West Seattle, Washington
25 Wednesday
3:11 PM: Thanks again to Kevin Freitas for a view of Constellation Park as today’s low-low tide bottomed out at -4.1 feet, lowest of the year. Also sending photos was Dawn Roeder, who saw colorful sea life under the Fauntleroy ferry dock:
Tomorrow’s lowest tide is still great for tidepooling – -3.6 feet at 1:08 pm – but the weather is expected to be very different.
ADDED 5:29 PM: Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo of Luna Park‘s pilings (pointed out on Tuesday by Dave Townsend):
It’s not spring without a Canada Goose baby picture from Alki photographer David Hutchinson, who just sent this one. We also recently received a family pic from Rainer Klett:
Everything you never knew about Canada Geese, you can find here, including the much-cited fact that they mate for life.
(Photo by Javier Fosado)
Thanks for the photos! As noted in our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – because we finally remembered THIS year to check in advance – today is a big day for fishing in the waters off West Seattle. It’s the one-day, four-hour “season” for recreational spot-shrimp fishing, 9 am to 1 pm.
(Photo by Mark Bauschke)
We haven’t been to Don Armeni Boat Ramp for a look but on this day every year it’s usually full of trailers, and the area will be busy once the closing time is past this afternoon. The state says spot shrimp are the largest shrimp in Puget Sound and can grow to nine inches long.
(WSB photos by Anne Higuera unless otherwise credited)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A misty, wet start to low-low tide season did not deter people from flocking to shorelines at midday today to discover sea life left exposed by the receding Sound. South of Lincoln Park, dozens gathered among the towering piers of the ferry dock, forming circles around interesting finds and calling out to friends.
Among them were many beach naturalists trained by the Seattle Aquarium who plan to be at the beach during low tides sharing what they know with friends and curious neighbors whether it’s part of a formal program or not.
Tide-pooling during a low, low tide involves walking a hundred or more yards over sand and seabed that in some areas is exposed only a handful of days a year.
Rubber boots are a good idea, along with looking very carefully where you step. Bigger marine animals like sea stars and sea anemones are easy to spot.
So are the egg collars from Moon Snails, which look a bit like shaped plastic.
The smaller creatures require a keen eye and a little luck. Having someone who can point out a Shaggy Mouse nudibranch (Aeolidia loui) or know that the flat worm wriggling across the wet sand is likely a White Line Ribbon worm makes low tides into educational outings.
It’s also especially exciting to find things like a small Red Octopus biding her time until the tide comes back in. Pat, who took the photo, said the consensus was that this one is a female.
(Photo courtesy Pat Reaville)
There are several organizations in the area (including MAST and the Environmental Science Center) that have beach naturalist programs, but the Seattle Aquarium’s has been the largest, consistently staffing around a dozen locations, including two beaches in West Seattle. The Aquarium is planning to run their program again this year, but doesn’t yet have dates set. “The team tells me we are very close,” said Aquarium spokesperson Tim Kuniholm last week. It’s expected that the Aquarium program will have a significantly shorter list of events this year after layoffs in January. That program and Cedar River Salmon Journey relied on 300+ volunteers, who have been in limbo for a number of months, waiting to hear what’s next. Some have moved on to other opportunities, or just decided they’ll go to the beach no matter what.
Today, a naturalist who was let go in the round of layoffs was holding up a Leather Star to show other former Aquarium volunteers. They are supposed to have a scent similar to garlic, so everyone took a good whiff. She also pointed out a shrimp and other smaller creatures that might otherwise go unnoticed.
In talking with Aquarium volunteers today and others in recent weeks, we heard most express resignation and/or sadness at the changes being made to the naturalist program, but they also are making a point of reaching out to other volunteers to meet up, as they did today. One is even working to organize an informal club — the West Seattle Low Tide All Stars — in part to facilitate meetups between former volunteers on low-tide days.
Today that happened organically, with knowledgeable naturalists just as excited about what they were finding as were kids, families, and others peering into tidepools and wading in the water, trying to take in everything they could see before the tide began to inch back up again.
There is another very low tide tomorrow – -3.4 feet, same as today, just before 1:30 pm.
Two more wildlife sightings (thanks as always for sending them!):
BACKYARD OTTER: From Bill L:
Spotted this guy walking through our yard. First time we’ve noticed any here. We’re a block east of Fauntleroy near the Lincoln Park North parking lot.
As we’ve reported/shown before, river otters (which actually live in the salt water around here) may have dens relatively far inland, so be careful when driving along streets near the water (like Alki Avenue, Beach Drive, and in this case, Fauntleroy Way). Here’s a state fact sheet about them.
SIDEWALK COYOTE: Julia sent this video of a daylight coyote sighting in Sunrise Heights, near 31st/Othello, last Thursday:
Another reader sent a photo of a coyote in what appeared to be the same area of Sunrise Heights, around the same time, and said two others were in the area. Here’s state advice on coexisting with them.
Since our last roundup of daylight coyote sightings in West Seattle, we’ve received three more – first from Britta, reporting a Gatewood sighting after 10:30 am this morning:
Saw this cutie on 36th and Orchard. Just wanted to give a heads-up!
#2 was from a texter on Easter Sunday. We’ll spare you the visuals but their caption, from 46th/Charlestown, was that the coyote was “eating the Easter Bunny.”
Finally, sent by M, last Friday evening:
Coyote sighting on Puget Blvd at 7:30 pm. The Coyote came up our driveway and is the size of a German Shepherd. Snapped a picture of it in our backyard. Look out for your cats!
Now a survey – forwarded to us (with permission) by Kersti Muul:
My name is Sam Kreling and I recently earned my Ph.D. from the University of Washington, where I studied the urban coyote population in the Greater Seattle Area. Through this work, I found that many neighborhoods were struggling to live with various wildlife species from coyotes to squirrels and I am hoping to get a non-profit up and running in the Seattle area that focuses on helping people live with wildlife. This organization would hope to “support harmonious coexistence between people and wildlife by promoting understanding, reducing conflicts, and nurturing healthy urban ecosystems for the benefit of all.” I want to know what YOUR community needs/wants to live with wildlife and what you might want to learn about the wildlife in your neighborhood.
If you’re interested in responding to Sam’s survey, here’s the link.
The video is from WSB contributing photojournalist Dave Gershgorn, who has had more than his share of wildlife encounters lately – a coyote closeup on Saturday, these bunnies today. He thinks they were having a turf war; that seems more likely than a get-acquainted session. Here’s a photo from their wrestling match:
Think you know all about our resident rabbits? Check the state fact sheet!
1:27 PM: More daytime coyote sightings today – first from Megan in Gatewood:
While out walking my two small dogs today, I came face to face with a coyote that was heading south on the alley between Kenyon and Monroe. It was very quietly following a gentleman who was also walking his small dog. The coyote was quite big and very healthy looking. It was not afraid of us and clearly wanted to get closer to our dogs. We yelled at it to scare it off and it circled back three different ways, keeping its sight on us. Two other neighbors came by and stood with us and I suspect our group was then big enough for it to lose interest. It continued south.
It was a beautiful and smart animal but also an important reminder to be mindful while walking our pets.
A few blocks south in Upper Fauntleroy, Erin spotted this one not far from California/Thistle:
She reports it “went right for some outdoor-enclosure rabbits at a neighbor’s house.”
Also in Upper Fauntleroy, this report came in last night after our earlier report about daylight sightings – from Delia:
When my son and I were walking home from the bus stop at 2:53 pm (Friday), I witnessed a large coyote running north on 39th Ave SW at the intersection with SW Tillman.
It seemed to be following a couple (who were wearing their infant in a front carrier). At first, I thought it was their off-leash dog, but when I realized what it was, I alerted them. They turned and had to stare it down until it turned around and ran east down SW Tillman toward SW 37th Ave. I was able to capture these photos, and my Wyze camera captured it as well. (Then) around 4 pm, my next-door neighbor texted me that he saw it again while he was mowing. So it appears to be hanging around the area. Sharing to help spread awareness for folks to keep an eye on children and pets. There were several young kids walking home around the time I saw it.
So what should you do if you see one? Expert advice is here – including, don’t run.
ADDED 3:30 PM: A bit further south, WSB contributing photojournalist Dave Gershgorn spotted and photographed this one near the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, where he was heading to cover today’s Fauntleroy Community Association egg hunt for us:
Dave last saw it at 42nd SW and the curve north of the schoolhouse where Barton becomes California.
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: One more Upper Fauntleroy sighting, from Shay, who emailed around 6:30 pm, when it was still light out:
Just had a coyote visit us in upper Fauntleroy (Donovan & 37th). It trotted down our street and headed towards 36th & Cloverdale. Seemed healthy and nonchalant but it definitely surprised us! It’s the first one we’ve ever seen during the day or this closely. You can see it here headed up our neighbor’s steps as it passed through their yard.
Two more sighting reports sent to us, first one just after 1 pm today:
Big coyote spotted on 31st and Thistle. It just tried to follow a friend who was walking a small dog.
That one came in anonymously via text. The next one was via email, reported by Tim Van Liew on Thursday:
Taking a walk through Camp Long … and as I approached the golf course access road, I observed 3 coyotes out on the greens.
As always, our standard reminder: We publish coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm; expert advice on avoiding conflicts includes “never run from a coyote” and don’t enable their access to food – from unsecured garbage to unattended small pets. Read more here.
Thanks to the Highland Park-area neighbor who sent these photos and the brief report that they were seen at “Riverview Playfield by the tennis courts.”
We have published coyote sightings for 15+ years not for alarm, but for awareness. Learn how best to co-exist with them by following the links here.
If you’ve walked the waterfront path at Lincoln Park lately, you too might have seen a river otter engaged in beachfront dining. The photo above was sent by KT, taken by husband Robert on Friday; the one below is from Adam, taken on Saturday:
And yes, those are RIVER otters, not sea otters, which are seldom seen around here. Learn more about them here – and don’t be surprised to see one crossing a road or sidewalk, as sometimes their dens are inland.
Thanks to Amy Do for sending the video of a beaver sauntering across Delridge Way. Amy reports:
A large adult beaver approximately 50-60 pounds was sighted crossing Delridge Way SW between Webster and Holden St at 11:30 pm on Sunday night. The beaver was spotted just in time for a Lyft driver to slam on the brakes to avoid collision. The passenger of the Lyft took a short video. The beaver successfully crossed the street into a small wooded area, and is suspected of living in the greenbelt surrounding Longfellow Creek.
The creek and its watershed are home to multiple beavers, as discussed during an HPAC meeting (with guest Pamela Adams of BeaverInsights) back in January (WSB coverage here).
P.S. Just as we were about to hit “publish” on the above and run out of HQ, we checked email and saw this had just come in, from Matthew – a second beaver-in-street sighting:
Matthew reported having to “shoo” that beaver off Highland Park Way last night around 10:30 pm
Thanks again for sharing your bird photos – and, to start this gallery, video:
Ted recorded that Barred Owl stalking a squirrel in Arbor Heights. Meantime, Samantha Wren photographed Cedar Waxwings, so beautiful we’re including two views:
From Jon Anderson, a Spotted Towhee:
Stewart L. shared his “first (Great Blue Heron) of the season”:
Steve Bender found this Belted Kingfisher at Jack Block Park:
Even bluer, Theresa Arbow O’Connor‘s “backyard bird,” a Steller’s Jay:
And our recent fog gave Tom Trulin a murky view of an Eagle and Crow at Lincoln Park:
Thanks again to everyone who sends photos, whether birds, breaking news, sightings … westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302.
Reader report from Rebecca:
Today around 11:45 am, 36th and Myrtle. Just hanging out, drinking from the puddle. Crows were dive bombing (it)…
That’s right by Myrtle Reservoir Park. Meantime, our standard disclaimer – we publish coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm; here’s expert advice on coexistence.
Thanks to Jon Anderson for texting that photo. It’s a reminder that you need to help ensure these subfreezing nights don’t leave birds thirsty. During a previous year’s similar cold snap, local naturalist Ann Anderson gave this advice: “Simply pour hot water into your frozen bird bath. This quickly loosens the ice, making it easy to pop right out. Then refill it with warm water. It’s that easy, and will make a huge difference to cold, thirsty wildlife.” That’s similar to what Jon told us he does: “I break it off every morning and put new water in. This morning a squirrel was standing on the ice.”
Thanks to Sarah Chadd in Fauntleroy for the first two photos just in time for the bird-pic gallery we were already planning for today – two “snowbirds” photographed this morning, a Dark-eyed Junco above, Townsend’s Warbler below:
The bird photos below were received over the past few weeks. First, you might be noticing many American Robins out lately – Rainer Klett photographed this one in the Alki area:
At Alki Point, Gary Jones photographed this juvenile Bald Eagle:
A juvenile gull caught Megan Wood‘s eye along Elliott Bay:
Two waterbird views from Steve Bender – a family of Barrow’s Goldeneyes:
And a Great Blue Heron, dining:
Thanks again to everyone who sends photos – whether birds, breaking news, sightings, or … ? – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way if it’s not urgent; text 206-293-6302 if it is.
(Photos by James Tilley)
Two readers sent us photos of that harbor seal, noticing that Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network was watching it today at Don Armeni Boat Ramp. We then asked Seal Sitters’ David Hutchinson about the response:
Seal Sitters watched over this young seal until SR3 arrived. Based on their onsite visual health assesment, they captured the seal and transported it to their Des Moines facility for further examination and rehab.
There have been 2 Seal Sitter responses to young Harbor seals in the last two days. Yesterday, a seal was reported on private property along Beach Drive. Based on the initial assessment by Seal Sitters’ first responder, this animal was a candidate for pickup. However, due to increasing darkness and difficulty accessing the site, it was decided to leave it in place. The reporting party agreed to call if the seal was still there in the morning.
One of the readers who sent a photo of today’s seal sighting, Rick, also recorded video of SR3 capturing the seal for transport.
P.S. We don’t know whether this seal is one of the two in the photo we featured with this morning’s event list.
Three more coyote reports:
ADMIRAL: From Johnny:
as I was returning home at 1 am this morning, I saw a pack of three coyotes leaving Hiawatha Park on Walnut Ave. They ran down Forest Ave and turned on Fairmount toward the Admiral Way Bridge. I tried to warn them that the road is closed for construction, but they didn’t even slow down. Quite rude, if you ask me.
GATEWOOD #1: About half an hour after Johnny’s email, this text came in: “Gatewood coyote caught a rabbit, 36th & Willow.” The accompanying photo was a bit too graphic for us to show; it indeed appeared to be a coyote with a small animal dangling from its mouth.
GATEWOOD #2: Natalie sent this report and accompanying photos tonight:
Coyote sighting. Spotted the Gatewood pack at 9:35 pm heading east across California coming up Othello from Lincoln Park. They continued east on SW Orchard heading toward 35th. They were not afraid of us whatsoever and kept switching positions to make sure one was behind us. All three were plump and super healthy. Made sure to tell them not to eat anyone’s pets tonight.
Of course the only way to ensure that is to not leave unaccompanied animals outside. That and other advice on discouraging them from hanging around can be found here (and many other places).
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.
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