Recent Sightings

We had cloudy conditions with moderate wind today at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula.

💠 18 humpback whales- three sets of two and 12 singles

💠 106 harbor seals

💠 3 sea lions

💠 1 red-tailed hawk

 

Observations today were at Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park. We had a sunny day with very good visibility at first but as the day progressed, the wind speed increased creating significant whitecaps on the ocean.  Spotting blows and tracking the whales became more difficult as the wind increased. The blows did not remain suspended and were knocked down very quickly.

♦️ 2 humpback whales –  about 200 yards apart

♦️ 9 harbor seals

♦️ 2 sea lions swimming north

♦️  2 osprey – both hunting for fish over the ocean

♦️ 63 brown pelicans flying south and 4 flying north

 

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we had very good visibility clear to the horizon.  It was moderately windy,

🔷 13 humpback whales- three sets of three, one pair, and two singles; one whale was tail lobbing for a short while 

🔷 2 sea lions swimming north

🔷 129 harbor seals

🔷 2 black oystercatchers

 

Today’s conditions, so vastly different from yesterday, illustrates that no two days here on our beautiful coast are the same!

We had considerable clouds, offshore fog and haze starting at about 2 miles out, and the wind was blowing at 13 mph, gusting to 20 mph from the south southeast.

Just north of the Gualala Point Regional Park Beach, we spotted:

✳️ 2 single humpbacks

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we spotted:

✳️ 3 single humpbacks

✳️ 127 harbor seals

 

A dream day!! Excellent visibility clear to the horizon. The ocean was as calm as a lake and there was no wind.

We observed from Saunders Reef and saw:

💠 8 humpback whales – one group of three, two groups of two, and one single

We did  receive reports of humpback whales being seen all along the Mendonoma coastline from Jenner to Irish Beach. With much gratitude, we acknowledge the sightings we received from:

💠 Kate Bloch – Gualala Point Island in the north end of the Sea Ranch

💠 Roberta Chan – the beach at Gualal Point Regional Park

💠 Shari Goforth – Ollie’s Straight

💠 Diane Hichwa – the Sea Ranch

💠 Janet and Fred McElroy – Hearn Gulch and Saunders Reef

💠 Diane Wilson – Hearn Gulch and Saunders Reef

💠 Doug Forsell – Bowling Ball Beach to Fish Rock

💠 Kirsten Rhine – Anchor Bay Beach

💠 Jeanne Jackson – Anchor Bay

💠 Don McCormick – Irish Beach

💠 Michael Coustier – Gualala Point Regional Park in the early evening

All reported seeing blows, backs, flukes, flipper slapping, tail lobbing, lunging at the surface, and full breaching. A truly memorable and magical day.

🔆 We estimate that at least 200 humpbacks were visible off our coast today!🔆

We thank all who contributed their valuable sightings to us!