Hi Tweeters,


I was one of the many birders who visited with the King Eider in Tacoma yesterday. Afterward, I birded my way back north, stopping at various spots with views of the Sound. I ran into a whale watcher at Dash Point SP around 1:50. She told me that there is an Orca watching website that tracks the movements of the various Puget Sound pods and that one was apparently heading our way, working south. After waiting for them for a few minutes, she checked her i-phone and told me that they were being spotted at Brown's Point Lighthouse Park, just a few minutes south of Dash Point. I drove down there and quickly spotted a small group of whale watchers. I joined them and was immediately onto the pod, which was followed by a small boat with a researcher or two on board. I watched the Orcas for about an hour, and they were still in sight when I left. They put on quite a show (as did the whale watchers, who have their own jargon; they reminded me of birders). They told me that this was a common routine of the Orcas this time of year. So if your heading to see the King Eider, it might be worth checking out the location of the Orcas (I don't know the URL for the website, but I'm sure that it's easy to find). A scope would be helpful, but not necessary. The researchers boat, if they are following them again, has two small flags, one red and one yellow. The Orcas will be in front of them.


Good birding (and whaling),


Lonnie Somer

Seattle

lsomer at highline.edu