Recent Sightings

While hiking along the bluff trail at the Sea Ranch, one foraging gray whale was seen. No migrating grays were seen today.

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GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1, 2024) 🟰

✅ 329 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf pair seen on March 14th

✅ 391 southbound

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Today was Wind and Whale Celebration Day at the Point Arena Lighthouse. Unfortunately, there was no wind and therefore, the kites were unable to take flight. We spoke with many visitors today, young and old, about gray whales, their migration, the challenges they are facing, as well as many other types of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises).

♦️ No whales were seen.

♦️ 33 harbor seals which included one pup.

Here is a picture of the amazing kites flown at the Lighthouse by the Berkley Kite Wranglers in 2024.

Observations today were at Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park in northern Sonoma County. The ocean was very calm and visibility was good.

🔆 2 northbound gray whales – singles; backs and heads visible

🔆 1 minke whale first seen swimming south, then north, then continuing on south
may have been feeding in the area where groups of pelicans and gulls had
gathered less than 1/2 mile from shore

🔆 3 bottlenose dolphins swimming south

🔆 13 harbor seals

🔆 2 sea lions

🔆 3 osprey; two carrying a fish

🔆 4 black oystercatchers

🔆 95 brown pelicans

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GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1, 2025) 🟰

✅ 329 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf pair seen on March 14th

✅ 391 southbound

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Mostly cloudy skies with a few breaks of sun. The ocean was calm and visibility was good.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

🟣 5 northbound gray whales – all singles; none fluked but heads and backs on all were visible

🟣 22 harbor seals

🟣 3 black oystercatchers

🟣 125 brown pelicans flying north and 3 flying south

🟣 1 red-tailed hawk

🟣 1 gopher

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

🟣 1 northbound gray

🟣 18 brown pelicans flying north

🟣 1 Canada goose

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TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1 , 2024) 🟰

🔆 327 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf pair seen on March 14th

🔆 391 southbound

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Cloudy and gray today with some offshore fog. Conditions and visibility improved throughout the day and the ocean was calm.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

🔷 3 northbound gray whales – one set of two traveling together and one single

🔷 24 harbor seals

🔷 1 bobcat hunting in the pasture – two sightings

🔷 2 black oystercatchers

🔷 3 red-tailed hawks

🔷 1 osprey

🔷 9 brown pelicans flying north and 2 flying south

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

NO WHALES SEEN

🔷 1 Canada goose

🔷 1 red-tailed hawk

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TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1, 2025) 🟰

✅ 321 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf pair seen on March 14th

✅ 391 southbound

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