Recent Sightings

Observations today were made from the Noyo Center for Marine Science Crow’s Nest in Fort Bragg as part of their annual Whale Festival. It was a sunny day with good visibility.
We had the pleasure of meeting lots of people who were truly interested in learning about whales and other marine life. Professor Brianna Zuber from Mendocino College brought her marine biology class to speak with us and her students were engaged, motivated, and asked many great questions. We thank the two wonderful Noyo Center volunteers at the Crow’s Nest, Jessie and Peggy, who hosted us during this event as well as volunteer docent, Erica, who led a group of people of all ages on an educational whale watch walk.

We observed:

* 7 northbound grays – two groups of two and 3 singles

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TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE (as of November 1, 2024) =

🔆🔆 201 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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* 2 flocks of cackling geese flying north, one of about 500 and one consisting of about 300

Observations today were from the Gualala Point Regional Park. Although clouds and a bit of fog reduced visibility in the morning, conditions improved throughout the day allowing us to have a very successful Whale and Seabird Watch program. Our wonderful Sonoma County Park Ranger, Jeannette, counted 75 participants. We thank Roberta Chan, park visitor center coordinator, for organizing this program.

We observed:

* 17 northbound gray whales – three sets of two and eleven singles

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

🔆🔆 194 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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Led by migratory bird specialist Doug Forsell, the seabirds spotted included:

* Brandt’s cormorants, Pelagic cormorants, double-crested cormorants

* common loons, Pacific loons

* red-eared grebes

* pigeon guillemot

* 75 cackling geese flying north

* common murres

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