Recent Sightings

On this mostly cloudy, overcast day, we observed the following from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 13 northbound gray whales – a loose group of four, a loose group of 3, two groups of two, and two singles

* 1 foraging gray whale

* 30 harbor seals

* 1 great blue heron

* 1 Northern harrier

* 1 American kestrel

* 6 brown pelicans flying south and 10 flying north

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

* 1 northbound gray whale

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

🔆🔆 258 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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Despite intermittent rain showers and cloudy skies, visibility at Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park was quite good. Waves were about 10-12 feet.

* 15 northbound gray whales – two groups of two and eleven singles

* 42 brown pelicans flying north

* 1 flock of cackling geese, approximately 300 birds

* 2 pelagic cormorants

* 1 harbor seal swimming around the rocks at the haul out sight

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Total gray whales seen to date (as of November 1, 2024) =

🔆🔆 244 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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Extremely rough seas, waves of 15-18 feet, poor visibility, high surf, and much spray.
Wind 16 mph from south southwest with 29 mph gusts

NO WHALES SEEN AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA OR A SAUNDERS REEF

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

🔆🔆 229 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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A marine layer persisted throughout the day reducing visibility to less than two miles. The ocean was calm.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

* 6 northbound grays – one group of two and four singles

* 32 harbor seals

* 3 meadowlarks

* about 30 brown pelicans flying north; 1 flying south

* 2 flocks of cackling geese; one of about 200 and one of 80

* 1 gopher

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

* 1 northbound gray whale

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

🔆🔆 229 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 18 northbound gray whales – one group of three, three groups of two, nine singles,
many backs and flukes were visible; one whale breached 7-8 times

* 1 gray whale foraging

* 62 harbor seals

* 1 river otter

* 2 black oystercatchers

* 2 Canada geese

* 6 flocks of cackling geese flying north ranging in size from 80 geese to over 600 geese

* 2 American kestrels

* 26 brown pelicans flying north

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

* 3 northbound gray whales

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

🔆🔆 222 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound