A group of orcas swam near the shore and astounded spectators in Seattle by offering a rare glimpse of these apex predators hunting a bird.

The pod of Bigg’s killer whales visited Elliott Bay and appeared to be hunting underwater close to Seattle’s maritime industrial docks. The pod eventually left the bay near the West Seattle neighborhood, where people were eagerly waiting to spot them.

Kersti Muul, who manages a WhatsApp whale alert system called “Salish Wildlife Watch” for the Seattle area, captured footage of the whales just below a viewpoint.

Onlookers gasped in amazement as one of the whales captured a bird and took it underwater.

Muul described it as “a once-in-a-lifetime experience for West Seattle. Not only because of the whales’ proximity, but also because it was a rarely seen behavior – chasing and catching a grebe.”

Bigg’s killer whales usually prey on marine mammals such as sea lions or porpoises. They occasionally visit the waters off Seattle, and both avid and casual whale watchers follow their movements. The pod sighted on Sunday has been spotted in the Seattle waters several times in the past month.

Muul said, “It’s truly a bonding experience for the community.” She hopes that these moments inspire wonder and a greater awareness of the urban wildlife in our neighborhoods.