West Seattle, Washington
20 Wednesday
(photo added 7:27 pm, courtesy of Jade)
So says KING5.com, with the photo to prove it. The report says it’s believed to be a Humboldt Squid; this info says those squid used to range further south. ADDED 5:21 PM: Here’s a larger photo from the KOMO website. ADDED 7:27 PM: Thanks to Jade for sending the photo added above – she took it while waiting for the Water Taxi on Friday, apparently after a state crew took the squid away.
Alki photographer Pete Rowen sent photos of our majestic national emblem, seen not only on the near-eve of our national celebration, but with a double shot of symbolism since July 20th is coming up. He writes “… the moon shot took me forever to line up; the upper eagle’s beak is pointing to the location on the moon where the Eagle landed, 40 years ago this month.”
Thanks to everyone who shares photos and info – editor@westseattleblog.com (or if you have a news tip or question to call about, 206-293-6302) any time!
First coyote report in a while – Robert writes:
I took this shot of a brave coyote in my driveway, abutting the south side of Schmitz Park, this afternoon about 12:30 PM. He sure seemed confident while making his way to my trash can, as if he was on his way to belly up to his buffet line. Owners of small dogs and cats might want to take notice.
Our previously received coyote reports (some including photos/video) are all archived here, newest to oldest. Not sure what to do to coexist peacefully with them (as advocated by authorities)? Here’s a story we did last year.
Recognize that bird? That’s “Wollet,” the Lincoln Park-dwelling baby barred owl we first met here in photos shared by Kim and Jordan Petram; other photographers have since provided updates, including Trileigh, who shot these two (and has more on Flickr). But even as Wollet starts looking more grownup from one angle, Trileigh points out, from another, the owlet is still a “fluffball”:
Out of the WSB inbox, from LJ, who’s seeking suggestions about a problem she’s noticing three months after the big recycling changes:
I am wondering if any other residents are experiencing an increase in rodent and wildlife issues that appear to be related to food scraps now being placed in yard debris recycling containers. In the past I would see the occasional rat at night and crows will be crows, but as I feared, I have had a huge increase in rat sightings at night in my yard and a huge increase in crow issues. I am convinced this is related to the food scraps in the recycling. I am constantly finding food scraps dropped in my yard by the crows which in turn attracts the rats if it is not picked up immediately. I even had a crow fight to the death in my front yard over food scraps. The crow that was killed died in a large fountain in my front yard, when I tried to remove it I was attacked by the other crows and had to call Animal Control to remove it. I am sorry but this creeps me out. I am all for more recycling but not at risk of disease and pestilence because the containers are not crow-proof and people are uneducated about how to maybe guard against this with the containers that we are issued. Thoughts, suggestions????
Jennifer e-mailed that photo within the past hour with this note:
I just looked out my front window and saw this guy. Any idea what he is? I live in the Alaska Junction.
We had a few guesses but after checking online imagery, can’t reach a conclusion, so hopefully the many expert wildlife-watchers in WSB-land can. Seems a little far from the creeks to be a beaver. Wandering river otter, perhaps, heading quite far uphill from the water? Co-publisher’s vote is for “woodchuck” (groundhog) but we haven’t found evidence yet that they live in this area. 1:53 PM UPDATE: Comment consensus so far – a marmot.
More photos tonight courtesy of Trileigh (you can see additional pix here) – who says:
The owlet seems extraordinarily fluffy these days. He must be getting a pretty good education in crow management, given the amount of time his parent spends dealing with those paparazzi!
That’s “Wollet” the barred owlet above (my, how Wollet has grown! remember this, three weeks ago?) – and one of the watchful grownups here:
Thanks to Minette for sending new photos of the Lincoln Park barred owlet and its family (previously featured May 23, May 27, May 31), along with the story of what was happening while she observed them (including this watchful adult):
Minette wrote:
Last night I went to visit the owl family in Lincoln Park and I’m happy to report that as of yesterday they’re all alive and doing well, including little Wollet.
While I was observing them, the crows were of course going crazy cawing at them and dive-bombing the family, but the owls didn’t seem overly concerned. The male and female spent a good deal of time together grooming each other while little Wollet sat on a branch in a tree about 40 feet away making his funny little screechy “feed me” sounds. At one point he made a very good, controlled flight to a tree that was nearer the adults, so his skills are definitely improving.
If you missed the link in a previous report – here’s Seattle Audubon info about barred owls.
Thanks to JayDee for sharing that photo of tonight’s sunset. We saw the amazing color after leaving the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting (report to come) and wondered “where’s the fire” … JayDee’s note said “BC”; we found this link (where’s that, you ask? here’s a map). Also out of the inbox, thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing a new photo of the Canada geese he’s been chronicling this spring:
David writes:
The large family of Canada Goose goslings that have either entertained or irritated those using the strip of parks from Salty’s to Don Armeni, have made their inaugural journey from the western shores of Elliott Bay to the larger world of Puget Sound along Beach Drive. They have returned to Elliott Bay a number of times since then. At the age of just over 2 months, they still are unable to fly, so they make these trips by water. It’s getting increasingly difficult to tell the 19 young adults from the 4 adult geese that have been watching over them. Their favorite spot seems to be the fresh water source that enters the Sound at 63rd Ave SW and Beach Drive SW.
Here’s what we posted a month ago, with April and May photos.
A grand vision to mark 15 key whale-watching spots on our state’s inland and seacoast shores — The Whale Trail — is coming closer to reality. At one spot set for a marker, Alki, a who’s-who of marine mammal/ecology advocates gathered last night for an open house to show off the plan, including Whale Trail director Donna Sandstrom (seated in the photo below) and Kathy Fletcher from People for Puget Sound:
Sandstrom said orca extinction “will not happen on our watch … it’s not too late.” Fletcher said awareness-raising efforts like The Whale Trail are “part of the overall effort to restore Puget Sound … as an ecosystem.” She also urged people not to be fooled by the Sound’s “extraordinary beauty” — “Puget Sound is in trouble,” all the way down the food chain, which is topped by the orcas.
One of their major sources of food is salmon – Mark Sears, longtime researcher as well as resident operator of West Seattle’s Colman Pool, discussed what’s being learned about the specific salmon they prefer, and why it matters:
The importance of protecting local waterways was hammered home by Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, who also digressed into mentioning the status of her tribe’s bid for restoration of its short-lived federal recognition:
The unifying message: It takes not just a village, but a region, to protect its whales. Sandstrom suggested “a clear vision for everyone in the room, that by 2020, we have a thriving orca population here in Puget Sound – The Whale Trail is one way we’re going to do that.” It’s not just a private effort: A state Fish and Wildlife Department rep was there, showing off the designs for new wildlife maps you’ll be able to get starting next month, and also talking with us about the WildWatch Cams (check it out – coolest link we got all weekend). So how can you help The Whale Trail get all 15 markers up by 2013 as hoped? Sandstrom mentioned a $14K state grant has just come in, but it’s matching funds, so they need contributions (including volunteer help). Contact info is on their website, which she told us will have a “donate” link soon too.
Quick break between news stories – more in the works, but first we wanted to share that photo e-mailed by Kristina with this explanation:
My dogs and I were walking on the green area off of Bonair and we came upon a possum playing dead. It’s North America’s only marsupial! After we gave it some space it perked up and sauntered off into the trees.
Everything you could ever possibly want to know about opossums – including what “playing possum” is all about and how they got to our area in the first place – is on this helpful state-created webpage.
Well, that’s all we could think of for a headline, given that Beach Drive Blog already took “Tern, Tern, Tern” (here’s the soundtrack). Great pix on BDB: Terns over West Seattle waters.
If you’ve been following the story of the Alki gun incident last night, you know that it included the report (starting with this comment on our original report) that a seal was being harassed by the man arrested for an alleged weapons violation. It’s believed now that it’s the same seal whose death has just been reported by Robin Lindsey of West Seattle-based Seal Sitters, a harbor seal that died today after being rescued from the Harbor Ave waterfront – read on for her full report, including what to do if you encounter a marine mammal in any kind of trouble or being threatened: (Monday update: the Seal Sitters have updated their website – see the update here – their original Saturday night report is what follows)Read More
(February 2008 photo courtesy Jeff Hogan)
Just got word of this (with an eVite) — too late for the original publication of the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup but we love orcas so wanted to call special attention to it:
The Whale Trail Open House/Fundraiser
Sunday, June 7th, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Alki Beach BathhouseJune is orca month in Washington! Help us celebrate by attending an Open House and Fundraiser for The Whale Trail (www.thewhaletrail.org) at the Alki Beach Bathhouse in Seattle.
Learn more about whales in the Seattle area, and what you can do to help protect them. Mingle with our core team including representatives from NOAA, Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife, People for Puget Sound, the Seattle Aquarium, the Whale Museum and Coast Watch Society. Celebrate the start of orca month, and support a great cause, too!
The event is open to the public, and will feature light refreshments, educational displays, and a short program. There is no charge but donations to support The Whale Trail are welcome. Please stop by – looking forward to seeing you there!
What’s “The Whale Trail,” you ask? From its website:
Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment by establishing a network of viewing sites along the whales’ trails through Puget Sound and the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest.
P.S. Sounds like some great speakers at the event too, from a phone conversation we just had, including an opening by Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen and a presentation by local orca researcher Mark Sears.
New information tonight about the Lincoln Park barred-owl family’s owlet (previous coverage here and here), this time (along with that photo) courtesy of Trileigh, who says it even has a name:
The little owlet is getting better about navigating his way through the trees. He practices by walking out on branches, and hopping/flapping from one to the other, with his parents usually nearby. He likes to go sideways along branches to the very farthest end and sit at the tip, which probably makes his parents pretty nervous!
Recently one evening, we were watching as he lost his balance and fell about 30′. He bounced right up (I imagine he could flap his wings with enough strength to cushion his fall) and headed for a nearby tree to climb to be safer from potential predators. Fortunately, the good West Seattleites who witnessed all this stayed a respectful distance away so the little owl could climb without feeling too stressed by humans and dogs coming too close.
His parents flew in and checked thoroughly to make sure little Wollet (named after the owl “Wol” in Winnie-the-Pooh) was safe and sound. A happy ending!
I’ve attached one picture of Wollet tightrope-walking along a branch, and I’ve posted a number of other pictures of him, his parents, and other Lincoln Park birds on my Flickr site at www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/.
After we published Kim‘s photos last weekend of a barred-owl family in Lincoln Park, Minette wrote a comment with a link to her gallery of the same owls. Tonight, she’s sharing two more recent photos, along with word that, as of a couple nights ago, they were spotted again, doing well. The photo above is the male owl and the baby; below, the baby by itself:
Here’s what the Seattle Audubon website BirdWeb has to say about barred owls.
Thanks to Greg Wright for sharing photos from his low-tide sightseeing on Sunday; just before 1 pm today, the tide will be just as low as it was around noon yesterday (chart here), and that’s the lowest tide of the month before the low tides start getting higher again. A few more of Greg’s photos, ahead:Read More
We’ve been tracking the holiday-weekend low tides – very low today, and the next two days it’ll be lower still (per this tide chart, -3.6 at 12:07 pm tomorrow and the same at 12:53 pm Tuesday). We’ve received three close-up photos of tidal sights today – the first and second are from Minette (who also shared her baby-owl gallery following last night’s Lincoln Park owl-photo post) – and she shared info too:
The (first) one … is an image of a “Red octopus” (Octopus rubescens). This octopus is frequently found at our local beaches and people are always very happy to see it. However, it is venomous (for real!) and can deliver a nasty bite, so be careful out there, all you curious folks. The (next) one … is a sea slug (also called a nudibranch). This particular one is the Opalescent nudibranch (Hermissenda crassicornis). It can be found in great numbers at our local beaches and at all times of the year, but people rarely notice it because it’s so small.
We’ve also received photos from Rick – two views of a sun star: First, full body —
Next, close up:
Thanks again to everyone who sends photos to share — editor@westseattleblog.com any time (and if you have a sec, consider programming that into your cell-phone contact list in case you happen onto an interesting sight sometime and want to send it from your cameraphone fast).
(photo courtesy Eilene Hutchinson)
Years of hard work — neighbors’ efforts, volunteers’ coordination — culminated in a celebration today at Alki Bathhouse, as Alki was officially certified by the National Wildlife Federation as Community Wildlife Habitat. But that’s just the beginning, as volunteer Mary Quackenbush pointed out – next, a campaign to have all of West Seattle certified – so wherever you live in West Seattle, listen up later this year for how to get involved with that. “It’s really easy,” Mary said. But in the short run – it was time for the Alki community to celebrate – including project chair Dolly Vinal:
She received the certificate from NWF representative Courtney Sullivan – listen to the hearty round of applause echoing around Alki Bathhouse:
The NWF rep explained in this video clip — with some amazing numbers — what an achievement it was for Alki to get to this point, six years after launching the project:
Before the ceremony ended, other key team members who helped make the certification reality came forward – note in the foreground, one of the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project’s special touches, gourds like those hung at Seacrest Pier for the purple martin, as coordinated by Alki Kayak Tours‘ Kara Whittaker:
Making the rest of West Seattle a wildlife habitat might not be that hard, considering that groups from all over the peninsula were represented at today’s celebration — Friends of Lincoln Park (here’s our story on one of their recent work parties) had Cathy Davis and Sharon Baker on hand:
Sharon shared a card from the Healthy Parks, Healthy You project that notes you can burn 340 calories in an hour by digging, gardening and mulching – whether at a work party (listed weekly at greenseattle.org) or in your own yard. On the flip side of the calorie count, it wouldn’t have been a party without cake – this was donated by Alki Community Council vice president Randie Stone:
City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen (who chairs the council’s Parks Committee) joined the party too, receiving a certification sign for his own Alki-area property, joking that it might have been designated as wildlife habitat because he doesn’t mow enough and it just looks wild:
Next step – before that West Seattle-wide effort gets under way (likely in fall, Mary said, given the prime planting conditions then) — there’s a work party planned for next Saturday, 9 am-noon, at Seacrest, to get more mulching done on a native-plant area there that’s part of the AWHP.
Thanks to Kim and Jordan Petram of Fauntleroy for sharing these photos of a baby owl and its parents in Lincoln Park tonight – Kim says they were spotted in the trees “north of the north parking lot.”
Looking at birdweb.org – we’re thinking these are barred owls (experts, please weigh in)? Also note – Camp Long naturalists often lead owl-watching walks in Lincoln Park; check the newly issued summer brochure (registration starts Tuesday) or the online signup system SPARC for upcoming opportunities.
From Anne and Doug:
We’re noticing a group or pod of whales or dolphins swimming south in the sound. Very white on the sides of one. We are south of Brace Point, it’s 8:15 Sunday 5/17. Anyone else know what they are?
Yes, those geese AGAIN, though with a dramatic background this time – West Seattle photojournalist Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com shares the photo, looking south toward Salty’s. (Personal aside: We are just back from there, where tonight we helped celebrate the wondrous wedding of our dear friend Shep, a West Seattleite who we’ve known since the year he, and we, arrived here, 1991. Mazel tov!) Now, from outside to inside:
The Kenney hosted its annual fundraising brunch today – that’s CEO Kevin McFeely circulating in the photo above – the main goal was to raise money for a fund that helps residents stay at The Kenney even if they outlive their financial reserves.
Thanks to Lori Willson of Arbor Heights for sharing these photos, taken just hours ago at Emma Schmitz Viewpoint, across from Me-Kwa-Mooks Park on Beach Drive.
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