Author: tmercer

At the POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE peninsula, there was poor distinction between the ocean and the sky due to cloudy skies.  There was a significant amount of whitecaps on the ocean. 🔷 1 humpback 🔷 17 harbor seals at high tide – haul out sites underwater 🔷  9 brown pelicans flying north 🔷   4 black…

Observations today were at Saunders Reef which is just to the north of Hearn Gulch and to the south of Schooner Gulch. It was an overcast, cloudy day with a light wind. ❇️ 2 northbound gray whales – singles ❇️ 1 humpback about 3.5 miles offshore – flipper slapping 🔆 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO…

After three days of very strong winds, today we had excellent visibity and great distinction between  the ocean and the sky. 🔷 AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA: 🔶 1 northbound gray whale and 1 forager 🔶 86 harbor seals 🔶 1 sea lion swimming north 🔶 2 osprey – one carrying a fish 🔶…

On this very windy Tuesday, blows were batted down very quickly making it difficulty to spot and track whales. ✳️ 1 northbound gray whale swimming past Gualala Point ✳️ 1 northbound gray whale at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula ✳️ 76 harbor seals at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula ♦️ TOTAL GRAY WHALES  SEEN TO…

We had windy conditions at the Point Arena Lighthouse and the ocean had a significant amount of whitecaps.  We did have a clear view to the horizon and visibility was very good. 🔆 3 northbound gray whales – singles 🔆 86 harbor seals 🔆 3 brown pelicans flying south and 1 flying north; 3 others…

After a stormy Saturday, the skies cleared and provided us with excellent visibility with a clear view to the horizon. There was a mixture of sun and clouds, and the ocean was rough with 4-6 feet waves crashing upon the shore creating  quite a bit of white water and spray. ✅ AT THE POINT ARENA…

We observed today at Saunders Reef where the ocean was flat calm, there was no wind, a mix of sun and clouds, and some way offshore cloudiness. Blows were easy to spot. ⚛️ 2 northbound gray whales – singles ⚛️ 1 osprey ⚛️ 56 brown pelicans flying north ✅  TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE…

Today brought us blue skies, a calm ocean, and a clear view all the way to the horizon.  Blows, backs, and flukes could be seen. 🔶 AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA: 🔺 5 northbound gray whales – two sets of two and one single 🔺  1 gray whale foraging 🔺  1 humpback whale 🔺…

Mostly cloudy skies created monocolor conditions with no distinction between the sky and the ocean.  The ocean was calm and there was only a slight wind. ♦️♦️  AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA: 🔷 NO WHALES SEEN 🔷 75  harbor seals 🔷 approximately 170 brown pelicans flying north 🔷 3 black oystercatcher 🔷 1 bobcat…

We had an 80% cloud cover day today but the ocean was calm and there was no wind. Although the cloudiness did not allow for much distinction between the ocean and the sky, visibility was very good. ⚛️ AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA : 🔆 No whales seen 🔆 41 harbor seals – in…

Observations on this absolutely gorgeous day were from Gerstle Cove at Salt Point State Park. Ocean and weather conditions were ideal- excellent visibility clear to the horizon. Blows remained suspended in the air. 🌊  8 northbound gray whales – one trio, one deuce, three singles 🌊  2 gray whales initially seen swimming north, but then…

On this very windy day, the ocean was covered with whitecaps and spray created hazy conditions which definitely limited our visibility and reduced our ability to spot blows. 🔶 AT SAUNDERS REEF: ♦️ No whales seen ♦️ 2 Canada geese – walking along the bluff ♦️ 140 Aleutian cackling geese flying north ♦️ 10 brown…