Recent Sightings

On this cloudy, gray day without wind, the ocean was as calm as a lake and visibility was good.

AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA, WE OBSERVED:

🔆 2 humpback whales, backs and flukes visible as they surfaced

🔆 140 harbor seals

🔆 1 great blue heron

🔆 85 brown pelicans flying north, 17 flying south

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

🔆 2 humpback whales, backs and flukes visible as they surfaced

🔆 6 sea lions swimming together

🔆 17 brown pelicans flying north

OBSERVATIONS TODAY FROM GERSTLE  COVE IN SALT POINT STATE PARK:
The ocean was calm but the sky was cloudy and gray. Whale blows were difficult to see against the gray sky.

❇️ 4 humpback whales – slowly traveling north – one tail slapped just a few times and then did a full breach!

❇️ 9 harbor seals

❇️ 1 female elephant seal hauled out in a small cove she had all to herself

❇️ 1 osprey

❇️ 58 brown pelicans flying north

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

🔆 1 humpback whale

🔆 66 harbor seals

🔆 1 great blue heron

🔆 2 red-tailed hawks

OBSERVATIONS FROM SAUNDERS REEF:

🔆 1 humpback whale

🔆 73 brown pelicans

Thank you to Diane Hichwa for alerting us of humpback whales that were spotted traveling north off the Sea Ranch at the White Barn and heading towards Gualala Point Island. We also thank Craig Tooley for photographing the whales off Del Mar Point and for the great video of the whale tail slapping:

20250718-P7180476

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

💠 one humpback whale

💠 48 harbor seals

💠 56 brown pelicans

💠 1 great blue heron

💠 4 black oystercatchers

NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

💠 23 brown pelicans

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