2016 PHOTOGRAPHIC REVIEW

                       HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.  SOME IMAGES FROM 2016

SOLSTICE ON THE SOLSTICE

A Harbor Seal pup arrived at Constellation for a rest today at about 11:30 am.  The pup appeared to be alert and relatively healthy but the left eye appeared cloudy.  The pup remained on the beach until at least 5:30 pm when it may have moved toward the water's edge but low light made it impossible to determine its exact location.  Seal Sitters volunteers were out in force to monitor the pup and answer questions from the public.
Happy Solstice....😃

WATERSHED SNOWPACK

Its looking like this winter may see a very good snowpack in the Washington mountains.  Currently Crystal Mountain Ski Resort has 100 inches with more coming this week.  Excellent amount for mid December. Hail La Niña.  After a record warm and wet October and wet warm November we are seeing a real winter pattern.  Images from Crystal Mountain.

Happy Holidays

SEA LIONS AND ORCAS IN ELLIOTT BAY 

This fall has seen the arrival of a large number of California Sea Lions in Elliott.  Thirty plus have been observed hauled out on barges from time to time.  These males are feeding on returning Chum salmon and likely other fish as well.  This is a normal fall event but the numbers of sea lions seems to be up this year.  On November 28th a group of three Transient Orca Whales entered Elliott Bay and were observed to attack and kill at least one sea lion.  Today I observed from Jack Block Park a dead sea lion drifting away from the mouth of the Duwamish River to the north.

I have included images of the dead sea lion. That's a Chum salmon being scarfed down in the video...from Duwamish River 12-3-16

Dead Sea Lion (possible Orca victim)

Dead Sea Lion

ORCAS, HUMPBACK WHALE VISIT SEATTLE 10-24-16

Orcas and one Humpback Whale visited Seattle today....Resident Orcas from J Pod and likely another pod passed West Seattle in early afternoon while foraging for Chum and Coho salmon which are returning to Puget Sound rivers to spawn.
Humpback Whales have been visiting Puget Sound in increased numbers in recent years due to protection of the Marine Mammal Act of 1972 which has allowed the population to recover from whaling.

Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale

Humpback tail