Recent Sightings

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA

• No whales seen today
• 55 harbor seals
• 2 sea lions swimming south
• 2 adult ravens tending to their four large chicks in their nest; chicks now covered with black feathers
• Still quite windy with increasing whitecaps

OBSERVATIONS FROM GERSTLE COVE AT SALT POINT STATE PARK IN  SONOMA COUNTY

• No whales seen
• two osprey

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA

• No whales seen today
• 41 harbor seals
• two adult ravens tending to four growing and hungry chicks which seem just about ready to fledge from their nest
• one adult bald eagle, quickly and efficiently escorted out of the area by the two adult ravens
• one great blue heron
• 8 pelicans flying north
• 1 charismatic raccoon
• still extremely windy, blowing northwest at  28-35 mph with 9-10 foot seas

Although these strong  winds greatly reduce our visibility for spotting whales and their blows, it does serve a valuable purpose in the ocean.  According to NOAA Fisheries:

Upwelling can occur year-round off the northern and central California coast. The winds transport surface waters (upper 15 m) offshore, which are replaced by the upwelling of deep (100-125 m), cold (8°C), and nutrient-rich waters from the shelf break region. 

The upwelled water fuels high phytoplankton production and subsequent high biomass of copepods, euphausiids, and other zooplankton during the summer. 

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA

• 2 HUMPBACKS TRAVELING SOUTH ABOUT 2-3 MILES OFFSHORE
• 42 harbor seals, including 4 mother/pup pairs
• 1 sea lion and 2 or more heard barking in the distance
• 2 adult ravens, 4 chicks in the nest growing larger and stronger each day
• 1 charismatic raccoon
• 3 pelicans flying south
• 1 red-tailed hawk

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA

• no whales seen
• 47 harbor seals, including 6 mother/pup pairs
• 1 gopher
• 1 charismatic raccoon
• 2 adult ravens tending to their four growing and hungry chicks
• dozens of pelicans
• wind northwest 12-15 mph
• scattered whitecaps
• visibility 4-6 miles into distant haze