Recent Sightings

At the POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE peninsula, there was poor distinction between the ocean and the sky due to cloudy skies.  There was a significant amount of whitecaps on the ocean.

🔷 1 humpback

🔷 17 harbor seals at high tide – haul out sites underwater

🔷  9 brown pelicans flying north

🔷   4 black oystercatchers

🔶 NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

🔶 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE ⤵️

  335 northbound – includes 3 mother/calf pairs

  382 southbound

  8 foragers

Observations today were at Saunders Reef which is just to the north of Hearn Gulch and to the south of Schooner Gulch. It was an overcast, cloudy day with a light wind.

❇️ 2 northbound gray whales – singles

❇️ 1 humpback about 3.5 miles offshore – flipper slapping

🔆 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE 🟰

🔵   335 northbound – includes 3 mother/calf pairs

🔴   382 southbound

🟢   8 foragers

After three days of very strong winds, today we had excellent visibity and great distinction between  the ocean and the sky.

🔷 AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

🔶 1 northbound gray whale and 1 forager

🔶 86 harbor seals

🔶 1 sea lion swimming north

🔶 2 osprey – one carrying a fish

🔶 1 adult bald eagle

🔶 4 black oystercatchers

🔶 1 great blue heron flying with the catch of the day in his or her throat

🔶 33 brown pelicans – most flying north

🔷 NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

🔷 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE 🟰

🔵   333 northbound – includes three mother/calf pairs

🔴   382 southbound

🟢   8 foragers

 

 

On this very windy Tuesday, blows were batted down very quickly making it difficulty to spot and track whales.

✳️ 1 northbound gray whale swimming past Gualala Point

✳️ 1 northbound gray whale at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula

✳️ 76 harbor seals at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula

♦️ TOTAL GRAY WHALES  SEEN TO DATE ➡️

🔵   332 northbound – includes three mother/calf pairs

🔴   382 southbound

🟢   7 foragers

 

We had windy conditions at the Point Arena Lighthouse and the ocean had a significant amount of whitecaps.  We did have a clear view to the horizon and visibility was very good.

🔆 3 northbound gray whales – singles

🔆 86 harbor seals

🔆 3 brown pelicans flying south and 1 flying north; 3 others floating in the ocean

🔆 1 sub-adult gray whale was seen by Shari Goforth swimming north past Gualala Point within 100 yards of shore, mid-morning on Thursday, April 9th

🟪   TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE 🟰

🔵   330 northbound – includes three mother/calf pairs

🔴   382 southbound

🟢  7 foragers