(Photo by Steve Bender)

When Steve Bender sent that photo of a harbor seal, wondering about what looked like a red cap, we didn’t have a quick explanation – we’d never seen that before. So first we went to Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network. SSMNSN’s David Hutchinson recognized the “red cap” as a tag placed by their partners at SR3 when rehabilitating a seal – so the rest of the story comes from SR3’s executive director Casey Maclean.

First, if you’re not familiar with SR3, they’re a nonprofit based in Des Moines, where they have a marine-mammal rehab hospital; their name is short for Sealife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research. Casey told us, for starters, “The red dot on the seal’s head is a tag that helps SR3 animal-care staff identify them while they are in rehabilitation.” After talking with Steve about where he saw this particular seal, Casey was able to tell us more about her:

This young, recently weaned pup was found on 11/8 on the Don Armeni boat ramp and reported to the local stranding network, Seal Sitters.

(Photo from David Hutchinson, before seal was taken to SR3 for rehab)

They monitored the pup over the next 24 hours to assess the pup’s condition, and when she was still there the next day, Seal Sitters reached out to SR3 for further medical assessment. Together the groups determined it was in the pup’s best interest to be taken into SR3’s marine mammal rehabilitation hospital in Des Moines. This pup was SR3’s 48th patient in 2022.

She was in thin body condition, dehydrated, had a wound with some associated swelling and pneumonia. Despite her various health issues, she quickly improved under SR3’s care, and 67 days later she was once again swimming free. Patients are released within 30 miles of where they were found and you can help monitor patients post release! While in rehabilitation, SR3 places a small colored dot on their head to help identify individuals; with several patients in one pool it is critical to make sure everyone gets the proper treatments. The tags are glued on to their fur and will come off when they molt, which they do once a year. By reporting any sightings of seals with “dots” on their heads, you can help us learn more about their survival post-release, photos appreciated! Each patient will also have an orange flipper tag that is placed between the webbing of one of their rear flippers; these tags are permanent so that if they should be found again, we know their medical history.

Please remember that we are fortunate to share our shores with incredible marine wildlife and sometimes they just need to rest. If you are concerned about a marine mammal, please report it to Seal Sitters, 206-905-7325 – responders are available 7 days a week.

And if you see a “dotted” seal that’s not otherwise a reason for concern – happily swimming, for example, you can report the sighting to (corrected) the Seal Sitters hotline too.

SIDE NOTE: This seal has two names because of the SR3 and Seal Sitters involvement in caring for it. Seal Sitters called her “Lady Marmalade“; SR3 named her “Spaghetti.” David from SSMMSN explains, “Seal Sitters has a long tradition of naming the pups we watch over. Usually they are named by the first responder or possibly the reporting party. SR3 uses a theme for names during the season, with this year’s theme being space objects. Spaghetti is the name of a nebula.”
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With the Seahawks having just won in OT, it’s too late for counterprogramming but we still have time this Sunday afternoon to show some of the bird photos we’ve received in recent weeks – thanks to all who’ve sent them (we publish some with our daily event lists, too). Above, Angela Summerfield‘s view of Cedar Waxwings in Fauntleroy in late November. Below, a wind-ruffled Steller’s Jay photographed by Jerry Simmons:

Danny McMillin caught a Crow and Bald Eagle in an air-supremacy battle over Alki Point:

Another Bald Eagle was watching from a perch over the Alki Promenade when spotted by James Tilley:

James also sent this photo of a Yellow-rumped Warbler seen in early December:

A Varied Thrush visited Trileigh Tucker:

In Arbor Heights, this Townsend’s Warbler was photographed by Cindy Roberts:

And two views of Cormorants – Dan Ciske says that’s Three-Fingers Mountain in the backdrop of this view:

Ann Anderson saw this Double-crested Cormorant off Duwamish Head:

Thanks again to everyone sharing bird (and other) photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – breaking-news images are also always welcome via texting our hotline, 206-293-6302.

Another Bald Eagle with apparent HPAI – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – has been found, this time in Lincoln Park. Community naturalist and urban-wildlife responder Kersti Muul rescued this one too – as she had with another in Salmon Creek Ravine less than two weeks ago – and sent the photos, video, and report:

This is really sad news for West Seattle. HPAI seems to be running a course here and Tuesday morning the latest bird to be impacted is one of the mated pair from Lincoln Park. This pair successfully fledged two eaglets this year from their nest above Colman Pool.

I received a call around 8 regarding an eagle on the ground. Ironically it was near their old nest in the Grand fir by the trail junctions. When I arrived to assess, it was very obvious that HPAI had taken hold. It was having the beginnings of neurological issues.

It was coughing, and also calling to its mate, which was heartbreaking. I later learned that a Parks employee heard the pair in that area at 5 pm the previous night, which struck him odd; they don’t usually hang out there. I surmise the eagle was grounded at this point.

I transported the eagle to PAWS.

HPAI is not trivial; this is the second eagle in the area in less than two weeks, along with the snow goose. We also had a confirmed case in West Seattle recently of a Peregrine falcon. The mates are at high risk and I won’t be surprised if they show up grounded soon. They are obviously eating infected waterfowl. Diligently watching out every day now. HPAI is going to have to burn itself out.

An important reminder from Kersti – this illness is not a current problem for the birds you’d most commonly see in your yard, songbirds and hummingbirds.

Tonight community naturalist and urban-wildlife first responder Kersti Muul shares the story of what happened when she checked out a report of a bird in trouble at Lincoln Park. What she found includes some information you should know in case you encounter one. The problem is HPAI – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – and a warning, this story includes an image of a dead bird (after the jump, if you’re viewing by laptop or desktop):

Today I received a text during my monthly Audubon Neighborhood Bird Project survey, about a bird on the shore by the middle seawall.

Right now we are having another big surge of HPAI, so I went down to assess the situation and dispatch or dispose of it properly if it was dead.

As I mentioned in my recent eagle notes, cackling geese and snow geese are now getting infected. Sadly, it was a snow goose. I’ve been watching the snow geese flying north over West Seattle in the past month.

I found a large spot of diarrhea and the bird also had what we call ‘twisted neck’:

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The photo and report are from Timothy Pollin, the new Senior Gardener for Seattle Parks‘ Southwest District:

I have seen a very interesting brown crow at Alki Beach a few times now. I thought it would be fun for the bird enthusiasts out there.

In his email to us, he also described it as a “caramel crow.” The scientific term is “leucistic.” We’ve featured leucistic crows here before, most notably one we had seen for years near our HQ in Upper Fauntleroy, until its death in the July 2009 heat wave. P.S. The difference between leucism and albinism in birds is explained here.

That Bald Eagle is getting care at PAWS after its rescue from Salmon Creek Ravine, south of White Center [map]. Community naturalist Kersti Muul, who also assists urban wildlife, shared the report and photos, noting her involvement tied back to last year’s rescue of the Bald Eagle nicknamed Bey.:

I received an email last night from a woman near Alki who I met while I was researching Bey. She said her friend had posted on Facebook about an eagle that needed help in Salmon Creek Ravine.

Her friend had not been able to get help from any organizations he called (typical scenario). She put us in contact, and I arranged to arrive at daybreak, as it was already dark. He gave me the lat/long, and I hiked in first thing this morning to assess.

The eagle had not moved much overnight, and was not flighted. It was, however, alert – it hopped and flapped quite a bit during capture. HPAI, or, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) seemed a possibility to me behavior-wise. The last three eagles I have responded to were positive for HPAI. There is no cure, and the infected bird dies in a couple of days. We are having a resurgence currently, because of migration. New species are being infected, like cackling geese and snow geese.

I hiked out with the eagle and brought it to PAWS. During the intake exam it was not ‘overtly’ symptomatic of HPAI, and it is not in quarantine. This is good as it gives it a better chance. Hoping for a full recovery.

At one point the eagle unhooded itself and it just stared in my eyes as we hiked. Whatever it communicated to me, dissolved any fear I had. I re-hooded it for its own comfort.

I am always so utterly dumbfounded when I hold a wild animal in my arms. Especially one of such majestic magnitude. While stressful and often sad, my blessings are not lost on me.

The main reason the Southern Resident Killer Whales are often back in central Puget Sound this time of year is the pursuit of their preferred food – salmon. Not far from the orcas’ recent passes, coho spawners continue returning to Fauntleroy Creek. The video above by Tom Trulin shows fish in the surf near the creek’s mouth by the ferry dock. And creek steward Judy Pickens reports that as of Wednesday, volunteer watchers had counted 155 spawners! In comparison, by mid-November last year, volunteer watchers had only seen – and then a sudden surge brought in a near-record total of 244; the year before that, only two were seen.

Today we have enough contributed bird photos for one of our periodic game-day galleries (Seahawks vs. Cardinals – it’s all about birds today). Above is Kersti Muul‘s photo of four Bushtits – tiny yet fierce-looking birds. Below, James Tilley caught Sanderlings in flight at Constellation Park:

Also from James, a Savannah Sparrow at Alki:

Vincent Marx photographed this White-crowned Sparrow along Harbor Avenue:

A Sharp-shinned Hawk caught Hans A.‘s eye in Delridge:

And John Skerratt noticed this Anna’s Hummingbird taking a break:

Though Halloween is over, we can’t resist another of Jerry Simmons‘s seasonal images – here, Steller’s Jay meets skeleton:

And he sent another one that is both a reminder and also an advance alert for next year:

If you haven’t yet taken down your Halloween decorations – particularly if they include fake webbing – the sooner the better. And you might consider not using that material next year. It’s a hazard to birds and other wildlife.

P.S. Before we go, thanks again to everyone who shares photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com (if it’s breaking news, you can text 206-293-6302).

12:31 PM: Thanks to John McIntyre for that video of salmon in Longfellow Creek. We don’t know how many have shown up there so far this fall, as Longfellow doesn’t have a formal watching program, but we have another report from the creek that does: Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens sent word that volunteer watchers have spotted the first salmon of the season, “moving through the fish ladder into the natural channel!” Last year, watchers counted a near-record 244 fish. If you want to look for salmon, the Fauntleroy Creek fish-ladder overlook is across the street and up the embankment from the ferry dock, at SW Director and upper Fauntleroy; for Longfellow Creek, the “fishbone bridge” south of Dragonfly Pavilion (off 28th SW south of SW Yancy) is one place to look.

5:44 PM: Thanks to Kerry for sharing this in comments – video of that first arrival on the Fauntleroy fish ladder:

Judy Pickens tells us there will be an “open creek” on Saturday so you can go look for fish firsthand – we’ll have details tomorrow.

Thanks for the ongoing bird photos! We have seven more to share on this football afternoon, starting above with the “real” Seahawk – an Osprey – photographed by Steve Bender. Next, a bird that never seems to look the same in any two photos, a Great Blue Heron, first by Michael Ostrogorsky:

Next in silhouette by Stewart L.

This Hawk visited Eric Taney in North Admiral:

Cindy Roberts saw this Barred Owl at Seola Pond:

A Pileated Woodpecker was on a Lincoln Park tree when Kathryn Smith saw it:

And in a double-check of the files, we found Samantha Burton‘s California Scrub-Jay photo from August:

Remember that it’s still fall migration time for some birds – so the Lights Out program has good suggestions to follow. Meantime, we appreciate bird (and other) photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

The photo was sent by Lynne, who saw that harbor seal on the shore in the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook area. She called Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network and alerted people with dogs to keep their distance. We followed up tonight with David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters, who tells WSB:

We did have 2 responses today. One to a pup on private property north of Lowman Beach and another further north. Seal Sitters responded to both and will be monitoring their condition if they show up again. All pups tend to be on the thin side this time of year as they are working on learning how to feed themselves. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to advise people to keep back and to call in a report to the Seal Sitter hotline – 206-905-7325.

It’s football season again and that means, when we have enough photos to share – a gallery of West Seattle birds on the Seahawks‘ gameday! Thanks so much to everyone who has shared photos. Today, we have eight to spotlight. Above, Michelle Laughlin caught a Crow and Hawk “dancing” at Alki Point (which is the location of most of these photos). Michael Ostrogorsky photographed a Black Turnstone:

From Robin Sinner, two photos – a Killdeer:

And a Great Blue Heron:

Gene Pavola spotted this GBH keeping watch:

Shellie got a visit from a Barred Owl:

Gary Jones photographed a Pileated Woodpecker:

And even the common Mallard duck can put on a show, as did this one for Jerry Simmons:

We should also note – today marks the start of Bird Safe Week!

If you have a bird photo to share – or other pic(s) – westseattleblog@gmail.com; if you have breaking news, with or without photo, you can text 206-293-6302 any time – thank you!