10/28 Sandpiper, chum return, dead humpback, Uncle Sam billboard, wildfire funding, democracy watch

 

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
The smallest of the sandpipers or “peeps”, the least sandpiper is just 6 inches from beak to tail tip. This little guy is similar to several other sandpipers and stints, however it’s short, slightly curved bill and light colored legs set it apart from the others. It can be seen during migration in the spring and late summer singly or in small groups hunting for small worms, snails and crustaceans above the water’s edge. They pick up prey from the surface as well as probe just under the surface of the sand. They winter from Puget Sound south along the west coast into South America. (Puget Sound Estuarium) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Students lead in celebrations of Hispanic heritage 

Experts expect the recent arrival of chum salmon to bring orcas back to Puget Sound
Chum salmon are on the run into Puget Sound, and our southern resident killer whales may not be far behind...While the orcas prefer Chinook salmon, they appear more than willing to settle for chum when those fish are in abundance — as they were this time last year when a record number of chum began showing up in Central/South Puget Sound. This year’s chum run is expected to be substantial — perhaps not quite as large as last year’s — and all of this contributes to an interesting and ongoing story about the travels of these endangered orcas. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

'Very sad and tragic': Humpback whale found dead off Keats Island, B.C. 
A four-year-old humpback whale has washed up dead near Keats Island in Howe Sound, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is investigating to determine the cause of death. The whale was found dead in the same area where a humpback whale was struck by a whale-watching vessel on Oct. 23. A statement from whale-watching company Prince of Whales said that based on timing and location, it believes this could be the whale involved in Thursday's incident. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Uncle Sam billboard on I-5 goes from right-wing zingers to a statement of Native rights
This week's message: “Native Land” and on the line below “#chehalis.” Jeff Warnke, director of government and public relations for the tribe, said he has been shocked at how much discussion he’s seen around what he considers a statement of fact. Stephen Howie reports. (KUOW) 

Climate dollars eyed to backfill WA wildfire funding 
Washington’s lands commissioner and a leading Democratic House lawmaker indicated that they want to tap revenue from the state’s cap-and-trade program for at least some of the $60 million for firefighting. The maneuver would mean turning to a steady-flowing stream of cash at a time when the state’s operating budget is squeezed. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• Merkley demands cost estimate for Trump’s National Guard deployments (OregonLive) 

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Here's your tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  801 PM PDT Mon Oct 27 2025    

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM PDT TUESDAY THROUGH  TUESDAY MORNING  

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE  TUESDAY NIGHT    

TUE  E wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SE 25 to 35 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 7 ft at 6 seconds and W  5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  

TUE NIGHT  S wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to SW after midnight.  Seas 5 to 8 ft, subsiding to 4 to 6 ft after midnight. Wave  Detail: SE 7 ft at 6 seconds and W 3 ft at 10 seconds. Showers in  the evening, then rain after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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