West Seattle, Washington

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Wildlife 1857 results

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 7 views, from sky to sea to tree
August 28, 2021 9:16 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Continuing our tradition of publishing bird-photo galleries during Seahawks games when we can … the top photo by Mark McDonald is the “real seahawk,” an Osprey, with prey, over Arroyo Beach. Also in flight, a Brown Pelican – not that common around here – photographed over Alki by Jerry Simmons:

Jerry also caught those perennial rivals, a Bald Eagle and Crow, on the ground:

Mark Wangerin photographed a Pigeon Guillemot seemingly on the run:

Great Blue Herons don’t always look regal, Greg Snyder‘s photo reminds us:

And we go inland for the last two photos – Vlad Oustimovitch photographed fledgling Cooper’s Hawks with lunch:

Yard birds shared a perch in Gill Loring‘s photo – a Northern Flicker (we think) and Steller’s Jay:

Big thanks to everyone who sends photos, from birds to breaking news – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Seal Sitters’ first pup of the season
August 20, 2021 8:50 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(WSB photo)

Walking on the Lincoln Park waterfront path Thursday evening, we spotted the tape and signage that Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network puts up when they’re guarding a visitor on the shore. They explained a harbor-seal pup – first one they’ve seen on a West Seattle beach this pupping season – was resting among the driftwood. We couldn’t see the pup from the path, but SSMMSN’s David Hutchinson got a long-lens photo and sent it to us early today:

(Photo by David Hutchinson)

He says it’s a “very young harbor seal pup, nicknamed ‘Xico’ by one of our new volunteers – pronounced Chico.” Reminder that if you see a marine mammal on shore – or one offshore that seems in distress – please notify SSMMSN at 206-905-SEAL.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Ruckus the elephant seal visits Seola Beach
July 27, 2021 10:50 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to the Seola Beach neighbor who sent that photo of Ruckus the Northern Elephant Seal, resting on a private beach during today’s low tide. The neighbor says he was under watch so curious onlookers could be kept at a distance. As Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network has explained, he might be getting ready to molt; if you see him, keep them updated with a report to 206-905-7325 (905-SEAL).

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Where have all the coyotes gone? If you’ve seen/heard any in West Seattle, researcher needs your help
July 27, 2021 1:12 pm
|      67 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

2016-7-6-7039-Coyote in yard(2016 photo by Trileigh Tucker)

Here on WSB, our wildlife coverage used to include coyote reports (archived here) – not as warnings, but to raise awareness that they share the peninsula with us. Or – shared. It’s been a long time since we’ve received a coyote report, and despite living near multiple greenbelts, we haven’t heard or seen any lately either. We’ve wondered from time to time if they’ve truly dwindled here, or whether we’re just not hearing (about) them. Then we got a note from researcher Sam Kreling, a UW Ph.D. student, who is leading a study of Seattle’s coyote population. Kreling not only noticed our lack of recent coyote reports but added, “I’ve been attempting to find coyote scat in West Seattle for my research and haven’t really had any luck over the last couple of months.” The research is a collaboration between UW and the Woodland Park Zoo, “studying Seattle’s coyote population through non-invasive methods, aimed at understanding their diet, limit conflict, and their population demographics,” because “there have only been really limited insights to Seattle’s coyotes and much is still unknown about urban carnivores in general, so this study aims to help understand urban carnivores as a whole, and Seattle’s specific population of coyotes.” They’ve been working on it for almost a year, and when complete, they hppe the study will “inform Seattle management decisions on coyotes, identify regions that may be more prone to human-coyote conflict than others, and increase the general scientific knowledge surrounding urban wildlife.” So if you have any West Seattle leads for researchers, email seattlecoyotestudy@gmail.com.

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: 7 photos
July 25, 2021 5:06 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

We’ve been waiting for a relatively quiet Sunday afternoon to feature non-bird wildlife photos received in recent weeks – and it’s here. Above and below, the first two photos are by Jerry Simmons, seen on the shore – a gunnel and crab.

David Hutchinson is often out watching, and photographing, sightings on- and off-shore. He shared the two photos below – a crystal jelly:

And a rabbit:

In the forest, Mark Wangerin, who often shares beautiful bird photos, spotted this raccoon:

Another raccoon was photographed by Rose De Dan of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, who has many animal-encounter stories to tell. She shared a few photos with us this summer too. She says this raccoon was in a cherry tree, inspecting whether the fruit was ready to eat:

Below, Rose’s photo of an opossum enjoying fresh apples:

She says the opossum is a frequent visitor, and tells a story – with video – on her website.

Thanks to everyone who shares West Seattle photos – wildlife, breaking news, more – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302, any time!

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FOLLOWUP: What you might notice if you see the visiting elephant seal again
July 25, 2021 12:39 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

An update from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:

Seal Sitters continues to monitor our visiting Northern Elephant Seal since he was first spotted in West Seattle waters on July 16. He had previously been sighted in the Des Moines/Redondo area in early June. The volunteers at SR3 (the newly opened Marine Mammal Hospital in Des Moines) named him “Ruckus” considering all the attention and excitement he was creating. To our knowledge, he has not hauled out on any public beach in West Seattle, but with the cooperation of property owners along the Sound, Seal Sitters’ first responders have been able to check on his location and condition.

While elephant seals vary somewhat in color through shades of brown and gray, they all go through an annual “catastrophic molt.” During this process they shed their top layer of skin and fur in chunks which results in a dramatic change in appearance and they remain on the beach for an extended period of time. This is normal, but can give the impression that the animal is sick or dying.

If Ruckus is still in our area when he molts, we hope he can find a quiet safe beach. If you should come across him while out walking our beaches, please keep a respectful distance and report his location to the Seal Sitters’ Hotline at 206-905-7325.

The top photo is of Ruckus on a private West Seattle beach on 7/18, while the bottom photo is of a molting female Northern Elephant Seal on a downtown Seattle beach back in April of this year. Female elephant seals molt in the spring while males molt later in the summer.

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Elephant seal lingering
July 21, 2021 2:14 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Paul Benade of Always Local Photos for the latest view of the Northern Elephant Seal that’s lingering in West Seattle waters – he was seen off the 4100 block of Beach Drive. If you see him, here’s what you should know, courtesy of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

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FOLLOWUP: Don’t be fooled if you see the Northern Elephant Seal that’s been visiting West Seattle
July 18, 2021 1:45 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to reader reports/photos, we’ve been telling you these past few days about an unusual visitor to West Seattle waters/shores, an adult male Northern Elephant Seal. Most recent sighting we’ve heard of was this morning, near Lowman Beach. Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network‘s David Hutchinson sent this followup today from the seal’s extended Saturday visit north of there:

Seal Sitters would like to thank our West Seattle neighbors who contacted us concerning the elephant seal on their beach yesterday. Seal Sitters’ first responders were permitted to access the location and continue to monitor his movements and condition. This male northern Elephant Seal may turn up at other spots around the West Seattle peninsula.

Elephant Seals are deep divers and capable of holding their breath for many minutes. While on the beach, they may appear to be deceased. Just a reminder, this is a very large wild animal and may respond aggressively if disturbed. Observe from a distance and let the Seal Sitters’ Hotline (206-905-7325) know his location. If viewing him on the beach from a kayak or paddle board, please keep a respectful distance and allow him to rest – NOAA recommends 100 yards.

Here are a couple links to some information about this unusual visitor to our area:

NOAA Fact Sheet

The National Wildlife Foundation

Here are our previous reports: Saturday and Friday.

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VIDEO: Elephant seal continues West Seattle visit
July 17, 2021 2:31 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

2:31 PM: Thanks to Lura for the video. The Northern Elephant Seal that’s been seen in West Seattle waters lately (here’s our Friday report) hauled out on a stretch of private Beach Drive shore today. If you see it elsewhere, let Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network know, 206-905-SEAL.

5:30 PM: Lura has since updated us that the seal has moved on.

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WILDLIFE: Elephant seal off West Seattle
July 16, 2021 4:25 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

4:25 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul and Eric Shalit for the tips – another elephant seal is in view off West Seattle. Eric saw it off Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4500 block Beach Drive) around 1 pm; Kersti just texted that it’s headed slowly southbound, still in that area. It’s an adult male Northern Elephant Seal – the Seal Sitters update we published recently talks about their appearance in local waters.

ADDED 7:41 PM: The photo and update are from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:

Seal Sitters was contacted about this animal just before noon today. Volunteers were at Emma Schmitz Overlook for a period of time, early this afternoon, monitoring this seal just in case it came ashore. We believe this is probably the same animal that was hanging out in Puget Sound further to the south earlier in June. If you spot it in our area, please call the Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-7325.

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WEST SEATTLE TURKEY: Still hanging around
July 14, 2021 8:33 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news | Wildlife

So far, no turkey experts have come forward to offer opinions on whether the turkey who appeared in West Seattle recently is the same one who hung out here for a year before heading south in April 2020. So we’re not so sure about calling this one THE West Seattle Turkey. But this turkey’s newfound fans have named her anyway. Meredith, who sent the photo above, says, “We’ve decided to call her Henrietta. She’s been sleeping here for over a week so we thought she needed a name.” The turkey’s adopted area is just a bit south of the 2019-2020 sightings-rich area southeast of Admiral. Lisa D., in the short video below, described her as “neighbor turkey”:

Henrietta (or whatever you want to call her) is still drawing attention from neighborhood pets too – Alan sent this photo:

The state Fish and Wildlife Department notes that turkeys are more common in eastern Washington, but does say “small populations” pop up here west of the Cascades now and then,

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WEST SEATTLE TURKEY: Sightings continue
July 7, 2021 11:16 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo sent by FL, near 42nd/Bradford)

Thanks for all the photos! So far no definitive opinions on whether the turkey that’s just turned up in West Seattle (here’s our report from Saturday) is THE turkey who spent a year here before departing, southbound, in April 2020.

(Photo sent by Rose, in The Junction)

This one seems to be a fan of apartment courtyards among other habitats:

(Photo sent by Eric, in Seaview)

It doesn’t seem particularly daunted by people or their pets:

(Photo sent by Dan)

Let us know if the turkey turns up in YOUR neighborhood!

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WILDLIFE: What you need to know as seal-pupping season begins
July 5, 2021 10:59 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Echo, first harbor-seal pup sighted here last year)

The photos and report are from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:

Harbor seal pupping season is now underway in our area of Puget Sound. Over the next months, you may come across a vulnerable newborn or newly weaned pup on any of our local beaches. It is against Federal law to feed, touch, disturb or move a harbor seal pup.

Many of you are already familiar with Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network. For new residents of West Seattle, we are part of NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, covering the shoreline from Brace Point through the Duwamish River, including Harbor Island and the downtown side of the East Waterway up to the Coast Guard station. Seal Sitters responds to all reports of marine mammals on the beaches, alive or dead. If you come across any marine mammal on shore, please keep your distance, keep people and pets away, and call Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-7325.

Harbor seal pups are nursed by their mothers for only 4-6 weeks before being left on their own. Pups that show up this early in the season may well have a mother offshore; it’s very important that people keep their distance. If there is any disturbance nearby, a seal mom may abandon her pup. That was the case with “Echo,” the first pup Seal Sitters responded to last year. Echo still had a short umbilical cord stump attached and was estimated to be just a few days old. When no mother returned to Alki Beach for Echo, she was taken to PAWS. After a successful rehabilitation, she was released back into Puget Sound. Only members of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network are authorized to handle and transport marine mammals.

(Elephant seal seen last month near Des Moines)

Another seal you may find resting on our beaches is the northern elephant seal. More of this species have been showing up in local waters. In April of this year, Seal Sitters provided volunteers in support of our network partner to the north, Sno-King Marine Mammal Response, to help protect a young female elephant seal “molting” on a downtown Seattle beach. A numbered flipper tag revealed that this animal had been born in early 2020 in the Año Nuevo colony in California. Recently, there have also been a number of sightings of a male elephant seal in Puget Sound to the south of West Seattle. These animals are very large, irritable and unpredictable when going through their lengthy molt, so please keep a safe distance.

Seal Sitters’ hotline (206-905-7325) is staffed from 8 AM – 8 PM, 7 days a week. Early or late calls – if no one is available when you call, please leave a message.

*Please note that all photos were taken with a telephoto lens.

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Could this be … the return of The West Seattle Turkey?
July 3, 2021 12:33 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo by Benjamin Chamberlain)

Thanks for the photos/tips! Turkey sightings north of The Junction has people wondering if this could be THE West Seattle Turkey – which hasn’t been seen around here in more than a year. The photo above was taken near 42nd/Andover on Friday; the one below, the same area, this morning:

(Photo by Claire Fitterer)

And this one is from 41st/Dakota, also this morning:

(Photo by Ian Lurie)

If you’re new – The West Seattle Turkey captivated the peninsula, working her way north from the southwest end of West Seattle starting in April 2019, eventually settling in the Admiral/Belvidere area, occasionally making forays away. Then she started heading back south again, crossing out of the city limits after this Seola sighting in April 2020. The last sighting of any kind mentioned to us was in south King County later that month. Her origins were never determined.

(Video by Claire Fitterer)
Could this be the same bird? Average lifespan of a wild turkey hen is reported to be about three years.

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HEAT WAVE: ‘Water the birds!’
June 25, 2021 8:19 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather | Wildlife

The photo is from Trileigh Tucker, who is among the West Seattleites wanting to ensure you remember our feathered (and furry) friends in the mega-hot weather ahead. She points out it’s not just about bird baths and water bowls:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put plenty of water out for the birds and your own animals, in the shade, under shelter so they don’t have to risk emerging from their protection. It’s going to be hard on them as well as us.

In addition, try spraying any shrubs in your yard with a hose — the little birds love taking a bath in the leaves. In less than 2 minutes after I did this (twice) this morning, chickadees and bushtits were bathing, so sweet to watch.

WATER THE BIRDS!!

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WHALES: Northbound orcas pass West Seattle (photos added)
June 12, 2021 9:54 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

9:54 AM: Saturday morning whales! Kersti Muul from Salish Wildlife Watch tells us northbound transient orcas are just coming out of Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon Island. Let us know if you see them!

7:24 PM: Photos added. The two above are from David Hutchinson, as seen from Alki. Below, from Helen Dolejsi:

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 9 new views
June 6, 2021 5:10 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Family-photo time as we start this gallery of reader-contributed West Seattle bird photos! Look closely at Kersti Muul‘s photo above – that’s a baby Killdeer under mom’s tailfeathers. Below, Samantha Burton‘s nestbox attracted Nuthatches:

Mark Wangerin photographed a fledgling Pileated Woodpecker today, explaining, “I had noticed a change in the adult Pileated Woodpeckers vocalization over the past few days. Today this new fledgling appeared! It swooped from trunk to trunk within the forest”:

This morning, Lynn Hall caught a Canada Goose family looking out at Elliott Bay:

For a closer view of a gosling – Stewart L. sent this long-lens photo:

Stewart also sends this view of a Violet-green Swallow:

Next, a House Finch, from Michelle Green Arnson:

An Anna’s Hummingbird from Jerry Simmons:

And another hummingbird from Janelle, followed by the explanation of why she was holding it:

I wanted to share this photo of a stunned hummer who flew into my window the other day. I picked him up when he was laying sideways stunned and held him for about 5 minutes until he was able to fly to a nearby tree, where he sat for another 20 minutes or so, then flew away.

I’ve heard numerous bird thuds on my windows in recent days, prompting me to research and order some Window Alert decals to help save birds from window strikes.

Thanks again to everyone who shares photos – from birds to breaking news – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best place to send non-urgent photos!

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Caution, otters crossing
June 2, 2021 11:32 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Just out of the WSB inbox, from Aimee:

My daughter and I spotted a river otter at the Solstice P-Patch this morning around 10:30 AM.

Unfortunately we didn’t get a picture but am hoping you might have a good way to give folks a reminder to watch the roads.

Despite the name, river otters are what you see in Puget Sound – not sea otters. (Learn about them here.) Their dens are on land. Most often in this area. they’re seen crossing Harbor/Alki Avenues – here’s our favorite photo, of one on the Alki Trail years ago:

(WSB file photo)

To get to Solstice P-Patch, next to the tennis courts that are across from the north end of Lincoln Park, the otter would have had to cross Fauntleroy Way SW, so consider that a potential otter route too. A few years back, young otters wandered up Fairmount Ravine into the neighborhoods near Hiawatha!

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One last look at what this round of low-low tides revealed on West Seattle beaches
May 29, 2021 5:29 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Wildlife

A little low-low tide exploring can give you new appreciation for what you don’t see when walking Puget Sound beaches the rest of the time. We have photos from Friday that we didn’t get to show you last night because of breaking news – first two, from Michelle Green Arnson, show a Moon Snail above, an Ochre Sea Star and Christmas Anemone below:

She was out at Constellation Park and has rave reviews for the volunteer Seattle Aquarium beach naturalist, too. Elsewhere on the West Seattle shore, Stewart L. photographed this Great Blue Heron (yes, with a long lens, at a distance):

And we were out along Duwamish Head, just east of Luna (Anchor) Park, looking out at the former site of its namesake amusement park:

Not everyone was looking for wildlife:

Tomorrow’s low tide is still fairly low but not nearly as much as the past three – it’ll be out to -2.5 feet at 2:37 pm Sunday; the naturalists will be out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks again (12:45-3:45 pm). Then set a reminder for 11:54 am June 25th, when the lowest low tide of the summer arrives, -4.0 feet.

ADDED: One more photo – this one from Gill, taken at Constellation Park, looking toward Alki Point:

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City vs. beavers on Longfellow Creek
May 28, 2021 5:15 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | Wildlife

That’s a photo sent recently by John, showing a beaver along Longfellow Creek, which parallels much of Delridge Way. In some areas along the creek, beavers are just part of the ecosystem – but Seattle Public Utilities says their work is posing a potential problem in one area, and is pursuing this project, announced in a recent Land Use Information Bulletin (note that the same notice covers the West Seattle proposal and a similar one elsewhere in the city):

Beavers have recently constructed dams immediately upstream of the pedestrian footbridge over Longfellow Creek … and dams in SPU’s Meadowbrook Pond Stormwater Detention and Flood Control Facility in the Meadowbrook neighborhood.

The dams may lead to localized flooding of nearby residential properties during the rainy season. This proposal would deploy beaver dam management interventions at the dams at both sites. Specifically, the proposed work would install four pond levelers by notching the dams and then installing exclusion fences. The fencing would extend 16-feet upstream from the top of the dam. Notching assists in
preventing beavers from detecting stream flow through the dam and the fencing prevents them from effectively plugging the notch.

These interventions are intended to control water levels and flows in Longfellow and Thornton creeks and are preferred alternatives to relocating the beavers or removing or breaching an established beaver dam that maintains hydrology of a nearby wetland or pond. The proposed design provides unimpeded fish passage while preventing beavers from constructing effective dams at the pedestrian \ bridge at the Longfellow Creek site and in Meadowbrook Pond at the Thornton Creek site.

The Project includes the following major work elements:

1. Creating a notch in the beaver dam
2. Installation of metal t-posts and welded-wire fencing with a mesh size of 4 inches by 6 inches to create a box in the notch of the beaver dam.
3. Extend the wire fencing box 16-feet upstream from the beaver dam.

This is in/near the 2500 block of SW Graham [map], according to the city notice. What the city published, specifically, is a Determination of Non-Significance, meaning it doesn’t believe a formal environmental-impact study is needed for this. Here’s the full-length “checklist” document, below and here:

You can comment by June 3rd by emailing Kevin Buckley at SPU, kevin.buckley@seattle.gov; you can also formally appeal the Determination of Non-Significance, deadline June 10th, as explained in the notice.

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Rabbit vs. crows
May 22, 2021 11:43 am
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Kevin Freitas for sharing that view of urban wildlife going head-to-head in his neighborhood southeast of The Junction. When he first published it on Twitter, general consensus was that the rabbit was defending a nearby nest, and it is indeed baby-bunny season. For info on rabbits, you can check out the state’s “Living with Wildlife” species-specific guide.

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 10 feathered neighbors
May 16, 2021 3:10 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks for more beautiful West Seattle bird photos! Here’s a new Sunday afternoon gallery. First, two from Jerry Simmons – a Canada Goose family on a walkabout above, a young Barred Owl below:

Mark Wangerin photographed the next two – a Red-breasted Sapsucker:

And a Bewick’s Wren (click the link and listen to the audio – they’re singing everywhere):

Gentle McGaughey perfectly captured the distinctive “hairstyle” sported by Steller’s Jays:

Trileigh Tucker photographed this Band-Tailed Pigeon:

This Crow at a feeder is from Michelle Green Arnson:

James Tilley photographed the next two – the celebrity Bald Eagle “Bey”:

And an Osprey with a snack:

We conclude this gallery with a Willow Flycatcher, which Lawrence Heeren says is the first one he’s seen in 21 years in West Seattle:

From birds to breaking news, we appreciate the photos you share – westseattleblog@gmail.com if it’s not urgent, or text 206-293-6302 if it is!

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WHALES: Orca sighting to start the week!
May 10, 2021 9:15 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

9:15 AM: Transient orcas are in view across the Sound from West Seattle, passing Southworth right now, “northbound, quickly,” reports Kersti Muul of Salish Wildlife Watch. Let us know if you see them!

9:33 AM: Update from Kersti – they’re now in view off Blake Island.

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