Recent Sightings

🔺🔺 We are sad to report that on Friday evening, August 1st, a dead whale was seen floating off Sea Ranch south of Gualala Point Island. On Saturday, August 2nd, the whale became lodged in the rocks at Dune Drift Beach which is south of Walk On Beach at the Sea Ranch. 🔻🔻

The deceased whale is a female humpback, most likely a sub-adult. The sighting was reported to the California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center.
Because the whale is not accessible, scientists were unable to perform a necropsy so the exact cause of death is unknown at this time and may remain unknown. Based on careful examine of photographs of the carcass, the whale may have been struck by a vessel.

Below are several photos that I took on Saturday, August 2nd:

✳️ ✳️ TWO GRAY WHALES SEEN TODAY AT GUALALA POINT ISLAND ON THE NORTH END OF SEA RANCH‼️ ✳️ ✳️

These two grays were brilliantly photographed by Kate Bloch. It is such a treat to see gray whales here at this time of the year and they were foraging for food for several hours at this location.
Shari Goforth also observed the grays foraging. They stayed for the next several days, through Monday, August 4th.

Below are several photos taken by Kate Bloch of these grays and we thank her for allowing us to share them here on our website.

💠💠 BLUE WHALE SEEN SWIMMING NORTH ALONG OUR COAST TODAY!!💠💠

Diane Hichwa received notice of a large whale, described as bigger than a humpback, seen off the coast of Sea Ranch and heading north.

Shari Goforth headed out and was able to photograph this magnificent blue whale from a location just north of north of downtown Gualala and south of Anchor Bay known as Ollies Straight.

We thank Diane, Shari, nd everyone who contributed to making this sighting possible. It does indeed take a village! We are grateful to all.

A strong, persistent wind produced many whitecaps on the ocean.

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

🔆 4 humpbacks – two traveling north together and two singles

🔆 1 sea lion

🔆 97 harbor seals

🔆 1 great blue heron

🔆 2 brown pelicans

NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

We observed today at beautiful Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park in northern Sonoma County. There was offshore fog but overall, visibility was good.

🟪 4 humpbacks – two together and two singles

🟧 4 sea lions swimming together in a northwest direction

🟪 2 Caspian terns flying north quite elegantly

🟧 4 Ospreys

🟪 over 100 brown pelicans flying north and 12 flying south

🟧 1 northern Pygmy owl