Recent Sightings

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 6 humpbacks

 * 77 harbor seals

  *  1 great blue heron

Observations from Saunders Reef:

 * 4 humpbacks

Report from Diane Hichwa:

 * 7 humpbacks observed  off Pebble Beach/ Navigators Reach at the Sea Ranch

 

Today we observed at five different locations along the Mendonoma Coast (northern Sonoma County and southern Mendocino County) and saw a total of 17 humpback whales.  Truly, an amazing day! Excellent visibility and calm seas. Several whales were 300-500 yards off shore; others 1-3 miles offshore. Blows, backs, heads, flippers, dorsal fins,  and flukes were often visible.

From north to south locations:

1. Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 2 humpbacks

* 72 harbor seals

* 1 great blue heron in flight

 2. Saunders Reef:

* 1 humpback

 3. the pullout south of Cooks Beach and north of downtown Gualala:

 * 7 humpbacks

 4. above Gualala Point Regional Park beach (behind the Surf Market) :

* 4 humpbacks

 5. Black Point Beach at the southern end of the Sea Ranch:

 * 3 humpbacks

We wish to thank several friends and community members who observed whale activity on Friday, August 30th and today, Saturday, August 31st, and notified us of their presence.  These sightings are extremely valuable to us.

 ✳️ Anthony Cuesta

 ✳️ Sheri Novak

 ✳️ Jeanne Jackson

 ✳️ Shari Goforth-Eby

 ✳️ Janet McElroy

 ✳️ Sara Bogard

 

 

 

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef:

 AT PAL:

 * 5 humpback whales, one swimming steadily southbound, the others meandering about

 * 78 harbor seals

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

 none seen

 

Observations from Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef:

 No whales seen at either site, FOG at both sites, reduced visibility

AT PAL:

 * 52 harbor seals

 * 2 American kestrels

 * 3 black oyster catchers

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef:

At PAL:

* 5 humpbacks

 * 19 harbor seals

 * 1 American kestrel

 At Saunders Reef:

 * 2 humpbacks

 * 1 red-tailed hawk

This is a letter I received today from Cecile Majerus, the Chief Executive Officer of the Marine  Mammal center in Sausalito, California.  I am thrilled to be able to share this great news with you.

Aria, the orphaned calf of humpback whale Fran, was recently spotted in Monterey, California.

You may remember her mother Fran. Seen year after year, she was one of the most well-known whales in California. In 2022 there was great excitement when she brought a calf to the feeding grounds for the first time. But then tragedy struck: Fran was hit and killed by a ship.

No one knew if Aria, her calf, would survive being orphaned at an age when she should still have been with her mother.

So I hope you are as thrilled as we are to hear the wonderful news that Aria was recently spotted in the wild.

How do we know the whale is Aria? Happywhale, a worldwide whale sighting database that is used by organizations, institutes and researchers, identified this fluke photo.

While we marvel at Aria’s resilience, the loss of her mother, Fran, is a reminder that there is much work to be done.

Know that these tragedies can be avoided if ships slow down. Explore our expert’s work to protect these gentle giants and how you can be a whale champion.