West Seattle, Washington
10 Sunday
(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
5:17 PM: After a late-afternoon stop in South Park, the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship sailed into West Seattle waters by Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) for the first of tonight’s three West Seattle stops.
Emerald City Voices on board. pic.twitter.com/JdDpBsPGL1
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 10, 2017
In our short video clip, you hear Emerald City Voices, serenading those on board and ashore. (added) More photos from this stop – first, spectators viewing through the Luna Girls on Alki sculptures:
The Christmas Ship headed downtown to change passengers and singers before its second voyage of the night brings it back to West Seattle – The Dickens Carolers will be on board for the 8:10 pm visit to Lowman Beach Park and the 8:55 pm stop by the Alki Bathhouse.
9:46 PM: We made it to Alki for the final visit of the night – a chattier crowd ashore, and you can even hear the water:
The Dickens Carolers are singing onboard #christmasship pic.twitter.com/SfSKJkDV9c
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 10, 2017
(Added) More photos – first, thanks to volunteers and Seattle Parks, treats inside the Bathhouse:
A beach bonfire:
The enduring wish on the stern of the Christmas Ship:
And thanks to Molly Al-Jawad for this photo of the brightest of the 9 boats that accompanied the Christmas Ship to Alki:
Meantime, the Christmas Ship will be back in West Seattle for an encore next Thursday – 9:10 pm at Don Armeni, with The Dickens Carolers.
That’s HMCS Yellowknife, one of two Royal Canadian Navy coastal-defense vessels that you’ll see at West Seattle’s Terminal 5 through the weekend, according to Peter McGraw of the Port of Seattle:
Two Canadian minesweepers will arrive T-5 at 2 p.m. today (Friday) and remain at berth through the weekend. The HMCS YELLOWKNIFE and HMCS WHITEHORSE each have a length overall (LOA) of 181′.
Flexi Floats will be installed today, after which the vessels will be rafted alongside one-another, in the northern half of the wharf, just north of the geared ship OCEAN JAZZ, LOA 530′, and south of the Crowley barge DBL 289, which is 289 feet long.
South of the OCEAN JAZZ is the Foss barge SEATTLE with LOA 300′. The barges are awaiting their next dispatch and will not load or discharge cargo.
Both of the Canadian vessels are passing south Whidbey Island right now, according to MarineTraffic.com. Speaking of military vessels – water-watchers can expect to see the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) passing West Seattle southbound on Sunday morning, headed back to Bremerton post-deployment.
(Photo by Mark Sears, permit 16163-01)
We’ve reveled in whale-watching opportunities as the Southern Resident Killer Whales visited multiple times the past few weeks … but concern is rising, along with the joy. What’s the current reality of their situation? Next Tuesday, 6 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), is your chance to find out, courtesy of The Whale Trail:
There are just 76 individuals in the Southern Resident Killer Whale population – a near-historical low. What can we do to prevent these beloved and iconic pods from going extinct? Join us to hear the latest about J, K and L pods, and learn what you can do to help.
At the Whale Trail Winter Gathering, local photographers and researchers will share stories and photos of orcas and other marine mammals who share our waters. Hear about recent encounters with southern resident orcas, and other sightings near West Seattle this year.
We’ll also have signed copies of Erich Hoyt’s latest book The Encyclopedia of Whale, Dolphins, and Porpoises for sale, and other goodies!
Bring your questions, concerns, ideas, stories and poems. Together, we’ll find light in the dark for the whales.
Buy tickets now to reserve your seat. (Kids under 12 are free.) Look forward to seeing you there!
About The Whale Trail
The Whale Trail is a series of sites around the region where the public may view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. Our overarching goal is to ensure the southern resident orcas recover from the threat of extinction.
Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 50 million people each year. The Whale Trail is currently adding new sites along the west coast, from California to British Columbia, throughout the southern resident orcas’ range and beyond.
C & P is at 5612 California SW.
(Added 4:04 pm – photo by Monica Zaborac)
10:28 AM: Thanks to the texter who reports Orca Network commenters have just seen orcas headed northbound past Point Robinson on Maury Island, across the Sound from Des Moines, so if they keep heading this way, they could be within view from West Seattle before too long. If they’re the same ones seen southbound yesterday, they’re Southern Resident Killer Whales.
11 AM: Orca Network commenter reports them near Three Tree Point as of about 10 minutes ago, still northbound.
11:32 AM: Texter says they’re seeing whale spouts from the Fauntleroy ferry dock vicinity.
12:48 PM: In view from Lowman, Kersti says in comments!
2:01 PM: Gary comments that at least two are in view just south of Alki Point, still northbound.
4:05 PM: Judging by Orca Network discussion, they’ve passed West Seattle now, still heading north.
(WSB 2015 photo: Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship off West Seattle)
As you might already have seen in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, this Saturday brings the season’s first three West Seattle stops for the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship, after a stop in South Park. At each shop, singers on board serenade not only their shipmates but also, via amplification, those gathered on the shore. Here’s the schedule:
-3:30-3:50 pm at Duwamish Waterway Park (7900 10th Ave. S.) in South Park
-4:35 to 4:55 pm at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor)
-8:10-8:30 pm at Lowman Beach Park (7017 Beach Dr. SW)
-8:55-9:15 pm at Alki Beach Park (60th SW/Alki SW)
Aboard the Christmas Ship, Emerald City Voices</strong> are scheduled for the first two stops, and The Dickens Carolers for the next two.
Two notes from the shore for Saturday night – as previewed last month, you are invited to “Seasonal Sounds on the Sound,” a privately hosted Christmas Ship-viewing party to raise money for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. 3-6:30 pm. Details are in our calendar listing.
And during the Alki stop, you’ll find this:
Calling West Seattle families, friends, and neighbors to gather at the Alki Bathhouse for the Argosy Christmas Ship’s annual visit. Enjoy special performances by the Seattle Lutheran High School band and Hope Kid Choir, and join in Christmas caroling accompanied by a live band. Alki Community Center and Seattle Parks Department staff will be on hand to offer hot drinks and cookies. The fun starts and ends with choirs and caroling, and the Christmas Ship will grace our shore from 8:55-9:10 pm. Dress warmly and join us in this special opportunity to share Christmas through song!
Again, all of the above is set for this Saturday night (December 9th – forecast looks pretty good). Then on the following Thursday, December 14th, one more visit – the Christmas Ship will stop off Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) 9:10-9:30 pm with the Dickens Carolers on board.
9:59 AM: Five orcas visible from Emma Schmitz Overlook, southbound, reports Kersti Muul.
12:44 PM: In comments, Kersti says orcas are about to pass Point Robinson on Maury Island [map], so they are well south of West Seattle, and still southbound.
Thanks to Gary Jones for this afternoon’s view from Alki Point of the U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker Polar Star, which is based on the downtown waterfront but, with tugs, is currently headed toward Manchester, according to MarineTraffic.com. The Polar Star is in its 45th year of service and is supposed to go out of service next decade, though it may not have a successor, and, per reports like this, badly needs one.
2:54 PM: You’ll want an umbrella as well as binoculars if you go look for them, but we’re told by both Kersti Muul and Jeff Hogan that orcas are headed southbound past Constellation Park right now, so they should be visible for a while off West Seattle.
3:16 PM: Jeff’s moving to Emma Schmitz Overlook [map] as the orcas continue heading south.
4:17 PM: See comments for updates – they’re still in view!
10:12 AM: Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales just called to report orcas visible southbound off Me-Kwa-Mooks [map], shortly after a texter told us that Orca Network reported orca sightings in the past hour off Bainbridge Island. We’re grabbing the binoculars to head down for a look.
10:45 AM: Some are visible off Blake, some further north and south. We are with Jeff and other watchers toward the south end of Emma Schmitz Overlook. Whitecaps on the Sound are making viewing a bit challenging.
11 AM: Jeff and Kersti Muul are still watching from the south end of Emma Schmitz – the whales are close to the other side of the Sound. We have to move on.
12:13 PM: Kersti reports in a comment that they’re still southbound, south of the Fauntleroy ferry lane now.
1:16 PM: An update from Jeff – before 1 pm, the whales were visible from Dilworth on Vashon [map], then turned northbound: “Probably K pod.”
2:09 PM: Still northbound, according to a texter who also says the whales have been confirmed as K-Pod, and according to Claire’s comment below.
3:09 PM: Brittany says via Twitter that they’re visible from Constellation Park with binoculars.
Thanks to Jim Borrow for the photo – the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), seen from West Seattle a little over an hour ago as it headed back to Bremerton after 13 days away. According to the Stennis website, it was out for “routine training for future operations” including “damage control and firefighting training, seamanship training, small boat operations, medical training, and exercises designed to maintain technical and tactical proficiency in a variety of warfare areas.”
Throughout the day, both firsthand and with the help of tipsters, we reported on Southern Resident Killer Whales’ travels past West Seattle’s western shore today. As they headed southbound, they were visible through binoculars, closer to the other side of the Sound than to us – but when they turned around and headed back north, they were close to shore, visible without assistance, as you can see in David Hutchinson‘s video above and Trileigh Tucker‘s photos below:
And more video – a long look at them from Ben Maund, recorded from Lincoln Park:
Will we see them again tomorrow? Depends on where they are following the fish!
(Added Wednesday evening: Photo by Trileigh Tucker)
10:10 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that orcas have been spotted in our area – believed to be southbound between Bainbridge Island and Elliott Bay, so you would want to look from Alki, for starters.
10:37 AM: Thanks also to Alisa from Orca Network, which has at least one commenter seeing from Alki, reporting they are closer to the west side of the Sound than this side, so you’ll need binoculars.
11:05 AM: We are seeing them from Constellation Park, with binoculars. By the ship anchored off Manchester with a red hull.
11:20 AM: The biggest group is still southbound, now off the east side of Blake Island. Also here: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail, who says to save the date 6 pm December 12 for a Southern Resident Killer Whales update at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor). And a spotter is here for WSDOT, which shuts down pile-driving on the Colman Dock project when orcas are close by.
12:33 PM: Orca Network says the whales are now off north Vashon, still heading south. (Speaking of Orca Network, its campaign to free the last Southern Resident in captivity, Lolita/Tokitae, has a fundraiser at Endolyne Joe’s [WSB sponsor] in Fauntleroy, 8 am-10 pm next Monday (November 13th), with 25 percent of the proceeds to be donated.)
12:49 PM: Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales says they’re visible from the Lincoln Park picnic-shelter area.
1:08 PM: They’re still southbound, midchannel, south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The whale-watching boat Chilkat Express (as ID’d by MarineTraffic.com) is just north of them.
2:23 PM: Now a report from Fauntleroy that they’ve turned north – at least, the one big group has – and is again visible in the ferry lane area. “Super close to shore,” Kersti tells us, viewing from Lincoln Park.
3:13 PM: Newest report – visible from Me-Kwa-Mooks/Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook [map].
3:52 PM: They put on quite a show passing Alki Point and are now still NB in the mouth of Elliott Bay.
Thanks to Jim Borrow for the photo – it answers the question several have asked us today, about those fishing boats seen off Alki. They are purse seiners, which often show up right about this time of year, fishing for chum salmon. (WSB archives have photos from past years including 2009 and 2014.) The chum run might also be what has drawn the orcas we’ve been tracking today – though the Southern Residents prefer chinook, those salmon are harder to find right now.
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo – the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) has just left Bremerton again. It’s been a month and a half since the Stennis returned from a training and certification mission.
With the help of texters/callers/commenters, we tracked orcas through the area this afternoon. And tonight Gary Jones shared photos from Alki Point! Passing ferry passengers got the best view:
The Kitsap Transit foot ferry, too:
Gary said the orcas were spread out over a distance, headed north when he photographed them around 5 pm.
According to Orca Network, they were likely Southern Resident Killer Whales.
1:04 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip that resident orcas have been heading southbound – we just checked Orca Network for updates and they were seen from Bainbridge Island not that long ago. So we are sharing this heads-up. If you see them off West Seattle, please let us know – best way is via our 24/7 hotline, text or voice, 206-293-6302 (or comment below) – thank you!
2:51 PM: ON reports they were seen headed this way from the north side of Elliott Bay as of about 10 minutes ago.
4:20 PM: Thanks for the update – just got a text that three orcas were seen passing Weather Watch Park!
4:35 PM: And Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail just called to say they’re off Emma Schmitz Overlook, visible WITHOUT binoculars. We’re headed down in hopes of photos.
5:13 PM: And … oh well. The orcas turned around and headed back north before we got to the shore.
(PHOTOS ADDED Sunday evening)
1:16 PM: Via text from Kersti Muul – orcas are back in the area, transients this time, seen southbound from north Bainbridge Island before 1 pm, “large male T87 and others with calf.” Please let us know if you see them (comment, and/or text our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302) – thank you!
1:32 PM: Update from Kersti – they’re now “outside Elliott Bay” so should be in view (now or soon) – be sure to bring binoculars.
4:34 PM: Thanks to the commenters who have provided updates – we had to cover (inland) events and weren’t able to go look!
SUNDAY EVENING: Thanks to Greg Snyder for e-mailing the two photos we have added above, and thanks to Kersti for adding photos in comments below!
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the photo – whale-watchers were out at Constellation Park at dusk, as Southern Resident Killer Whales that had been making their way south all day finally got this far. No telling where they are now, but if they continued southbound, we might see them heading back this way tomorrow … any time you spot a whale, please let us know via our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Lea contacted us after seeing this happen off Beach Drive, just in case someone out there lost a paddleboard and is wondering what happened to it:
A white paddleboard floating in Puget Sound between Lincoln Park and Alki Point was picked up by the Coast Guard at 11:15 this morning. There was no one on the board.
Thanks to Jim Borrow for the photo, taken at 7:19 am. The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) was heading home this morning after three weeks away (we last noted it outbound on September 1st). It’s reported to have been “conducting flight deck certification, carrier qualification, and training in the operations areas off San Diego.”
7:58 AM: Thanks for the texted updates! Orcas are now reported to be southbound past the 4100 block of Beach Drive; we had an earlier report of some in Elliott Bay. Let us know if you see them!
8:18 AM: We have conflicting reports on direction so we’ll just amend this to “seen off West Seattle.”
8:26 AM: Thanks to Bruce Easter for the photo from the Elliott Bay sighting – added above.
What a way to start the day! Thanks to the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle crew for sharing that video – from the Doc Maynard, they saw orcas on this morning’s 6:15 and 6:35 am sailings, Frank Massaro tells WSB, adding that crew member Jade Farrar recorded the video during the latter.
10:09 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the texted alert – she says transient orcas have been sighted headed this way, southbound toward Alki Point – one week after this visit. Let us know if you see them!
10:42 AM: Update from Kersti (also in comments below) – they’re now visible from Alki Point Lighthouse.
3:07 PM: Three photos added above, all taken by Kersti at Constellation Park. (If you see whales off West Seattle, that’s always breaking news, so please let us know, text or voice, via our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!)
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