Recent Sightings

On Saturday, March 22, we will be joined by Shari Goforth and Doug Forsell, migratory bird specialist, for a whale and seabird watch at the Gualala Point Regional Park from 10:00-2:00. Follow the trail from the Visitor Center down to the whale watch point area that overlooks Gualala Island.

On Sunday, March 23rd, we will be at the Noyo Center for Maine Science Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center in Fort Bragg for whale observing from 10:00-2:00. Shari Goforth will be joining us for this fun event as well!

Observations today from Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park.

* 13 northbound gray whales – one duo and eleven singles

* 2 northbound grays at Robinson Reef seen by Shari Goforth

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TOTAL GRAY WHALWS SEEN TO DATE (since November 1, 2024) =

✳️🐋✳️ 177 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

✳️🐋✳️ 391 southbound

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* 37 harbor seals

* 1 Northern harrier

* 1 Osprey

* 1 brown pelican flying north

On this first day of Spring, the vernal equinox, we had cloudy conditions in the morning with a patch of sunshine in the early afternoon, but then clouds returned later in day.
The Point Arena Lighthouse welcomed students in grades kindergarten to 8th grade and their teachers, principal, and many parents from the Horicon School located in
Annapolis. We had the great pleasure of speaking with several groups of students and teaching them about whales. We enjoyed their enthusiasm and willingness to learn!

We observed:

* 10 northbound gray whales – two groups of two and 6 singles; one of the single whales breached three times

* 1 gray whale foraging just 300 yards off the rocks

GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE (since November 1, 2025) =

✳️🐋 162 – includes one mother/calf

✳️🐋 391 southbound

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* 49 harbor seals

* 3 black oystercatchers

* 1 osprey

* 1 brown pelican

* 1 American kestrel

We had a cloudy day with winds from the south southeast that increased to 16 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Similar to yesterday, blows disappeared quickly and stayed along the surface of the ocean. Whales were hard to track.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

* 9 northbound gray whales – one pair and seven singles

* 1 unidentified whale that breached approximately 4 miles offshore

* 57 harbor seals

* 2 American kestrels

* 1 great blue heron

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 Northern harrier

* 1 Cooper’s hawk chased far away by two ravens

* 2 deer grazing in the pasture

NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

* 1 northbound gray whale seen about one mile out at Robinson’s Reef by Shari Goforth

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TOTAL WHALES SEEN TO DATE (since November 1, 2024) =

✳️🐋 152 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf pair

✳️🐋 391 southbound

After three days of stormy weather that brought rain, wind, fog, and hail, today was sunny with an 11 mph NW wind with gusts of 15 mph. It was challenging to spot whale blows as they disappeared very quickly as they rolled on the surface of the ocean.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we observed:

* 1 foraging gray whale

* 9 northbound gray whales – two duos and five singles

* 54 harbor seals

* 1 American kestrel

* 1 red-tailed hawk which was quickly and efficiently escorted out of the area by two ravens

* 1 flock of cackling geese, approximately 75 birds, flying north

AT SAUNDERS REEF we observed:

* 3 northbound gray whales

* 1 flock of cackling geese, approximately 150 birds, flying north

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TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1, 2025)

✳️🐋 142 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

✳️🐋 391 southbound