Author: tmercer

  • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025

    We were challenged today by intermittent fog rolling in reducing visibility to zero at both the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula as well as at Saunders Reef. At times, we had decent visibility but it didn’t last very long. AT PAL: 🟒 NO WHALES SEEN 🟒 πŸ”΅ 9 harbor seals – high tide and high surf…

  • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2025

    Observations today were at Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park. Conditions were ideal for spotting whales with a calm ocean, no wind, and visibility clear to the horizon. πŸ’ β™¦οΈNO WHALES SEEN πŸ’ β™¦οΈ πŸ’  No harbor seals seen due to high tide πŸ’  8 sea lions swimming south πŸ’  1 great egret πŸ’  1 Northern…

  • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2025

    Today conditions were positively ideal for whale watching. We had excellent visibility all the way to the horizon. Calm ocean, no wind. AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA, WE OBSERVED: πŸ”·πŸ”Ά OUR FIRST TWO SOUTHBOUND GRAY WHALES OF THE SEASON‼️ πŸ”·πŸ”Ά – two singles about 2-3 miles offshore traveling steadily southbound πŸ”· 70 harbor seals…

  • WEDNSEDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2025

    Excellent visibity at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula. Sunny, light wind, 2-3 foot waves, some whitecaps. NO WHALES SEEN πŸ’  82 harbor seals πŸ’  4 black oystercatchers πŸ’  1 red-tailed hawk perched upon his or her favorite utility pole on Lighthouse Road πŸ’  1 male Northern harrier – the β€œgray ghost” πŸ’  20 brown pelicans…

  • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025

    Shortly after we arrived at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, FOG rolled in completely taking away all visibility. NO WHALES SEEN We observed: πŸ”… 85 harbor seals πŸ”… 1 great egret πŸ”… 1 great blue heron πŸ”… 1 American kestrel πŸ”… 23 brown pelicans flying north AT SAUNDERS REEF THE FOG REMAINED OFFSHORE AND WE…

  • MONDAY, , DECEMBER 1, 2025

    Conditions today were ideal for whale watching. Calm ocean, no wind, sunny, excellent visibility. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we obseetved: βš›οΈ 1 humpback- breached twice, after taking five to six blows, not seen for 15-20 minutes βš›οΈ 98 harbor seals βš›οΈ 2 red-tailed hawks βš›οΈ 2 flocks of surf scoters flying south βš›οΈ…

  • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28th, 2025

    We began the day at Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park. It was quite foggy and visibility ranged from zero to no more than 2 miles. Lots of whitecaps. ✴️ NO WHALES SEEN ✴️ 1 American kestrel ✴️ 3 brown pelicans flying north We then headed to the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula where conditions…

  • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2025

    Ocean was calm, no wind, excellent visibility. AT SAUNDERS REEF: πŸ’  No whales seen πŸ’  5 brown pelicans flying south AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA: πŸ’  No whales seen πŸ’  59 harbor seals πŸ’  1 red-tailed hawk πŸ’  2 great blue herons πŸ’  14 meadowlarks

  • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025

    Offshore fog, cloudy. Visibility not greater than 2 miles. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed: *️⃣ NO WHALES SEEN *️⃣ 7 harbor seals swimming near their haul out at high tide *️⃣ 1 American kestrel *️⃣ 12 flocks of surf scoters flying south *️⃣ 1 great blue heron ✳️ NO WHALES SEEN AT…

  • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2025

    The wind did cause some whitecaps in the ocean and the surf was still quite rough. Visibility, however, was excellent. ❇️ NO WHALES SEEN AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA OR AT SAUNDERS REEF ❇️ AT PAL: ❇️ 13 harbor seals – 8 hauled out and 5 in the water at high tide ❇️ 1…

  • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025

    Visibility was excellent today. Waves were 8 – 10 feet and rough surf. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed: β˜‘οΈ 4 humpbacks – 1 group of 3 and 1 single; traveling south β˜‘οΈ 55 harbor seals β˜‘οΈ 2 American kestrels β˜‘οΈ 1 belted kingfisher β˜‘οΈ 1 great blue heron ♦️ NO WHALES SEEN…

  • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025

    We had partly sunny skies and some small whitecaps. Excellent visibility. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed: πŸ”Ί 8 humpbacks – 1 group of 3 and 5 singles; all whales moving south πŸ”Ί 48 harbor seals πŸ”Ί 2 black oystercatchers πŸ”Ί 1 American kestrel πŸ”Ί 1 red-tailed hawk πŸ”Ί 1 great blue heron…