HARBOR SEALS STILL FEEDING OF SEACREST IN WEST SEATTLE 2-9-16

After not seeing the group of Harbor Seals  (8) feeding off Seacrest in West Seattle for a few days they showed up this morning  2-9-16 in the same area with the same behavior.  Only could be sure of 7 in the group but fog made observation difficult.  See previous posts for more information on group.  They may have been feeding every day that I missed them...I just wasn't there at the right time.



SEA STAR WASTING SURVEY - ALKI BREAKWATER - CONDO AND PIPELINE 2-8-16

February 8th 2016
Calm, clear night with temperature 46 degrees f.
Breakwater south of Constellation Marine Reserve:  12 Pisaster ochraceus  all appearing healthy
Condo pilings:  12 Pisaster ochraceus  1 with SSWD  Also one Sunflower Star that appeared healthy.
Pipeline Constellation Marine Reserve south end:   8 Evasterias t.  all appeared healthy.  3 Pisaster o.
1 with SSWD and 1 Sunflower Star that appeared healthy.

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It appears that most of the stars are healthy but numbers are low in comparison with years prior to SSWD.  Evasterias t. numbers on pipeline are up compared to other years when they were a very small minority of the stars seen at Alki.

Also seen:  2 Raccoons on breakwater

Note:   Due to tide level not all of the condo pilings could be reached so the condo count is not a complete count of stars in that location.

Pisaster o. on condo pilings

Pisaster o. on condo pilings

Sunflower and Purple stars on condo piling

Evasterias t. on Constellation pipeling

Evasterias t. on Constellation pipeline

Evasterias t. on Constellation pipeline

Evasterias t. on Constellation pipeline

Evasterias t. on Constellation pipeline

Pisaster o. on Constellation pipeline

Sunflower star on Constellation pipeline

Pisaster o. with SSWD on Constellation pipeline

Pisaster o. on condo pilings