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| American Bittern |
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Friday, March 18, 2016
ST. PAT'S DAY PARADE IN THE SKAGIT DELTA
A sunny, warmish St. Pat's day in the Skagit Delta......Swans were scattered and likely the last to migrate north. Thousands of Snow Geese remain for a few more days or weeks. One Bittern crossed the road in front of our lunch spot but only allowed a few camera shots once back in the new ground cover. A few raptors, herons, and LBJ's. Visibility unlimited.....as the images attest.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
RIVER OTTER AND DUNLIN AT ALKI
Another river otter made an appearance at Alki....with a tasty sculpin in its jaws. Likely the fish was a Red Irish Lord. This otter has a pink area on its right hind foot. This could be a growth or injury of something completely different. Otto, (February 2015) had a pink growth on his left hind foot. It was not possible to see this otter's left hind foot so it might be Otto with more pink....or maybe a different otter...no way to tell yet.
While the Surfbirds and Black Turnstones are still around at Alki they were joined by a flock of Dunlin today....first time this year I've seen that mixed flock.
The Gang of Harbor Seals was down to 5 off Seacrest today....but there may be more around.
While the Surfbirds and Black Turnstones are still around at Alki they were joined by a flock of Dunlin today....first time this year I've seen that mixed flock.
The Gang of Harbor Seals was down to 5 off Seacrest today....but there may be more around.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Intervention of Harbor Seal at Duwamish Head 2-26-16
A male harbor seal (2015 season pup) was reported at Duwamish Head in West Seattle. The pup was at the waterline and did not respond to being tossed around by waves created by passing vessels. It was alive and breathing but appeared unresponsive to any external physical force. Seal Sitters staff requested permission from NOAA to intervene and remove the pup for transport and evaluation at PAWS. Both NOAA and PAWS agreed. The pup was removed from the beach and transported to PAWS in Lynnwood WA. The pup arrived alive but died at PAWS within an hour of arrival.
Harbor Seal mortality within the first year of birth is about 50% from natural causes.
While nothing could be done for this pup a WSDFW bioligst will necropsy the animal to determine, if possible, the cause of death. So some good could come from this death in the form of additional information on seal health in our area.
Harbor Seal mortality within the first year of birth is about 50% from natural causes.
While nothing could be done for this pup a WSDFW bioligst will necropsy the animal to determine, if possible, the cause of death. So some good could come from this death in the form of additional information on seal health in our area.
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| Male Harbor Seal pup |
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| Male Harbor Seal pup |
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| Male Harbor Seal pup |
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| Male Harbor Seal pup |
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| Male Harbor Seal pup |
Thursday, February 25, 2016
HARBOR SEALS IN THE WATER AND ON THE BEACH
The Harbor Seal gang at Seacrest in West Seattle is still turning up each day. Today there were 9 in the group doing the same thing they have been doing for weeks. See earlier post.
Yesterday a single harbor seal hauled out for a rest at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Seals on the beach have been unusual for the 2015 pupping season. Numbers of weaned seals hauling out on Puget Sound beaches is down from the last few years. The reason for this sparse showing is not understood. Seal Sitters first responders who spend many hours observing our local waters had noticed that not many harbor seals seemed to be in the Seattle area.
This all changed about 2 months ago. Fisherman using Seacrest dock reported seeing a number of seals each day near the dock. Scuba divers also reported seal activity in the area.
I have been checking every day for the past 2 weeks and observed between 6 and 9 harbor seals feeding as a group off Seacrest. Today there were 9 feeding as a group and a 10th seal feeding on its own.
The harbor seal at Lincoln Park hauled out twice on the 24th. The first time it went back in the water before it could be monitored but reappeared a way north at Coleman Pool area at mid Lincoln Park beach. This seal has been named "Dusty" and was monitored from about noon till 3:15 when it went back in the water. Dusty appeared thin and possibly had a smaller than normal left front flipper. When moving on the beach Dusty used only the right front flipper for support, dragging the left flipper at its side. Dusty has not been seen again on the beach.
While observing Dusty we also observed at least one Harbor Porpoise off Lincoln Park....there may have been more but only one surfaced at a time.
So we have somewhat of a mystery.....why so few seals being seen on the beaches, and just where do the seals of the Seacrest gang haul out to rest. Images of Dusty below:
Yesterday a single harbor seal hauled out for a rest at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Seals on the beach have been unusual for the 2015 pupping season. Numbers of weaned seals hauling out on Puget Sound beaches is down from the last few years. The reason for this sparse showing is not understood. Seal Sitters first responders who spend many hours observing our local waters had noticed that not many harbor seals seemed to be in the Seattle area.
This all changed about 2 months ago. Fisherman using Seacrest dock reported seeing a number of seals each day near the dock. Scuba divers also reported seal activity in the area.
I have been checking every day for the past 2 weeks and observed between 6 and 9 harbor seals feeding as a group off Seacrest. Today there were 9 feeding as a group and a 10th seal feeding on its own.
The harbor seal at Lincoln Park hauled out twice on the 24th. The first time it went back in the water before it could be monitored but reappeared a way north at Coleman Pool area at mid Lincoln Park beach. This seal has been named "Dusty" and was monitored from about noon till 3:15 when it went back in the water. Dusty appeared thin and possibly had a smaller than normal left front flipper. When moving on the beach Dusty used only the right front flipper for support, dragging the left flipper at its side. Dusty has not been seen again on the beach.
While observing Dusty we also observed at least one Harbor Porpoise off Lincoln Park....there may have been more but only one surfaced at a time.
So we have somewhat of a mystery.....why so few seals being seen on the beaches, and just where do the seals of the Seacrest gang haul out to rest. Images of Dusty below:
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| Dusty |
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| Dusty |
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| Dusty |
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| Dusty |
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| Dusty |
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| H. Seal Gang at Seacrest |
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
SEAL GANG IS GROWING 2-16-16
Today there were two new members of the Gang of 7 harbor seals (Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Bashful, Dopey) off Seacrest. This is only fitting....
RIVER OTTERS MAKE APPEARANCE IN ELLIOTT BAY 2-15-16
If you have been following posts on this blog you are aware that last year at this time a male river otter (Otto) was observed at Duwamish Head in West Seattle going through his daily activities for a period of weeks. He was last seen almost a year ago. Since that very interesting episode I have not seen another otter in Elliott Bay...or anywhere else for that matter. Yesterday I observed 3 river otters in the Seacrest Park area of Elliott Bay. Since river otters form associations of various sexes and relationships I have no idea if this was a family or some other association or related or unrelated individuals...also not able to sex the otters. One or more of the otters were seen feeding on some unidentified prey. It is always a treat to seem them close up....so here are a few images:
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