Wildlife 1869 results

WHALES! Orcas heading our way

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for the report – transient orcas are southbound off Eagle Harbor (Bainbridge Island), “more east in the channel.” Let us know if you see them!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: Gone fishing!

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Before we get back to The News – a bird break! Three beach photos:

The Bald Eagle above was photographed by Raul Baron; the next two photos are by Larry Gilpin – an Osprey:

And a Great Blue Heron:

(Sorry, we don’t know what The Catch Of The Day was!)

Share This

WILDLIFE: Abandoned newborn harbor-seal pup rescued

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

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

On Wednesday, Seal Sitters’ volunteers responded to the first harbor seal pup in West Seattle this 2020 pupping season. Early in the morning our Hotline received a report of a small pup swimming by the steps along the Alki promenade. The pup, nicknamed “Echo”, finally settled on one of the lower steps.

While Seal Sitters is the official NOAA stranding network for West Seattle, we partner with other groups to provide specialized health evaluations and care. SR3 (headquartered in Des Moines) sent their vet to do a visual assessment. Echo still had an umbilical stump present. This usually dries up and falls off by a week to 10 days after birth, so this was a very young pup. A seal pup’s best chance for survival is always with its mother, so it was decided to monitor Echo throughout the day in hopes that she might reunite with her mother at some point. The chances of a pup being abandoned due to disturbance is much higher in a busy urban environment. After many hours of rest, Echo returned to the water with the rising tide around 5:00 that evening and after a brief detour as far as the Alki Bathhouse, was seen swimming offshore to the west toward the Alki Lighthouse.

On Thursday morning, Echo was reported on a private beach west of the promenade. With the consent of the property owner, Seal Sitters responded and watched over the pup until the arrival of SR3 staff. The pup appeared thinner and there was no evidence of an attending mother. Because of this, it was decided to remove Echo and transport her to PAWS for rehab. Seal Sitters received a report yesterday morning from PAWS – Echo is female, just under 30 inches long and weighs a bit less than 20 pounds. She arrived at their facility thin and dehydrated and the hope is that she will do well in rehab.

Harbor seal pupping season is from late June through September in our area, so you may come across more pups on our West Seattle beaches over the next few months. This is typical behavior as they need to rest and warm up. Please remember to keep back and ask others to do the same. Always keep dogs on a leash and at a distance. As soon as possible, contact Seal Sitters’ Hotline at 206-905-7325.

The request in bold is extremely important – another wildlife advocate told us about Echo just before we heard from Seal Sitters, and noted that spectators were way too close and abundant when she was at the public beach, which could have led to her mother abandoning her.

Share This

ORCAS: Evening whale-watching from West Seattle

July 15, 2020 6:12 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

(Added 8:57 pm, photo by Jamie Kinney)

6:12 PM: Thanks to Jay for the tip! He says orcas just passed Dilworth on Vashon Island’s eastern shore, northbound, so they could be visible soon from west-facing West Seattle.

7:02 PM: Eastbound – toward West Seattle! – in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes, says Kersti Muul.

Share This

What to do if you see a seal pup on West Seattle’s shore

July 14, 2020 4:18 pm

| Comments Off on What to do if you see a seal pup on West Seattle’s shore

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Seal pup “Squally” in 2019)

Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network has an important reminder:

Harbor seal pupping season has begun in Puget Sound, and pups will soon appear on West Seattle beaches.

DON’T TOUCH SEAL PUPS! Seals regularly haul out to rest and get warm. Undisturbed, stress-free rest is crucial for their survival. Please don’t pick them up, put them in the water, or attempt to feed them.

DO NOT APPROACH! If a nursing pup has become separated from the mother, she will be scared away by humans and dogs and may not return to her pup. It’s a matter of life and death for young seals.

When you see a seal on the beach, stay back, leash your dog, and call Seal Sitters at 206-905-SEAL (206-905-7325). We respond to reports of marine mammals, both dead and alive.

How far should you stay away from seals? NOAA guidelines say 100 yards, which is the length of 15 parked cars or one city block. At our public beaches, it may be hard to to keep that distance, but simply put: if the animal notices you, begins to fidget, or starts to flee into the water, YOU ARE TOO CLOSE. Please, back off.

Because of COVID-19, Seal Sitters may not be setting up yellow tape perimeters as in the past and may not be present at all times. You can help by respecting our signage, alerting others and asking them to leash their pets. Marine mammals are protected by law; disturbing them is considered harassment and is illegal. Please report violations to the Seal Sitters hotline at 206-905-7325.

For more information, check out the Blubber Blog at BlubberBlog.org. (Seal Sitters has temporarily suspended our volunteer training until the COVID situation improves.)

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas in the area again

July 13, 2020 3:21 pm

| Comments Off on WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas in the area again

| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Orcas are visible off West Seattle again – heading northbound along the east side of Blake Island at last report. Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 7 feathered friends

July 12, 2020 6:14 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Before we get back to the news … a break for online birding.

First, two from Mark Wangerin – above, a Barred Owlet; below, a Black-headed Grosbeak:

Next, a Wilson’s Warbler, photographed by Mark MacDonald:

Robin Sinn sent the next two photos – a Great Blue Heron …

And a White-crowned Sparrow:

Finally, two backyard sightings – Alex has made friends with Fluffy the Steller’s Jay:

And Lise Thivierge spotted a Brown-headed Cowbird – which has a distinctive gurgling call:

All the bird-species names above link to BirdWeb pages where you can hear as well as see the birds!

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas, southbound

July 11, 2020 2:21 pm

| Comments Off on WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas, southbound

| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip! Orcas are in the area again, just seen southbound off Blakely Rock, across the Sound from Alki. Let us know if you see them!

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Transient orcas in the area again

July 6, 2020 11:37 am

| Comments Off on WHALE-WATCHING: Transient orcas in the area again

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Transient orcas, seen in the area a few days ago. are back – reported off Fay Bainbridge State Park and heading southwest about an hour ago, so you’d definitely need binoculars, but this is a heads-up to be on the lookout. (Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip!)

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Seen ‘surfing’

July 4, 2020 2:18 pm

| 31 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Somebody texted a while ago to report a beaver at Don Armeni. We suspect it’s the same critter Sharon Wada photographed earlier today, sending the pics and noting, “This guy looks like he’s surfing! So many people I talked to said this was the first time they’ve seen a beaver walking and swimming in the tideoools before swimming along the edge towards Elliott Bay. Feel free to post these pictures of what looks to be a beaver; however, some have asked if it was a nutria.”

11 years ago, a similar sighting in a Junction yard resulted in a commenter consensus of “marmot.” Here are infopages for beavers, nutria, and marmot (seems unlikely). Thoughts?

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas in Elliott Bay

July 3, 2020 1:48 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Thanks to David Hutchinson for sending photos from orcas’ visit to Elliott Bay on Thursday evening.

These were transient orcas, not the Southern Residents.

Unlike the resident whales, transients’ food sources include other mammals – seals, sea lions, even other whales.

David’s photos were taken from Duwamish Head and the Alki promenade.

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas visible from West Seattle again

June 29, 2020 10:53 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Orcas are in the area again! The tip comes from Kersti Muul, who says whales are “milling on north en of Blake Island.” Let us know if you see them!

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas visible from West Seattle

June 28, 2020 11:49 am

| Comments Off on WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas visible from West Seattle

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Thanks to Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail for calling with word that orcas are northbound off Brace Point, south of Fauntleroy. They’re not currently close to our side of the Sound, though, so take your binoculars.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 7 to see

June 27, 2020 6:13 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to everyone who has continued to send West Seattle bird photos! Here are 7 more -starting with this one from John Kieltyka:

That Steller’s Jay wandered into a photo shoot for John’s West Seattle-produced guitar podcast, The High Gain.

Kimberly Mickelson spotted this Great Blue Heron on a roof:

From Mark Wangerin, a fuzzy Barred Owlet:

A Red-shafted Northern Flicker visited Steven Sherotsky in Gatewood:

From Hans A. in Delridge, an unusual view of a Crow in flight:

And two from Larry Gilpin near Schmitz Park – first, an Anna’s Hummingbird:

And a Spotted Towhee:

Thanks again to everyone who continues to send photos and tips!

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas traveling this way again

June 15, 2020 1:03 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

1:03 PM: Heads-up for whale lovers – Kersti Muul shares the news that southbound orcas were reported mid-channel off Shilshole about half an hour ago, so unless they change their direction, they could be in view now, or soon, off West Seattle. Let us know if you see them!

1:57 PM: Kersti says they’re “Visible with binocs from Alki and Sunset overlook.”

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE BIRDS: Peregrine Falcon rescued, and nest news

June 14, 2020 8:44 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

This morning, Brian sent that photo, showing a juvenile Peregrine Falcon that seemed to have encountered trouble on the low-bridge bicycle/pedestrian path. Then, tonight, an update from Joel, including more photos:

To all the concerned cyclists and walkers that saw the disoriented juvenile Peregrine on the bridge yesterday, good news, he was picked up today and transferred to PAWS for rehabilitation:

We don’t know for sure if it’s from the same nest, but another reader had recently called our attention to the Urban Raptor Conservancy mentioning briefly in this online update that three peregrines had hatched in a nest on the now-closed high bridge. We asked SDOT for more information, and they reminded us it’s not the first time:

We have a long history of working with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Urban Raptor Conservancy’s Seattle Peregrine Project to support wildlife preservation efforts including protecting peregrine falcon nests on West Seattle High-Rise Bridge and the University Bridge. In the late 1990s, we assisted with the nest box’s placement on the bridge, and the site has produced young most years since 2005. In some years, we have also assisted the Urban Raptor Conservancy to band new falcon chicks in order to learn valuable information about the birds’ movement and migration habits. For example, in 2011 an SDOT bridge inspector discovered four young falcon chicks roosting beneath the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge, which were the offspring of a female peregrine who had travelled from a nest on a crane at the Port of Olympia.

We take extreme care not to disturb the current resident of the nest, who the Urban Raptor Conservancy informs us is a peregrine falcon born in downtown Tacoma. We are in frequent communication with Department of Fish and Wildlife and Urban Raptor Conservancy about the status of the bridge and plan to work closely with both agencies regarding the future of the bridge and nest.

SDOT also told us they and partner agencies have considered installing a streaming camera but not soon, as they “determined that it is too risky to the birds to install during nesting season (and also risky for our engineers, since the falcons are highly likely to attack anyone who comes near the nest). This is a seasonal nest, so we are considering installing a camera later this year after the fledgling season when birds have all learned to fly and left the nest.”

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas in the area

June 14, 2020 10:53 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip to keep an eye out for orcas today – as of a short time ago, “Orcas are northbound again at entrance to Colvos Passage. Two groups today – one went south and is at Pt. Defiance.” That’s Tacoma, so you might not see them any time soon, but Colvos Passage is along the west shore of Vashon Island, so if those whales continue heading northbound, they will be in view from here. Let us know if you see them!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 9 views of your winged neighbors

June 7, 2020 1:56 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Lots more news in the pipeline … but more great bird photos have flown in lately, so here are nine:

Above, David Hutchinson explains, “This pair of Bald Eagles has been scavenging on the carcass of a young harbor seal (last year’s pup) on the beach along the 1500 block of Alki Ave at times the last two days. The sight has attracted a lot of attention from passersby and Seal Sitters has placed informational signage up along the walkway.”

Might be one of those same two in this photo from Gene Pavola:

Robin Sinner photographed fledgling Steller’s Jays:

Next are Raven fledglings at Lincoln Park, from Mark MacDonald:

He also photographed a Caspian Tern, the seabirds with prehistoric-sounding cries:

Mark Wangerin photographed a colorful Western Tanager:

From Ryan Minch, a leucistic Crow at Cormorant Cove during low tide:

And rom Larry Gilpin – even the ordinary House Sparrow can be eye-catching:

Big thanks to everyone who shares these photos reminding us who and what else lives on our wonderful peninsula!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: Battle of the Great Blue Herons

May 27, 2020 8:10 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Laurence Shaw for this series of photos from Alki during low tide earlier this week.

He says, “I was lucky enough to witness a pair of Great Blue Herons battling over a spot of lunch near the 1300 block of Alki Ave SW.”

“Happy to report that the bird who made the catch ultimately held on to its prize.”

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Humpback northbound off West Seattle

May 23, 2020 7:19 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

7:19 PM: Two tips in the past ~20 minutes report a whale northbound off west-facing West Seattle, toward Fauntleroy at last report. No report yet what species. Let us know if you see it!

7:45 PM: Humpback, says tipster Scott.

7:51 PM: Just got a call from Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail, who says it’s a juvenile humpback, moving quickly, should be off Alki Point soon.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Despite school closures, teachers found ways to engage students in Fauntleroy Creek’s spring salmon releases

May 21, 2020 2:31 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | Wildlife

(Taproot School students created flags at home to brighten the release bridge where teachers released their fry. Photo by Michelle Taylor)

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

When school closures started in March, most of the 72 teachers leading Salmon in the Schools projects across the city immediately released their tiny fish into the wild on the chance that some might survive. In West Seattle, however, most salmon teachers found ways to keep growing their fish and to share releases electronically with their students.

Arbor Heights Elementary‘s tank tender Kristin Waitt Hutchinson spun into action as soon as the closure notice came. She quickly got a freshwater tank ready in her garage for the 150 coho fry she had been helping teacher Angie Nall care for at the school. Two months later, she brought the robust fish to Fauntleroy Park, where Angie shared the release as it happened with her students on Zoom. Read More

Share This

WHALE-WATCHING: Humpback off West Seattle

May 21, 2020 12:11 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that there’s a humpback whale in the area, seen in Elliott Bay off Duwamish Head, a few hundred yards out. (If you’re not sure how to ID a humpback, check out this page from The Whale Trail‘s species guide.) Let us know if you see it!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: More views of your feathered neighbors

May 16, 2020 4:06 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

It’s Wildlife in the City Week! Great reason to showcase more West Seattle bird photos:

Twp from longtime contributor Mark Wangerin – above, those are Barred Owls in Fauntleroy Park; below, a Black-headed Grosbeak:

Next two are from Mark MacDonald – a Wilson’s Warbler at Lincoln Park:

And a (corrected) juvenile Bald Eagle over Alki:

From Ann Anderson, mom Crow feeding baby:

You can learn all about Crows’ nesting/mating/etc. in this recent post by a Seattle Animal Shelter naturalist.

Speaking of which, if you’re out doing yard work, be careful! Don’t accidentally bring down a nest. Kelly Howard was out working in her yard and noticed this: