Recent Sightings

Shari Goforth received the following update on the gray whale with scars  she photographed yesterday at Gualala Point Regional Park Beach:

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we had limited visibility today due to an offshore fog and haziness and some wind.
We observed:

* 14 southbound gray whales – two pairs of two and 10 singles, one of the single whales breached twice

GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 300 southbound

 * 76 harbor seals

* 3 black oystercatchers

* 1 Ferruginous hawk

* 3 American kestrels

This foraging gray whale was seen not more than 150 yards off the beach at Gualala Point Regional Park.  Fortunately, Shari Goforth was alerted by friend and neighbor, Laverne Hancock,  who spotted the whale from her home early this morning.  I met Shari on the bluff trail above the beach and we watched this gray foraging.  Shari took these pictures and wrote the following description:

23 Jan 2025 Gualala Point North, Beach/Sandbar:

One gray whale in close to beach, appeared to be foraging.

Pic 1: gray stayed low in the water. Photos revealed approx. 11 significant RIGHT lateral vessel propeller strike scars and one very large RIGHT-lateral, length-wise scar at the  dorsal hump involving the peduncle with cyamid lice present.

Pic 2 is left-three quarter view.

Pic 3 is the same gray spyhopping; and the eye can be seen in the dark area above the corner of the mouth.

Posted to HappyWhale database for ID.

We thank Shari Goforth very much for allowing us to share her amazing photos here.
Due to offshore haziness, today’s visibility was not as good as previous days.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we observed:

* 17 southbound gray whales – one loose group of three, 3 pairs, and 8 singles; one of the single whales chin slapped twice, then did a half breach followed by two full breaches

GRAY WHALES  SEEN TO DATE = 286 southbound

* 63 harbor seals

* 2 sea lions swimming north

 * 3 red-tailed hawks

* 3 American kestrels

Visibility today was once again excellent but there was a slight wind.

Early in the day we received word from our friend and photographer extraordinaire, Ron Bolander, that he was watching several whales and whale activity such as breaching at the Lighthouse.

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 16 southbound gray whales – two pairs and 12 traveling solo

         GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 269 southbound

* 66 harbor seals

* 3 red-tailed hawks

*4 American kestrels

* 1 great blue heron

Grateful for another day with excellent visibility, no wind, calm ocean, excellent distinction between sky, ocean, and blows.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we observed:

* 28 southbound gray whales – 1 loose group of four,  1 group of  three, 6 groups of two, and  9 singles – one whale breached three times, another half breached once and full breached twice,  most fluked, and backs and heads were also visible

* two foragers were present and swam slightly north and slightly south for nearly two hours taking long dives

* GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 253 southbound

 * 70 harbor seals

* 1 great blue heron

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 2 American kestrels

Excellent conditions today for observing.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we spotted:

* 25 southbound gray whales – one seen by Shari Godorth-Eby breached three times , 1 group of 4, 1 group of 3, 3 pairs, and  12 singles

* we also watched one forager slowly swimming north and south between 200 and 600 yards off shore for 90 minutes

* 75 harbor seals

* 1 black oystercatcher

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 great blue heron

* 2 American kestrels

     GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE:   225 southbound