J AND L RESIDENT ORCA WHALES HAVE RETURNED TO INSIDE WATERS - AND OTHER SAN JUAN ISLAND ITEMS

The good news is J and L pods of the Southern Resident Community of Orca whales have returned to inside waters and were seen in the San Juan Islands during mid June.  The bad news is that L92 Crewser is missing and presumed dead.  That leaves the Southern Resident Community at 75 whales which is the lowest since studies began in the 1970's.  Low populations of Chinook Salmon are a major cause of the decline of the endangered whales along with excessive noise levels, contamination and likely other factors.  In addition to the Orca whales and one Humpback Whale we viewed San Juan Island foxes, Hummingbirds, Harbor Seals, Eagles and River Otters.  We packed a lot into 4 wonderful days made even better by a visit from my sister Pat and company of sweetie Gretchen.

Barn Swallow

Humpback Whale

River Otter with fish

Research boat collecting whale poop samples

WDFW Whale Police Boat

GREENBELT OWLS SEEM TO HAVE GONE TO NEST...BUT HAVEN'T FOUND THE NESTS

The two pair of Barred Owls in the West Duwamish Greenbelt have not been seen since May 4th and are assumed to have gone nest but the location of the nests has not be found.  The pair in Lincoln Park have been pair bonding daily and can often be found in the same area especially because the crows and ravens scolding gives them away.  A group of Transient Orcas was in Puget Sound this week but never came within 3 miles of West Seattle so no images are available here. On May 10th all the pieces came together bird watching wise in Lincoln Park with a very cooperative Pileated Woodpecker, Male Raven, fledged Raven chick, and both Barred Owls.  We are looking at a weather forecast of 80 degrees this weekend through Monday.  Caspian Terns have been seen in numbers at Alki and making daily flights from the Duwamish River.  Next week I will do the Sea Star wasting disease survey....so back to the beach and some real marine stuff. .

Female Barred Owl Lincoln Park

Female Barred Owl Lincoln Park

Fledged Raven Lincoln Park

Male Raven Lincoln Park

Pair bonding Barred Owls Lincoln Park

Pileated Woodpecker Lincoln Park

Pileated Woodpecker Lincoln Park

Male Raven in rain - Lincoln Park

ALL 4 BARRED OWLS IN GREENBELT MAY 3RD PLUS COOPER'S HAWK PAIR AT NEST

May 3rd both pair of Barred Owls were together in the West Duwamish Greenbelt and calling for over an hour.  This is the first time I have seen this since February 10th when I first started watching them.  Had not seen the males for 2 weeks prior to this.  In addition a pair of Cooper's Hawks are at the nest in the greenbelt daily.  So this has kept me away form the Sound...thus not much in the way of marine life to post about.

We have named the owls  Fluffy (female) and Sleepy (male) and Yahoo (female) and Spitter (male).  This way we can refer to individual owls when discussing who is doing Hoo....