Author: tmercer

We had a light but steady rain today and monochrome (all gray) conditions making it difficult to detect whale blows against a gray sky. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed: ⭐️ 2 humpback whales; first observed together and then one headed off to the south and one stayed in place taking long dives…

In loving memory of Jane Goodall, one of the most amazing and inspirational people of all time. Her tireless commitment to the diversity and well being of all species on the planet is truly remarkable. May we all live in the harmony and peaceful existence that Jane Goodall envisioned. I had the privilege of meeting…

Today was quite windy and this created significant white caps on the ocean along with haze. Blows were difficult to detect. AT SAUNDERS REEF: ♦️ 14 brown pelicans flying north and 8 flying south AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA: ♦️ 13 black oystercatchers ♦️ 5 harbor seals swimming at high tide ♦️ 2 American…

We encountered thick fog at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula. We observed: 🌀 5 harbor seals swimming around their haul out at high tide 🌀 18 black oystercatchers 🌀 13 black turnstones 🌀 1 sharp-shinned hawk Unfortunately, the fog followed us to Saunders Reef and no whales were seen at either site.

Offshore haziness limited our visibility. AT SAUNDERS REEF: ❇️ 1 humpback – taking long, deep dives ❇️ 5 northbound brown pelicans AT POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE: ❇️ 8 harbor seals swimming and bottling around their haul out sites at high tide ❇️ 3 black oystercatchers ❇️ 4 black turnstones ❇️ 1 American kestrel ❇️ 1 brown…

Today was less foggy but cloudy and gray. There was very little distinction between ocean and sky. AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA: 💠 1 humpback whale seen because of one full breach and big splash 💠 42 harbor seals 💠 3 American kestrels 💠 brown pelicans; 8 feeding, 34 flying north; 15 flying south…

Foggy conditions today left us with poor to zero visibility. We did not see any whales at either the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula or at Saunders Reef. AT PAL: ⭐️ 17 harbor seals ⭐️ 1 great blue heron ⭐️ 36 brown pelicans; mostly flying north AT SAUNDERS REEF: ⭐️ approximately 115 brown pelicans flying north…

Common Whales & Dolphins and How to Identify Them Saturday, September 20 Join Scott and Tree Mercer of the Mendonoma Whale & Sea Study for a discussion on several different whale and dolphin species that we commonly encounter along our coast. Get tips on how to identify them and when they are most likely to…

Due to foggy conditions, we had poor visibility at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula. 🔆 NO WHALES SEEN 🔆 17 harbor seals; tide coming in 🔆 1 black turnstone 🔆 4 black oystercatchers 🔆 1 American kestrel 🔆 10 brown pelicans flying north Unfortunately, the fog followed us to Saunders Reef. 🔆 NO WHALES SEEN…

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: ♦️ 5 humpbacks- one pair and three singles ♦️ 6 harbor seals swimming around their haul out sites at high tide ♦️ 1 great blue heron ♦️ 12 brown pelicans flying north We thank Sue and Tom Ottoboni for reporting their sighting of whales to us last evening…

After several days of various, but persistent, levels of fogginess, we finally had decent visibility today at Gerstle Cove at Salt Point State Park. Here we observed: 🔷 2 humpback whales: one about four miles offshore, breaching; the second was six miles offshore also breaching 🔷 at high tide with the haul out sites covered,…

The ocean was calm today but there was offshore haziness that reduced our visibility. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed: ✳️ 15 humpbacks – many were breaching multiple times, flipper slapping; flukes and backs visible ✳️ 57 harbor seals ✳️ estimate of 55 brown pelicans