Recent Sightings

On this cloudy day at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

* 1 southbound gray whale

* 5 northbound gray whales – 3 singles and one set of two

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

🔆 27 northbound

🔆 391 southbound

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* 43 harbor seals

* 2 great blue herons

* 2 American kestrels

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 8 flocks of northbound cackling geese – 4 of these flocks consisted of 500+ birds

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we encountered several squalls passing though with rain and increased wind, and the ocean was covered with whitecaps. Blows were batted down quickly.

We observed:

* 4 northbound gray whales – all singles

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

🔆 22 northbound

🔆 390 southbound

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* 54 harbor seals

* 2 American kestrels

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 great blue heron

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, it was hazy and there were big waves, approximately 10-12 feet, and swells. Blows were batted down quickly.

We observed:

* 3 northbound gray whales – one single and one set of two

* 1 gray whale forager

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

🔆 18 northbound

🔆 390 southbound

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* 15 harbor seals

* 1 great blue heron

* 2 American kestrel

* 2 black oystercatchers

Observations today were made from Gerstle Cove which is part of Salt Point State Park in northern Sonoma County. We had good visibility as the fog remained quite a distance offshore throughout our observation time. The waves and swells were huge, about 14-15 feet, and created tremendous amounts of spray upon crashing into the rocks.

Harbor seals were unable to utilize their haul out sites, even at low tide.

* 11 northbound gray whales – three sets of two and five traveling solo, many lifted their flukes

* 1 gray whale foraging

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

🔆 390 southbound

🔆 15 northbound

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* 2 sea lions swimming north

* 3 American kestrels

* 1 adult bald eagle being chased by a gull

The ocean was calm today and visibility was fair to good. Some offshore haziness.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

* 1 gray whale forging very close to the rocks

NO MIGRATORS SEEN

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

🔆 390 southbound

🔆 4 northbound

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* 51 harbor seals

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 great blue heron

* 2 American kestrels