Recent Sightings

Strong winds made it quite challenging to spot blows today as they were blown down quickly. The wind was 19 mph with gusts of 33 mph from the south southeast and large whitecaps covered the ocean.  By mid afternoon, it began to rain forcing us to end our observations.

AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

🔺3 southbound gray whales – all singles, difficult to track due to ocean conditions

🔺🔸 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE 🟰 343 southbound 🔸🔺

🔺 62 harbor seals

🔺 2 great blue herons

🔺 2 black oystercatchers

🔺 3 brown pelicans – flying south

We had bright sunshine today and there was clear distinction between the ocean and the sky. However,  at the Point  Arena Lighthouse peninsula, the wind was blowing 14 mph and gusting to 20 mph from the south southeast.  This did create significant whitecaps and when blows were spotted, they were blown back and disappeared quickly. Many blows seen today were actually quite wet due to the choppiness of the sea. The whales were difficult to track.

💠 8 southbound gray whales – one trio which consisted of three whales following one another in close proximity, and five singles

🔶💠 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE ➡️ 340 southbound 🔶💠

💠 84 harbor seals

💠 2 great blue herons

💠 6 brown pelicans flying north in two groups of three

💠 2 black oystercatchers

Observations on this cloudy day were from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula. There was a slight wind from the south creating some small whitecaps on the ocean and blows did disappear very quickly.

🔆 10 southbound gray whales – all singles

🔆 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 332 southbound 🔆

🔷 6 bottlenose dolphins swimming north

🔷 59 harbor seals

🔷 2 great blue herons

🔷 5 black oystercatchers

🔷 5 brown pelicans- 4 flying north and 1 flying south

 

It was a cloudy day at Gerstle Cove with little distinction between the ocean and the sky. There was some offshore fog but visibility was good.  Some limited sunshine did appear in the afternoon.

AT GERSTLE COVE:

🔶 No whales seen

🔶 17 harbor seals

🔶 1 red-tailed hawk

🔶 1 Northern harrier

🔶 1 brown pelican

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We then headed to the Point Arena Lighthouse where it was quite windy and the ocean was covered with large whitecaps. The wind was blowing 12 mph from the north northwest with gusts 16 mph. There also was significant sun glare.

AT PAL:

🔶 3 southbound gray whales – all singles

🔶 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE 🟰 322 southbound 🔶

🔶 1 great blue heron

🔶 2 black oystercatchers

 

It was a cloudy, windy day at the Point Arena Lighthouse. Blows were mostly bushy and they dispersed quickly. There was also fog offshore.

AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

✳️ 15 southbound gray whales – one trio, three pairs, and six singles

❇️ TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DAYE 🟰 319 southbound ❇️

🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧🔵🟧

✳️ 4 harbor seals hauled out and 8 swimming around the rocks at high tide

✳️ 5 black oystercatchers

✳️ 1 great blue heron

✳️ 1 white-tailed kite

✳️ 1 bufflehead

✳️ 2 American kestrels