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

Recent Sightings


  • THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025

    At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

    🔶 1 humpback

    🔷 120 harbor seals

    🔶 1 sea lion

    🔷 3 great blue herons

    🔶 1 red-tailed hawk

    🔷 2 black oystercatchers

    🔶 33 brown pelicans

    NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF


  • WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025

    Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

    💠 128 harbor seals

    💠 1 red-tailed hawk

    💠 87 brown pelicans

    Observations at Saunders Reef:

    💠 1 humpback

    💠 25 brown pelicans


  • TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025

    On this cloudy, gray day without wind, the ocean was as calm as a lake and visibility was good.

    AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA, WE OBSERVED:

    🔆 2 humpback whales, backs and flukes visible as they surfaced

    🔆 140 harbor seals

    🔆 1 great blue heron

    🔆 85 brown pelicans flying north, 17 flying south

    AT SAUNDERS REEF:

    🔆 2 humpback whales, backs and flukes visible as they surfaced

    🔆 6 sea lions swimming together

    🔆 17 brown pelicans flying north


  • FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2025

    OBSERVATIONS TODAY FROM GERSTLE  COVE IN SALT POINT STATE PARK:
    The ocean was calm but the sky was cloudy and gray. Whale blows were difficult to see against the gray sky.

    ❇️ 4 humpback whales – slowly traveling north – one tail slapped just a few times and then did a full breach!

    ❇️ 9 harbor seals

    ❇️ 1 female elephant seal hauled out in a small cove she had all to herself

    ❇️ 1 osprey

    ❇️ 58 brown pelicans flying north


  • THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025

    OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

    🔆 1 humpback whale

    🔆 66 harbor seals

    🔆 1 great blue heron

    🔆 2 red-tailed hawks

    OBSERVATIONS FROM SAUNDERS REEF:

    🔆 1 humpback whale

    🔆 73 brown pelicans

    Thank you to Diane Hichwa for alerting us of humpback whales that were spotted traveling north off the Sea Ranch at the White Barn and heading towards Gualala Point Island. We also thank Craig Tooley for photographing the whales off Del Mar Point and for the great video of the whale tail slapping:

    20250718-P7180476