Recent Sightings

Good visibility, calmer ocean, offshore haziness.

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 1 southbound gray whale traveling close to shore, less than one-quarter mile from
shore

* 3 northbound gray whales – 2 traveling together, one traveling solo

GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: 384 southbound

4 northbound

* 43 harbor seals

* 2 great blue herons

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 Ferruginous hawk

* 1 American kestrel

* 2 meadowlarks

Good visibility, offshore haziness, 10-12 foot waves.

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 1 southbound gray whale

TOTAL WHALES SEEN TO DATE: 383 southbound

1 northbound

* 27 harbor seals

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 American kestrel

* 1 great blue heron

The rain we had over night stopped and gave way to mostly cloudy skies. There were small choppy waves on the ocean.

AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

* no whales seen

TOTAL WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 382 southbound
1 northbound

* 1 great blue heron

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 Ferruginous hawk

* 1 American kestrel

* 27 harbor seals

Huge waves, 12 – 15 feet, created extremely rough seas with considerable spray and high surf. There was also a strong, persistent wind throughout the day.

* No whales seen today at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula or at Saunders Reef.

TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: 382 southbound
1 northbound

* 21 harbor seals

* 1 great blue heron

* 1 American kestrel

* 1 black oystercatcher

Today we took the opportunity to observe at Gerstle Cove which is part of Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County. It was a mostly cloudy day with some breaks of sunshine and visibility was quite good. Here we saw:

* 1 northbound gray whale – our first northbound of the season
* 2 southbound gray whales

TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 382 southbound
1 northbound

* 16 harbor seals

* 3 black oystercatchers

* 1 red-tailed hawk being harassed by an American kestrel and then successfully hunting a mouse

* 2 American kestrels

* 1 white-tailed kite