West Seattle, Washington
17 Friday
More West Seattle bird sightings – thank you to all the photographers!
Above, the always-spectacular (and loud) Steller’s Jay, photographed by Mark Wangerin, whose photos we have featured so often with our daily calendar highlights – which are mostly on hiatus now in this eventless time! Below, a Brown Creeper, photographed at Lincoln Park by another Mark, from Nature’s Eye Photos:
And we’ve received several great views of Bald Eagles – here are two, first from Chris Frankovich:
And one spotted in mid-meal, photographed by Dan Ciske:
P.S. Want to help monitor how our current altered lifestyle is affecting birds? Check this out! (Hat tip KUOW.)
Thanks to everyone who sent photos of their encounters with The West Seattle Turkey, who spent the day in North Admiral:
Diane and Lorne Dyke sent that video of The Turkey at the door. Katie, meantime, found TWST on her deck:
Katie said, “He’s been here for hours and even our dog has gotten used to his presence.” Below, Grace Lee photographed a young passerby doing a doubletake:
Diana Niederberger sent the next photo, saying, “Thought readers would like to see the Turkey strolling on Sunset Ave in North Admiral.”
Jacob Bridge saw The Turkey at Sunset/Hill:
The Turkey apparently started the day near Stephen‘s house on 45th SW, around 6:30 am:
“My wife heard our dogs barking this morning and was thrilled to see The Turkey back in Admiral.”
TWST has now crossed the peninsula north to south twice – first turning up a year ago in Arbor Heights, eventually spending months in Admiral, then recently heading south for a stay in Gatewood, and now all the way to North Admiral. Where it’s originally from, no one seems to know.
Thanks to everyone who’s been sending photos – we have more in queue but first this afternoon, seal sightings. Longtime contributor David Hutchinson, who also is a longtime volunteer with Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, took both these photos of recent harbor-seal sightings on the West Seattle shore.
Both were taken from a distance – don’t ever try to get up close for a photo.
Friday night birding …
GREAT BLUE ON THE BRIDGE: In case you missed that photo posted by James Riley in a comment on Thursday morning, it remains our favorite photo so far this week. The Great Blue Heron was taking advantage of the traffic-free West Seattle Bridge
THE WEST SEATTLE TURKEY HEADS NORTH: Not to be outdone, TWST also posed with a street sign today. Kat sent that photo from Admiral. The Turkey ranged into North Admiral during the day:
Jesse and Dawson Rogers sent that photo after a sighting at 44th/Seattle. Betty saw TWST one block west of there:
PLEASANT PHEASANT: Seen on Genesee Hill again, the Golden Pheasant:
Thanks to Eddie for the photo. westseattleblog@gmail.com if YOU have a sighting to share!
After a week-plus of roaming to the south, The West Seattle Turkey is back in the area where it has spent much of the past near-year – Admiral. It was back at Rose De Dan‘s home today – she sent the photo above (and has shared sightings before). From the West Seattle High School area, Rob Braby sent this video:
And Mayra caught The Turkey climbing near 39th/Admiral:
During its recent meanderings, The Turkey was seen as far south os south Gatewood, and was even spotted crossing busy streets in The Junction. Thanks for the sightings!
No, not The Turkey this time ….
SAFE CROSSING: Eric Shalit took the photo, and explains:
While out on bicycle earlier (Tuesday), I encountered a Seattle police officer rescuing a family of geese that attempted to cross Spokane Street under the West Seattle Bridge. In the attached photo, he has successfully herded all but one out of the road and is trying to shoo the last baby to rejoin its family in a safe place.
WILDLIFE HOURS? Ellie Vann spotted this owl in the Roxbury Safeway lot, perhaps waiting for its turn at the store:
Thanks for the photos! Always appreciated – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302
We interrupt the rest of the news for a quick safety alert about The West Seattle Turkey. Today, it’s been seen in The Junction … Kristina sent the photo above, after seeing it crossing usually busy SW Alaska. Earlier in the day, it was southeast of The Junction, walking in a much-safer place, up someone’s stairs:
In recent days TWST (now in its 12th month in West Seattle) has gone from Gatewood to High Point to Snake Hill to, now, The Junction. So there’s yet another reason to stay home … avoid running over The Turkey (not to mention helping your fellow humans stay safe).
If you are a longtime WSB reader, you know that most days, we feature West Seattle bird photos with the daily calendar highlights. But the no-event orders mean no highlights. However, thanks to your neighbors, we have bird photos to share anyway!
That’s a Red-Breasted Sapsucker, photographed by Mark Wangerin. Below, the even-more-colorful Golden Pheasant:
That photo’s from Lori on Genesee Hill; Riley spotted it this week too. Sightings have recurred in recent years, including last spring, about the same time this celebrity bird first showed up in West Seattle:
This afternoon, The West Seattle Turkey turned up on Snake Hill, sipping from that pothole near 31st/Findlay; Tyler and Gabbi sent the photo. Yesterday, TWST wandered north to 35th/Edmunds – this photo was texted:
And from Chris Frankovich – a Bald Eagle:
Thanks to everyone who sends photos – birds, breaking news, bears, or … westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302!
A #TurkeyTuesday full of more sightings of The West Seattle Turkey in Gatewood, where it has been since at least Friday. Today started with this video – listen closely to hear The Turkey, as well as Ben’s narration, from near the Thistle stairway:
A bit later, Tanya sent this photo from 39th/Kenyon:
Please be watchful if you’re driving – The Turkey likes to walk in the street, as seen in Dave‘s photo from 39th/Austin:
That’s also where Jessica got this picturesque view also featuring blossoms:
Susan and Jerry got a backyard visit:
From Leslie near 35th/Webster
And this one came in last night but we can’t resist the Napping Turkey … from Mike near 44th and Southern:
If you’re new here – readers have been reporting turkey sightings since tt first showed up (in Arbor Heights) 11 months ago.
(Texted from California/Southern)
We were SO close. Got multiple reports of The West Seattle Turkey in Gatewood again today, in one instance just a block from WSB HQ. After 11 months of writing about it, maybe it’ll visit us, we thought.
(From Debby on SW Holden)
Alas, no. But enjoy these reader photos anyway.
(From Mike at 44th/Southern)
And let us know if YOU see it!
(From Long Bach Nguyen, seen near California/Kenyon)
As noted the other day, The Turkey was first seen in SW West Seattle last April but has spent most of its time in southeast Admiral/Belvidere since then … until now.
(Added: Photo by Hobey Grote)
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip – transient killer whales are in the area, southbound off Fay Bainbridge State Park (map) at last report. Closer to the west side of Puget Sound, though, so you’ll definitely need binoculars.
4:21 PM: A quick interruption in the serious news … The West Seattle Turkey has headed south today! Above, David sent that photo from Gatewood, shortly after we got a call from Scott, in that same area, startled to find The Turkey outside his house. Earlier, a texter sent the next pic after TWST turned up outside Sound & Fog in The Junction:
When The Turkey first turned up in West Seattle eleven months ago, it headed north from Seola to Admiral, but most sightings since then have been on the east/south side of Admiral. Thanks as always for the sighting reports!
ADDED 6:07 PM: Ray sent this pic from Morgan Junction:
Searching for some shred of normalcy, many have asked about The West Seattle Turkey, now almost 11 months into local residency … and several photos have arrived to answer the call! So in this last hour of #TurkeyTuesday, enjoy our feathered neighbor:
That photo was from Betty, last Tuesday; next one, from David, last Saturday:
Also from Saturday, this one is by Mark:
Next one is from Lorenzah, when The Turkey showed up last Thursday at Genesee Hill Elementary:
From Tony, last Thursday:
And some arrived by text too, unfortunately swamped in the recent message volume… thanks to everybody watching for, and watching out for, The Turkey!
Thanks to Larry Shaw for the photos and report:
I happened upon a bunch of people checking out a sea lion exhibiting “sailing” behavior this morning off Alki Ave SW between Alki Beach and Luna Park. Several people thought the animal might be injured, but “sailing” is a normal behavior sea lions engage in. They float and raise their flippers out of the water to regulate their body temperature.
We have featured this before – in 2013, a “sailing” sea lion was even mistaken for a dead whale! – and Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network has raised awareness. But with so many new arrivals (and tourists), it’s always worth a reminder!
(Photo by Kersti Muul)
5:03 PM: Just got word from Kersti Muul– “orcas visible from Alki, southbound, mid-channel” – let us know if you see them!
5:49 PM: Kersti says it appears to be the same transient orcas – the T46s – that visited on Sunday.
(Orange-crowned Warbler, photographed by Ann Anderson)
Since we celebrate birds with great photo contributions almost every day on WSB, we want to mention this here in the news stream as well as on the Event Calendar – a free event this Sunday (February 16th):
“Fall in Love with 25 Seattle Birds”
2/16/2020 @ 1-3 pm
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SWHave you ever wondered what that little brown bird over there is? Or who on earth is singing so loudly outside your window at 4 a.m.? Do you consider yourself … bird curious?
Well, have we got a workshop for you!
Join Seattle Audubon and the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association to learn how to easily identify 25 common bird species right in your own backyard. You’ll learn to tell a Song Sparrow from a Dark-eyed Junco, and a Dark-eyed Junco from a Black-capped Chickadee. But that’s not all. We’ll discuss the cultural importance of Pacific Northwest birds to local tribes, threats to our feathered friends and what we can all do to protect them. Finally, we’ll end with a hands-on, in-the-field exercise that puts your new ID skills to use with the eBird community science mobile application. Participants will be challenged to continue practicing their new ID skills and eBird with the top contributor after a month receiving a special gift from Seattle Audubon!
Workshop leaders strongly recommend that participants download, install, and create an account with the eBird community science application on their smart phones prior to the workshop. Android users can download the app from Google Play. iPhone users can download the app from the App Store.
Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology developed and maintains eBird. The app allows users to track bird observations and links to resources to aid with bird identification. Observations contributed through eBird are used by researchers at Universities, the National Audubon Society, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and have resulted in dozens of peer-reviewed scientific studies that are helping resource managers understand and protect birds.
More info here; registration is NOT required but if you want to sign up, go here.
Saturday night, we reported on Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network volunteers keeping watch on two harbor seals who turned up on Alki Beach. Here’s a followup from SSMMSN’s David Hutchinson:
Saturday afternoon, Alki Beach played host to a couple of harbor seals. It was very unusual that one of them was an adult (below).
Adult harbor seals rarely haul out on a populated beach as they have learned to be wary of humans. The fact that this animal would choose Alki, and based on body condition, some coughing and lethargic behavior, all indicate the adult seal was likely suffering from pneumonia. Many young seals are also struggling with health issues this time of year. That is why it is critical that people stay far back so these animals can rest safely.
All marine mammals are protected by federal law. If you spot any on our beaches, please keep back, ask others to stay at a distance, and leash any pets. Be sure to call the Seal Sitters Hotline at 206-905-7325. Just a friendly reminder that it is illegal for dogs to be on any Seattle Parks’ beaches on or off leash.
Seen on Alki tonight – above, the full moon rising in the distance, the reason for “king tides” that have led to a line of sandbags along the water-side edge of Statue of Liberty Plaza. Next high tide will be 12.4 feet at 5:44 am; this week’s king tides (here’s a chart) peak with a 12.9-foot high tide at 7:24 am Wednesday (February 12th). Walking a bit further east along Alki, we discovered Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network volunteers taping off part of the beach because of two harbor seals:
That’s the best we could do with two on-their-backs seals – top one, older and a bit scrawny-looking, second photo, a pup – at sunset. Remember that if you see a marine mammal on the shore, or in distress offshore, call SSMMSN at 206-905-SEAL.
(L41, Northwest Marine Fisheries Center photo)
Just days after West Seattle whale-watchers enjoyed multiple orca visits, sad news: Another Southern Resident Killer Whale is missing. In its newest report on an “encounter” with resident orcas, the Center for Whale Research notes that L41 was not with his podmates and hasn’t been seen since August: “Given his age and that he looked a little thin in our January 2019 encounter, we fear he may be gone and will consider him missing unless he shows up unexpectedly in an upcoming encounter.” As noted in a WSB report four years ago, L41 has been a prolific patriarch among the SRKWs. He was born in 1977. If he has indeed died, that would bring the SRKWs’ number down to 72, just one above the historic low of 71. (Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip.)
(Texted photo)
2:16 PM: More orcas! Kersti Muul tells us two groups of transients are in the area – one off the east side of Vashon Island, one headed up Colvos Passage on the west side. Let us know if you see them!
3:06 PM: Texter says a small group is in view off The Arroyos, still NB.
3:13 PM: More like 10 whales, that texter updates!
3:41 PM: Watchers are now congregating across from Me-Kwa-Mooks.
4:02 PM: From there, using binoculars, we just saw a group of four!
4:26 PM: The viewers have moved north, to the west end of the Alki promenade.
4:43 PM: Photos are coming in! This is from Gary Jones:
5:07 PM: More photos – these next two are from Rick Rasmussen:
And one more from Gary:
6:07 PM: Even more photos! This one is from DerbyPhotography:
Next, from Monica Zaborac:
Thanks to everyone for sharing those sights (as well as updates)! This was the third day in a row with orcas in our area.
Through the morning and afternoon, we published updates on Southern Resident Killer Whales in the area, first southbound, then northbound before sunset. Tonight, some photos! Thanks to David Hutchinson for the first and third photo, Kersti Muul (today’s original tipster) for the one directly below:
Kersti says members of all three resident pods were in the area today; her photo above shows Onyx (L87) and Nugget (L55).
We just missed the whales by the time we got to Alki to have a look, but Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail was there, assisting with land-based viewing, which is one of TWT’s missions.
Almost nine months after The West Seattle Turkey showed up on the peninsula, it’s out in the cold … so some fans were worried. Along with this photo posted in a comment, we have an update from Lauren, along with the photos above and below. Lauren reports, “In case anyone’s worried about how the West Seattle Turkey is faring during these snowy days, the answer is just fine. It took refuge in our chicken run while the snow came down.”
Thanks to Lauren and everyone else who’s shared turkey sightings – some unusual, from a parking garage to a tower crane! The Turkey’s origins remain, to date, a mystery.
(Photo by Kersti Muul, last week at Constellation Park)
The most-recent California sea lion to wash up dead in West Seattle had indeed been shot. That’s the update we received tonight from Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:
Seal Sitters just received results from the radiographs taken of our most recent dead California sea lion, towed from Constellation Park to Don Armeni boat launch for necropsy on the 3rd. This is the sea lion that had originally washed ashore on a private beach further south on Christmas Day.
The X-rays confirm that the animal was shot in the head. Projectiles will be removed from the skull and turned over as evidence to NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.
The most current Fall/Winter statistics to date of pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) confirmed shot dead in Central and South Puget Sound now stand at 9. An additional 4 deaths are suspicious, but cause was not confirmed.
For more info, go here.
As always, please report all marine mammals on shore, live or dead, to Seal Sitters’ hotline @ 206-905-SEAL (7325).
A year earlier, at least a dozen shot sea lions were found in central Puget Sound.
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