business’ mode. …..They just don’t have much time to rest if they’re looking for food.” The “sea was boiling with chum” while they were here, though – that’s what the jumping fish (November video below, by John Saalwaechter) were about.
Maya Sears said they felt the resting/playing ratio this year meant the orcas
‘were eating well.”
WDFW CAPT. ALAN MYERS: His appearance was timely, with new rules starting in the new year. Enforcement of orca-related rules “is a mission near and dear to my heart,” he said. He also spoke of his anger at watching the whales being harassed by “large commercial vessels .. with well-intentioned people crowding on deck” as the whales were “just trying to live.” So they agreed “there has to be a change” – and there was.
Noise/disturbance, pollution, climate change, population growth, too few fish, all are threats to the orcas “but the noise … we found that we could have a role in addressing” He noted that foraging success decreases with vessels within (about a mile), even those operating at just 1-2 knots.” Closer than 400 yards, even less foraging success. Whales then dive more deeply, and their surface behavior increases. Used to be all they had was federal rules limiting to 200 yards – “so these vessels were right on top of them.” He cited the research showing that females are less likely to pursue and capture prey, especially mothers with calves, as noise increases.
So in 2022 WDFW recommended increasing the buffer around SRKW to 1,000 yards, “and make complementary changes to the commercial whale-watching licensing program.”
The legislature passed SB 5371 in 2023. Changes for next year involve 1,000-yard protection zone for all vessels. If a vessel is within 40 yards, “operator must disengage the transmission and wait to leave vicinity of SRKWs.” Commercial whale-watching vessels will be required to “immediately reposition and report” the whale’s location. If they’re too close, though, he stressed, it’s not necessarily malicious; he affirmed that most people want nothing more than to see these whales thrive. “Nine times out of 10, anybody who is out there, is out there because they love nature.”
When they talked to the Legislature, there was “a lot of concern about these rules” but they managed to get the new rules passed. It’s “not perfect but it’s a great start,” he added. Many already have voluntarily folloiwed the 1,000-yard guideline. And, he said, there’s been a big public-service announcement campaign urging people to “Be Whale Wise.”
And he noted that other law-enforcement partnerships will “make a difference” – NOAA Office for Law Enforcement, Coast Guard, county Sheriff’s Offices, Canadian law-enforcement agencies, and Tribal law enforcement. He said you might see WDFW boats out with flashing blue lights.
Non-law enforcement partnerships – with The Whale Trail, for example – matter too, including citizen naturalists, “everyday people,” whale researchers/biologists, and Soundwatch and Straitwatch. Everybody in the room “becomes the eyes and ears that matter the most,” he declared. “You are the ones most likely to see something happening and phone in the problem before it becomes a major catastrophe. It’s those eyes on the water that matter most when it comes to natural resources protection.”
As for “enforcement challenges and opportunities,” he said “education and outreach” are the keys to “better compliance,” and that’s where they need public help.They have to deal with conflicting information and rules too. like the distance enforcement – confusion can result with kilometers used north of the border vs. yards and feet down here. Also: Court systems can be overwhelmed, “and wildlife enforcement may take a back seat.” So that’s why education and outreach are vital for saving the orcas. “There’ll never be a cop on every corner, a badge on every boat, but with YOUR help, there’ll always be eyes out there.” If you “see somebody that’s getting ready to run over an orca,” he urged, “call 911.”
Q & A: Capt. Myers was asked how they deal with large cargo ships. They have a hotline to the U.S. Coast Guard, which can hail the vessel. “That happens more frequently than you think” – WDFW vessels are generally not big enough to intercept such ships. The USCG station in Seattle in fact “has a whale desk,” he added in response to another question – “that was just stood up two years ago.”
Regarding how boaters and whale-watchers get info about whale sightings, two apps were mentioned: Whale Report, which “sends its sightings to large vessels only” so they have the info they need “to slow down or avoid whales,” and for the general public, Whale Alert releases sighting info; it was started on the East Coast but has been customized for the West Coast too.
ALSO AT THE GATHERING: Sandstrom paid tribute to WSB co-founder Patrick Sand, who died suddenly in mid-October. “He would have been rushing in about now, taking a few photos, and rushing out.” She also thanked WSB for factual coverage of the organization’s work since its beginning 16 years ago (just one year after WSB started focusing on local news).
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: See The Whale Trail’s website.
Two Admiral-area coyote sightings:
TODAY: This report and video are from Katie:
Coyote sighting near College Street Ravine, 51st Ave SW and College St. Careful walking through the ravine today!
TUESDAY: Another reader reported, “My friend heard something & his dog’s ears perked up. He looked outside to see two coyotes in his yard. They walked around the yard, down the stairs and headed north on Victoria Ave SW at 3:15 AM.”
COEXISTING WITH COYOTES: We share periodic sighting reports for awareness, not alarm. You can best help them keep their distance by not providing food (which means, don’t leave small domestic animals unattended, or unsecured garbage, etc.). Here’s one place to read more about avoiding coyote conflicts!
Thanks to everyone who sends bird photos – enabling our first gallery in a while!
James Tilley photographed those Barrow’s Goldeneyes at Jack Block Park; that’s where Christopher Boffoli saw this Merganser.
The Cormorant below (with a snack) is from Vince Marx:
Steve Bender was in South Park when this Mallard sailed past:
Susan Romanenghi shared two photos – first, a Robin:
And a Starling:
Jerry Simmons photographed this juvenile Townsend’s Warbler:
We appreciate photos from birds to breaking news (and Christmas lights!) – westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text to 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(Competition was intense as sizable fish competed for spawning sites)
Story by Judy Pickens
Photos by Tom Trulin
Special to West Seattle Blog
Since 1994 when the first coho spawners in modern history came into Fauntleroy Creek, the count has ranged from 0 to 274, with 20 per year being typical. This year, however, the count hit an all-time high: 347.
Records were also broken elsewhere in central Puget Sound, including east West Seattle’s Longfellow Creek. The reason could be that these fish found ample food during their two years in saltwater, or because of other factors yet to be determined.
On Nov. 1, volunteer watchers began documenting the first of 19 spawners in the lower creek. With no more fish for a week, the Fauntleroy Watershed Council called off the watch on Nov. 10. Dennis Hinton, Tom Trulin, and Mark Sears continued to check, just in case especially high tides brought in more.
(Mark Sears made sure drift logs did not block spawner access to the mouth of the creek)
“More” proved to be an understatement. On Nov. 14, a second wave of vigorous two- to seven-pound spawners began pouring in from Fauntleroy Cove. The daily count ranged from 76 on Nov. 15 to none by Nov. 24.
The council had hosted an open creek for the general public during the first wave. Now without watchers on duty every day to ensure visitor safety, organizers instead invited volunteers to stop by and bring guests. All told, at least 400 visitors came during spawning season, including student groups ranging from preschool to high school.
With so many fish trying to leave fertilized eggs in the gravel, tens of thousands of eggs were lost to birds and other predators. How much “home hatch” results will be evident in mid winter when any surviving fry will emerge from the gravel to start feeding in the creek.
(Dennis Hinton with a board full of tick marks)
“The real benefit of such a glut of spawners is what it indicates about water quality,” said veteran watcher Dennis Hinton. “Hatcheries would have released most of these fish as smolts. Without a home creek or river to return to, spawners sniff for clean water.
“The fact that they found it here is a testament to how successful this community and our agency partners have been in restoring this small urban creek to health and keeping it that way.”
The council will have more extensive summary of spawning season in its 2024 annual report; watch for it in late January at fauntleroywatershed.org.
Two more West Seattle coyote sightings, this time with clear photos:
THIS MORNING, FAUNTLEE HILLS: Sent by Ann:
I followed this well-fed coyote up Donovan from Fauntlee Crest (Fauntlee Hills) this am around 6:40. He was not the least bit concerned about me.
LAST THURSDAY, SUNRISE HEIGHTS: Sent by a reader who wanted to be anonymous:
Coyote on 29th and Webster around 9:30 pm.
We publish coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm; if you’ve never seen one, you might still have trouble believing they live among us. Here’s state wildlife authorities’ advice on ensuring we can continue co-existing.
(Video by Tom Trulin)
Thanks for sending the video and photos! Though the Fauntleroy Creek salmon-spawning season was short and sweet, salmon are still showing up in Longfellow Creek.
(Photo by Manuel Valdes)
Puget SoundKeeper Alliance is keeping watch on the Longfellow Creek salmon through their Pre-Spawn Mortality Survey, watching to see how many fish die in the polluted creek before they get a chance to spawn, like this one.
Anna Bachmann shared the Thursday report with WSB:
We are now over a month into the survey and have reported 278 salmon! We have seen 6 Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome (URMS) cases, 34 cases of pre-spawn mortality, and 81 deceased salmon in total. Below is a nice visualization of the data we currently have comparing salmon reported to the survey day they were seen on. As of right now our peak day was on our 26th survey day, but sightings are still increasing!
You have a chance tomorrow to make a difference for the salmon – Bachmann adds, “This Saturday (November 16, 2024) we are having a cleanup at Longfellow Creek. It will last two hours from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm; please register here if you are interested in coming out to help clean up debris along the creek.” The registration page has information on where to meet up to join the cleanup.
Thanks to Gene Pavola for the photo. Fins protruding from the water are often assumed to be whales – but not in this case. That’s a “sailing” sea lion, a phenomenon we’ve explained over the years, with the help of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network (see this story, for example). Gene photographed the sea lion at noontime today.
(Salmon eggs after a predator gnawed at a spawner’s carcass)
Story by Judy Pickens
Photos/video by Tom Trulin
Special to West Seattle Blog
The 19 coho spawners that came into Fauntleroy Creek the past two weeks lured a record number of volunteers (27) to document them, as well as 262 visitors and students to the spawning reach.
The action began on October 13 with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council‘s annual drumming to call in spawners. They waited several days in Fauntleroy Cove for sufficient rain to freshen creek water – a sign that it would provide suitable habitat for the next generation.
(The last spawner came through the culvert under Fauntleroy Way on Nov. 5)
The first arrived in the spawning reach on Nov. 1 and the last showed up on Nov. 5. This year’s total compares to 34 in 2023 and a near-record 254 in 2022.
“Such fluctuations are typical for this small creek,” said veteran watcher Dennis Hinton. “Having just 19 in a short spawning reach means everyone could find a good spot to leave their fertilized eggs.”
Volunteers began preparing for spawning season in late September when Mark Sears led a work party to relocate drift logs on the beach so spawners would have easy access to the creek mouth. Once watchers saw them in the cove, he checked daily to make sure they could get in at high tide.
(Bridge School students brought questions about habitat and spawner behavior)
A cadre of veteran watchers was on hand to welcome 154 visitors during a Nov. 3 “open creek,” as well as when students and staff came from the Bridge School in White Center and Chief Sealth International High School.
Next up: Tiny fry will emerge from their protective blanket of gravel in about 4 months to start feeding in the lower creek.
Thanks to Kathryn in Delridge for the snippet of video/audio recorded last night when, she says, a neighborhood dog’s barking touched off an unseen pack of coyotes yipping. Even if you’ve never heard them, they’re in most neighborhoods – just scroll through our archive for evidence!
From north to south, coyotes’ resurgence continues in West Seattle. Here are the most-recent reports we’ve received:
HIGHLAND PARK COYOTE: Just received via text this morning, Jessica spotted a coyote on their camera about 10 pm Sunday near 20th/Holden.
“I do see a lot of cats roaming around ,, might be good to share (another) announcement,” Jessica suggested.
JUNCTION-AREA COYOTE: From Micah:
Early (Thursday) morning, caught a coyote next to my house in the Junction. First time I’ve seen one in the Junction. I was in my car, 39th between Genesee and Dakota 3 am Thursday morning, Halloween. It was dark and of course they’re pretty elusive.
GATEWOOD COYOTES: Last Sunday via text: “Just saw two coyotes cross 35th Ave SW at Myrtle heading west.”
NORTH ADMIRAL COYOTE: From Greg, a recent North Admiral sighting:
We share coyote videos and photos (scroll through our archive here) for awareness and education, not alarm; here’s one of many info-sheets with advice on co-existence.
(Photos by Tom Trulin)
The salmon spawners have arrived in Fauntleroy Creek and right now, it’s your first big chance this season to try to see them firsthand. Creek stewards and volunteer salmon watchers are hosting an “open creek” along the stretch where you’re most likely to see them, which runs through private property, but you’ll be guided down to creekside if you go to the public overlook that’s right off the corner of upper Fauntleroy Way and SW Director [map].
This opportunity continues until 3 pm today. All ages welcome, but children should be with an adult and dogs should be leashed. Note that you might see dead fish as well as live ones – that’s the natural end of the spawning cycle.
Two fish tales tonight:
ELLIOTT BAY LEAPING: We’ve been hearing about this for a while, and finally got some video from Brian. People ask why the fish are leaping; theories include trying to rid themselves of lice!
(added Sunday) Thanks to John Saalwaechter for video with a closer view of the jumping fish:
(back to original Saturday night report) FAUNTLEROY CREEK COHO: On the eve of Sunday’s “open creek” (go to the overlook at upper Fauntleroy/SW Director and wait to be called down), 1-3 pm, creek steward Judy Pickens tells us that volunteer watchers have counted 17 spawners in the creek so far. “Despite the rain and cold, our watchers are doing a great job documenting the fish and creek conditions.”
7:20 PM: Thanks to Jamie Kinney for the video from today’s Southern Resident Killer Whales “superpod” visit! He explains, “Here is an initial video of J, K, and L pods passing by Alki Point. There were easily 40 or more orcas in total across the three groups. I recorded this from Constellation Park, where ~30+ people were enjoying the experience. As I was heading home, I saw more than 150 people watching the whales from the western end of Alki Beach.” Jamie promises more visuals later tonight; we’ll add when we get them.
9:36 PM: From Jamie’s gallery (which you can see here):
The Southern Residents come into the central Sound this time of year chasing their favorite food, salmon – so it’s all intertwined with other sightings, like the coho in Fauntleroy and Longfellow Creeks. (Check out Fauntleroy Creek’s coho during this Sunday’s “open creek.”)
Though the rain hasn’t brought the salmon into Fauntleroy Creek yet, they’ve been seen in Longfellow Creek. The photo above is from John McIntyre, who reports, “Salmon have returned to Longfellow Creek. You can see them at the bridge by West Seattle Fitness if you look south below the large fallen tree trunk that crosses the creek.” That’s the Yancy Street creek overlook, Bonus photo from Longfellow Creek, Manuel Valdes spotted this Great Blue Heron – possibly mulling meal plans:
From Judy Pickens of the Fauntleroy Watershed Council:
(Photo by Tom Trulin: Volunteer Rich Rosenthal kept groups moving among 5 learning stations along the spawning reach)
Salmon watchers on Fauntleroy Creek haven’t yet seen coho spawners but on Monday morning (10/21), several of them saw a large school of kindergarteners. The 52 students and more than a dozen adults from St. Francis of Assisi School in Burien came to learn about salmon and their habitat. Volunteer watchers engaged groups of students in talking about why spawners bury their eggs, how their carcasses enrich the habitat, and related topics.
If and when spawners arrive, we’ll announce a weekend “open creek” for the general public here.
(WSB photos, video)
It is now the season of suspense for those who care for and about Fauntleroy Creek: When will coho salmon spawners show up? Wondering about questions like that is what concluded this year’s gathering to welcome them, with singing, drumming, and more. Some of the ~100 people who showed up visited the creek after ceremonially placing stones on a banner in the center of their circle:
The gathering was just yards from the creek, in a courtyard outside the home of creek stewards (and Salmon in the Schools volunteers) Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland. Judy told the crowd she was “delighted you all are interested in this little creek of ours.”
More than a quarter-century has passed since Judy and other volunteers led the restoration that brought salmon back into the creek. Now, each year the work to keep it accessible includes clearing logs from the creek’s mouth near the ferry dock (that was done three weeks ago). Now it’s time to watch, wait, and count – Dennis Hinton told the gathering that while the high tides are high enough now for salmon, there’s not enough water in the creek for them until we get more rain.
(Even that might not bring immediate results, he noted, since the first spawners didn’t show up until early November last year.) Learning about the creek and fish was a lesson for all ages in attendance:
The music-making was again led by Jamie Shilling:
She was joined this year by Chaz Hastings, a tabla drummer who Judy also noted is a “newly minted creek volunteer”:
The gathering was, as always, brief, with a few familiar songs paying tribute to the creek and the fish, and a chance for the kids to imagine what it might be like to be a fish:
Dappled late-afternoon sun came through the creekside trees, as organizers observed they couldn’t remember the last time this mid-October gathering was greeted by 70-degree warmth. Likely it’ll be colder, and muddier, by the time the fish make their appearance; as Judy told the gathering, once that happens, volunteers will likely host an “open creek” day so you come down to creekside to try to see them yourself (watch for announcements here on WSB). It’s impossible to predict how spawning season will go – last year, watchers counted 34 coho; the year before, 254.
Thanks to Sean O for sending two clips from a sighting tonight of three coyotes near 36th/Hanford. You can see the third in this one:
Other sightings since our last coyote update a few weeks ago:
HIGH POINT: Zachary saw two near 32nd/Raymond the night of September 17:
Two coyotes crossing 32nd Ave SW and SW Raymond St around 11:40. Didn’t mind me and my dog. Did stop to look at me as I tried to get a pic.
FAIRMOUNT: Anthony reported a September 20 sighting – “Spotted a coyote just before 10 pm at the intersection of Dawson and 38th. There were a rabble of smaller animals nearby scattering to evade it, too. I was behind the wheel at the time, so I could not safely get a picture.”
UPPER FAUNTLEROY: That same night, Tim had this sighting: “At about 9:15 p.m. I saw a large coyote trotting at a fair clip south on 37th Ave in the Gatewood neighborhood between Cloverdale and Donovan as I was walking north. It took a quick nose over toward me as I sped up past it, then it continued south. I warned a couple of dog walkers who were heading in the same direction. I’ve walked a lot in this neighborhood at night over the last five years (I’m a Gatewood resident), have seen a decent collection of wildlife, but never a coyote in this area.”
We share sightings periodically for awareness and education, not alarm. Many brochures and one-sheets offer simple tips for coexisting with coyotes – here’s one of them.
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