
Recent Sightings
-
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026
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
-
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026
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
-
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026
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
-
SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2026
After a stormy Saturday, the skies cleared and provided us with excellent visibility with a clear view to the horizon. There was a mixture of sun and clouds, and the ocean was rough with 4-6 feet waves crashing upon the shore creating quite a bit of white water and spray.
✅ AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:
💠 2 northbound gray whales – singles
💠 101 harbor seals
💠 75-85 brown pelicans flying south and about 20 circling about the north and south sides of the peninsula
💠 2 Canada geese flying west and then north
💠 2 black oystercatchers
💠 1 bobcat
✅ NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF
✅ TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE ↪️
🔵 327 northbound – includes three mother/calf pairs
🔴 382 southbound
🟢 7 foragers
-
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026
We observed today at Saunders Reef where the ocean was flat calm, there was no wind, a mix of sun and clouds, and some way offshore cloudiness. Blows were easy to spot.
⚛️ 2 northbound gray whales – singles
⚛️ 1 osprey
⚛️ 56 brown pelicans flying north
✅ TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE 🟰
🔵 325 northbound – includes 3 mother/calf pairs
🔴 382 southbound
🟢 7 foragers