This image shows the fins of several gray whales above the surface of the water

Recent Sightings


  • 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 ➡️

    🔵   333 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 🟰

    🔵   331 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


  • TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2026

    Today brought us blue skies, a calm ocean, and a clear view all the way to the horizon.  Blows, backs, and flukes could be seen.

    🔶 AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

    🔺 5 northbound gray whales – two sets of two and one single

    🔺  1 gray whale foraging

    🔺  1 humpback whale

    🔺  6 sea lions swimming north

    🔺 2 black oyster catchers

    🔺  approximately 40 Aleutian cackling geese flying north

    🔺  17 brown pelicans flying south and 38 flying north

    🔶  AT SAUNDERS REEF:

    🔺  2 northbound gray whales – singles who took long foraging dives while traveling north

    🔺  18 brown pelicans flying north

    🔶  AT OLLIE’S STRAIGHT:

    🔺  3 adult gray whales and one calf going north observed and photographed by Shari Goforth

    🔶  TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE ⤵️

    🔵   323 northbound – includes 3 mother/calf pairs

    🔴   382 southbound

    🟢   7 foragers