November 29, 2014 - Rank Has Its Privilege

West Seattle has a number of gorgeous views of the downtown skyline, including this one on Admiral Way.  The view never gets old.

November 29, 2014 - Wind Chill

Two photographers armed with a matching pair of 600mm lenses were hoping to catch a shot of a Snowy Owl that made an appearance at the Edmonds Marina earlier in the week.  The pair were armed with matching 600mm zoom lenses.  With the temperature about 30 degrees and a 20 mph wind, the exposed pier was a bracing place to be waiting for a rare (for these parts) bird.

The weather had knocked out power to the Edmonds Ferry Terminal suspending operations for a couple of hours.  The recent high tides and wind had pummeled a nearby seawall and the access to the beach was clogged with debris.  Far to the north, a peaceful, Mount Baker seemed to be enjoying the sun.

November 29, 2014 - Black Friday, White Saturday

The Mukilteo Light, Whidbey Island and the rest of the Puget Sound received an unusually early dusting of snow this morning less than 48 hours removed from one of the warmest Thanksgivings on record.

November 28, 2014 - Triangle of Fire

As part of a school assignment, my daughter had control of the camera today.  All pictures are courtesy of Lily Kimura.

A 10" gun points out over over Admiralty Inlet.  Several of the guns at Fort Casey, including this one, were 'disappearing' guns.  Through a use of counterweight and the recoil of the weapon, these weapons were designed to be exposed only briefly when firing.  After sending their 617 pound shell up to 8 miles away, they would then 'disappear' below the edge of the fortification to be reloaded.

The entrance to the Puget Sound was protected by a triangle of fire - three fortifications located on either side of the shipping lane.  Fort Worden and Fort Flagler were located on the west side of Admiralty Inlet, while Fort Casey was located on Whidbey Island, the east side of the waterway.   Now a state park, the facility was fortified from 1898 through WWI and then briefly at the beginning of WWII, Fort Casey's armament included seven 10-inch rifled guns, sixteen 12-inch mortars, six 6-inch, two 5-inch guns and four 3-inch guns. 

The Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry runs from a terminal at the base of the bluff in which Fort Casey is located at Keystone Harbor. 

The Admiralty Head Lighthouse, constructed in 1903, is located on the eastern edge of the park.  It is no longer in operation, but serves as an interpretive center and gift shop.

On this wet Black Friday there were a pair of Sea Lions just offshore.

November 27, 2014 - Pod Party

The ferry ride to Whidbey Island had a welcoming party at the Clinton end of the run this afternoon.  A pod of Orcas was making their way south down the east side of the island and their run crossed the path of the ferry.

Beginning in October, Puget Sound Orcas, also known as Southern Resident Orcas are often seen headed South from the San Juan Islands following salmon into Puget Sound.  Three Orca pods, or socialized groups, are considered residents of Puget Sound.  They spend much of their time foraging in Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Georgia Straight. 

Killer whales will stay together with their mother for life, creating matrilines, groups of mothers, their offspring and their offspring’s offspring.  Each summer the three pods gather near the San Juan Islands, often socializing together.  

The total number of resident Orcas has fallen to 78, the lowest number since 1985.  Their declining numbers are largely believed to be associated with the decline in their primary food source – salmon.

In addition the resident Orcas, transient Killer Whales often spend time in Puget Sound.  These groups don’t typically socialize with one another.  The transient Killer Whales feed on seals and sea lions while in Puget Sound, not salmon.

When Orcas were being captured for marine parks in the 1960s and 1970s their numbers were dramatically reduced.  Since the practice stopped their numbers have gone up and down, peaking at 98 in 1995.  Orcas can live decades beyond their reproductive years that can go into their 40s.

November 24, 2014 - Still Night

The Needle in mist.
The buildings still.
The road empty.

November 22, 2014 - Still Sunset

An early sunset on a mild November Saturday afternoon brought streaks of pink and orange to the mostly still waters at the marina at the Seattle Yacht Club.  Still several hours from kick-off, the majority of 'sailgaters' haven't yet begun their trek under the Montlake Bridge to nearby Husky Stadium. 

November 18, 2014 - Out of the Mess

For many people that work in Seattle, the Mercer Mess means construction and traffic.  It's not a new issue.  The east-west route was meant to be a 'temporary' corridor when built in the 1950s.  It can take 20 to 40 minutes to go a little over a half mile during the afternoon commute on Mercer Street.  From that vantage you can see the many new office buildings that have been built in the South Lake Union neighborhood the Mercer Mess bisects. 

After hours, and out of your car, the Mercer Mess doesn't seem like quite a mess.  A Pronto Bike Share station, urban landscaping in a pedestrian galleria in office space currently occupied by Amazon and the unfinished skeleton of a still rising all make for much more pleasant viewing than when you're sitting in the mess. 

When completed the building above will house Paul Allen's, Allen Institute for Brain Science.  It's 6 completed stories will include 240,000 square feet of laboratory space.

November 11, 2014 - A Special Day, A Special Place, A Special Standard

It is Veteran's Day, so it is no surprise to see the flag snapping proudly from the Space Needle.  The American flag is the only flag the Space Needle regularly flies.  On most days no flag flies atop the 605 foot landmark.  Flags that have flown in recent years include Gay Pride, the Museum of Flight, a White Star Line flag commemorating the sinking of the Titanic, as well as flags recognizing Microsoft, Maclemore's album "Heist", Washington State University, a "Climate Action Now" flag and a flag of a policeman's badge to honor a murdered police officer.  The Seahawks' 12th Man flag is easily the second most flag flown in recent years  The Space Needle is owned and operated by a private organization and they have been very selective of the standards they raise and on what occasion they raise them.