West Seattle, Washington
14 Tuesday
6:19 PM: Up for sunset whale-watching? Kersti Muul reports that transient orcas are in Elliott Bay, headed southbound toward Alki. Let us know if you see them!
6:29 PM: Update from Kersti – now in the ferry lanes, heading toward the point.
1:03 PM: Orcas are heading southbound off Constellation Park, reports Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see them! (And if you don’t – check out the video and photos of whales in that area over the weekend.)
1:13 PM: Update from Kersti: “Leisurely SW travel. Now visible from Me Kwa Mooks.”
One day after a close pass caught on video and in photos, you have another chance to see orcas from West Seattle. Kersti Muul texted to day some are northbound passing Alki Point right now.
9:29 AM: Orcas are in central Puget Sound, southbound through the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry lanes, Kersti Muul tells us via text. Let us know if you see them!
9:35 AM: Kersti updates that it might actually be a baleen-whale sighting (usually humpback or gray).
9:42 AM: Confirmed to be a humpback.
One week ago, we reported on the new baby born to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Baby L128 and mom L90 were still in the San Juans at last report. Today, a science team that recorded drone video of them, under research permit #21348, has made that video available to media, so we are publishing it. The team included SeaDoc Society, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and NOAA Fisheries, and the video is from September 15. The calf could have been as young as two days old, by estimate of the Center for Whale Research, when this was recorded.
Ready for some Friday afternoon whale-watching? Kersti Muul reports via text that “orcas have exited Colvos Passage [west side of Vashon] and are heading up the east side of Blake, so will be visible from West Seattle. They are traveling quickly, with long down times, and may be hard to spot!” Let us know if you do see them.
(Photo by Ashley Whitman)
12:49 PM: You may have already heard about the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales’ new baby, born just days ago in L Pod. But before the official orca-documenting organizations started circulating the news, the photographer who took these photos was first to see the little one, L128, with its mom, L90. We heard about this from West Seattle’s Kersti Muul, who often tips us about orca sightings; she explained that her friend Ashley Whitman had spotted the new calf. We contacted Ashley to ask for permission to use her photos.
(Photo by Ashley Whitman)
She explains that her sighting was “the first documented encounter with new calf L128 and mom L90, on Sunday, September 15 at 12:49 pm on the west side of San Juan Island.” [vicinity map] Later, she adds, a research boat showed up:
(Photo by Ashley Whitman)
On Monday, the Center for Whale Research and SR3 checked on mother and baby; CWR reported that day, “The calf (L128) is VERY new; it’s tiny and has very clear fetal folds. Our best guess is that it was born within the last three days. We can also confirm that the calf is nursing and moving normally.” Mom L90, also known as Ballena, is 31 years old; this is reported to be her first known calf. L Pod is the largest of the three Southern Resident pods. P.S. Fall is historically when Southern Residents come into the central Sound, chasing salmon, so there’s a chance the new baby might make an appearance nearby.
ADDED 6:24 PM: Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail has two important reminders;
While of course it is good news that there is a new calf, there is cause for concern: L90 is a first-time mom, and she stayed behind when the southern residents exited the Sound over the weekend. While we hope for the best for L90 and her calf, we do so with the understanding that the survival rate of an orca calf in its first year is less than 50%, and that the separation from the rest of the pod is very unusual. We know how much people care about these whales, and we want to be sure that everyone is fully informed.
Boaters can help L90 and her calf by staying 1,000 yards away from them. Take the pledge to Give Them Space, and report violators to 800-853-1964.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for tips that transient killer whales are in the area again today. A short time ago, she texted that “T65A5, the lone guy, is close to Alki Point SB,” which potentially means at least one whale in view from west-facing West Seattle. Let us know if you see any!
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip: Groups of transient orcas are approaching Brace Point, spread out, northbound. Let us know if you see them!
Orcas are southbound in the Sound, reports Kersti Muul via text, passing Blake Island at last report.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the updates – transient orcas are back in the area today; they’ve been headed southbound, seen off Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island [map] less than half an hour ago. Let us know if you see them off West Seattle!
Thanks to the anonymous texter who just sent that pic – they and Kersti Muul both just texted that southbound transient orcas are headed this way, toward the mouth of Elliott Bay – let us know if you see them!
12:46 PM: At least one humpback whale is passing Alki Point, per Kersti Muul, who says that it’s headed southbound, and there might be a second one too. Let us know if you see it/them!
12:54 PM: Texted update from Kersti – three humpbacks and they’re “close in” in the Brace Point area.
2 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for updates on transient orcas in the area today. Finally getting a chance now to mention them – they’re headed northbound, off the east side of Blake as of half an hour ago but still in the general area. Let us know if you see them!
5:17 PM: As Kersti notes in the comments and just texted us, “A different group, the T-77s have just exited Colvos Passage NB and will be visible from West Seattle now.” (Colvos Passage is the waterway between Vashon’s west shore and the south Kitsap Peninsula’s east shore.)
11:02 AM: Just texted by Kersti Muul: “There’s a humpback whale that’s been slowly making its way north this morning. It’s now getting close to the Fauntleroy Ferry Lanes. Close to shore.” Please let us know if you see it!
3:33 PM: Kersti also let us know about four orcas southbound in the Bainbridge ferry lanes about half an hour ago. An Orca Network commenter says they’re now off Blake Island and have flipped to head northbound.
8:35 AM: Terence emailed to report that as of less than an hour ago, “There are three orcas in Elliott Bay swimming southbound past the grain terminal toward the central waterfront. Currently about 100 yards offshore.” Let us know if you see them!
8:38 AM: Just a moment after we published that, Kersti Muul texted reporting a large group of transient orcas midchannel off Eagle Harbor (Bainbridge Island), southbound.
12:28 PM: Thanks to everyone for all the updates in comments! We also got a text from Chris Frankovich a short time ago, reporting orcas southbound past the Arroyos. Also, Courtney sent this video via X/Twitter:
Orcas spotted in the Sound off of @westseattleblog ✨@komonews @seattletimes pic.twitter.com/PMGpo2IAMR
— courtney ✺ (@digitallylee) July 14, 2024
3 PM: Thanks to Dan Ciske for sending a pic from Alki:
4:41 PM: Thanks to Robin Sinner for these photos from Constellation Park:
Thanks to Mike for the tip! He reports that orcas are in view near Blake Island. According to an Orca Network commenter, they’re headed southbound. Let us know if you see them!
9:05 PM: If you have eyes on the water as nightfall nears, watch for whales! Andrew sent word that as of about 15 minutes ago, northbound orcas were passing Arbor Heights, and the Orca Network has a Brace Point report from a few minutes ago. Let us know if you see them!
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Andrew sent this pic this morning, of the view he had from above (the whales are right at the bottom of the frame):
Orcas were in view off West Seattle earlier this morning, and while we missed the chance to mention them earlier, we just got word from Kersti Muul that they’re now “northbound after milling,” on the west side of the channel (so binoculars definitely needed), off Lincoln Park.
Baleen whale – which usually means humpback or gray – in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes right now, per Kersti Muul.
Whale sighting reported by Kersti Muul: “Humpback just north of Lowman Beach, mid-channel toward Me-Kwa-Mooks.” Let us know if you see it!
P.S. You can learn more about humpbacks in Puget Sound via this Seattle Channel video, produced by Annabel Cassam with photographer/editor Pete Cassam, and featuring some West Seattleites’ work – you’ll see Jeff Hogan interviewed, as well as photos by David Hutchinson:
8:57 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the alert – a baleen whale (gray or humpback, generally) is northbound off Brace Point, “very close to shore.” Let us know if you see it!
10:28 AM: Kersti says it’s a humpback, now off Constellation Park.
If you’re heading out for the low-low tide (-2.8 feet at 11:43 am), you can do some whale-watching too – Kersti Muul just texted with word that a humpback whale is “smack in the center of Elliott Bay.” Let us know if you see it!
| 3 COMMENTS