Blue Heron on our Chimney

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Orcas off Beach Drive

We were away from home when this pod swam by Mee Kwa Mooks towards Alki.

Just learned about this via Lisa Wallace Baker on Facebook – thanks, Lisa!

Did you see the Orcas?

Please bees careful walking/running up Jacobson street today!

During a jog up Jacobson hill this morning, I ran into a city crew trying to decide what to do about the leaning alder they had just cut down. It just so happens that the hollowed out Alder laying on the ground is home of a swarming bees nest.

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One of the crew informed me that a local bee keeper has been contacted for their expertise and over-heard other options to move the infested log to an unpopulated corner of MeeKwaMooks or Lincoln Park.  You've been warned!

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The University of Washington research vessel named the Thomas G Thompson has been a spotted as a regular these days off off Blake Island.

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I'm guessing that they are testing the local waters beyond the out-going currents of Rich Passage where several Atlantic Salmon farming pens are located.  Their website isn't revealing what they've been up to recently but a potential break out of Salmon Anemia in Puget Sound must have their attention.  Monday was so beautiful out that I ventured over in the Beach Drive Blog zodiac to check out the operations.  Enjoy!

 

 Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog

 

https://beachdriveblog.com/2011/10/the-unerversity-of-washington-research-vessel-named-the-thomas-g-thompson-has-been-a-spotted-as-a-regular-these-days-off-off.html

Coyote Spotted at Beach Drive and 64th

Larry just emailed us with this information from a Beach Drive neighbor:

β€œAt the start of my run this morning at 5:30 am, I saw a coyote chasing a collared yellow tabby cat down 64th towards Beach Drive. I followed them and after some time, was finally able to scare away the coyote. The cat was scared and hid under the rocks at the beach – I couldn't get it to go home. Just thought that our neighbors may want to know that there is a determined coyote around Alki trying to eat cats!”

 You might want to try to keep your kitties indoors.

Cute Alert: Seal Pup Photos

Last Thursday, there were at least two seal pups taking advantage of a sunny afternoon in parks along Beach Drive.

This pup was at the foot of the rocks at the north point of Emma Schmitz Memorial Viewpoint.  Seal Sitters was on the scene advising volunteers how to protect the young pup.

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Seal Pup

You get an idea of how small this seal is by seeing it next to the Seagull (and check out what the Seagull has). 

Seagull with Crab and sleeping Seal Pup

You can view many photos of this seal pup here… I apologize in advance, many of them may look the same – they're just so cute, it's hard to narrow them down!

Just a few blocks away at Constellation Park, another young seal was sunning itself on the rocks.

Seal Pup

More photos of this pup can be found here.

The representative from Seal Sitters told me there were four known pups on West Seattle beaches at that moment.  If you come across a seal pup on a West Seattle beac, please contact Seal Sitters at 206-905-7325 (SEAL).  Please keep your dogs leashed while on the beaches and stay back 100 yards.  For more information, click here

What Kind of Bird is This?

My husband, aka, Scupper, spied this hawk(?) in one of our willows yesterday dining on his latest victem.  It appears to be larger than a crow and smaller than a seagull.

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See more pictures of this bird by clicking here.  Photo credits: Scupper.

What to do about a Raven?

RavenA Beach Drive resident by La Rustica Restaurant sent in an email to see if any of our readers has advice on how to deal with a Raven who's not afraid of humans.

Here's part of her email:

"I don't want the raven hurt but I cannot walk my dog in the morning without getting dived at. I did get a reprieve today when it went after another lady with her dog. It actually hovered over her head. Yesterday it harrassed my husband and I and drove us indoors from enjoying our coffee on the deck. Any ideas? Ravens are new to me and not sure the proper procedures to shoo them from me. Thanks!!"

Any tips?

 

Osprey by Emma Schmitz View Point

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I'm guessing this osprey is a juvenile.

Sea lion in the mist

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It's so foggy out, I had to turn off my auto-focus on my camera.  I'm hoping this sea lion is still around when the fog lifts!