Recent Sightings

After a very foggy day yesterday making observations impossible, today brought ideal observation conditions. Unlimited visibility, calm ocean, excellent distinction between ocean, sky, and blows.

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

🔷 no whales seen

🔷 46 brown pelicans flying north

AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

🔷 9 humpback whales – one group of three; one group of two; four singles: side by side breaching, chin slapping, backs and dorsal fins visible; only one whale fluked

🔷 90 harbor seals

🔷 117 brown pelicans flying north; many diving into the ocean to feed along with the humpbacks

🔷 1 red-tailed hawk

🟣 SHARI GOFORTH reported seeing 7 humpbacks off Pacific Drive in Gualala; one group of four surfacing together, multiple blows, lots of flashing bodies then diving, some fluking;
The second group seen consisted of a duo and a single in closer

🟣 DIANE HICHWA reported whales seen from the Sea Ranch Lodge

Windy, white caps, and haze caused by the wind and breaking whitecaps.

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

💠 2 humpbacks – singles

AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

💠 8 humpbacks – two pairs; 4 singles

💠 10 brown pelicans flying north

💠 1 Northern harrier

Observations today were made at Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park in northern Sonoma County.
Excellent visibity to the horizon, slight wind, whitecaps offshore. The wind did intensify as the day progress increasing white caps and reducing visibility.

🔆 19 humpback whales – two pairs and 15 singles; breaching, chin slapping

🔆 30 harbor seals

🔆 brown pelicans – 12-14 feeding; 14 flying north; 80 flying south

🔆 2 adult bald eagles flying together

🔆 2 osprey

🔆 1 red-tailed hawk

There were rough seas and hazy skies today. Visibility was limited.

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

AT PAL:

♦️ 61 harbor seals

We had a light but steady rain today and monochrome (all gray) conditions making it difficult to detect whale blows against a gray sky.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

⭐️ 2 humpback whales; first observed together and then one headed off to the south and one stayed in place taking long dives

⭐️ 82 harbor seals

⭐️ 3 brown pelicans

AT SAUNDERS REEF, we observed:

⭐️ 2 humpback whales; one flipper slapping and splashing at the surface

⭐️ 5 brown pelicans

Sara Bogard reported seeing 6 humpback whales off Black Point at the south end of the Sea Ranch at 12 noon.