Author: tmercer

  • TUESDAY, ALRIL 15, 2025

    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: πŸ”· 3 northbound gray whales – one set of two traveling together and one single πŸ”· 24 harbor seals πŸ”· 1 bobcat hunting in the pasture –…

  • MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025

    On this warm, sunny day with calm seas, a thick fog rolled into our observation area at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula reducing visibility to zero. Gradually, the fog lifted and visibilty returned to about 3 miles. The day remained gray and cloudy. ♦️♦️ NO WHALES SEEN AT PAL OR AT SAUNDERS REEF ♦️♦️ AT…

  • SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2025

    At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed: ❇️ 1 northbound gray whale ❇️ 36 harbor seals ❇️ 1 sea lion swimming south ❇️ 10 brown pelicans flying north ❇️ 1 white-tailed kite ❇️ 1 red-tailed hawk ❇️ 1 black oystercatcher AT SAUNDERS REEF, we observed ❇️ 1 northbound gray whale ❇️ 1 Canada goose…

  • FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2025

    At Gerstle Cove this morning, we had dense fog for about an hour and 15 minutes. When the fog lifted, visibilty was good but we were challenged by plentiful whitecaps, spray, and northwest wind at 15 mph gusting to 24 mph. We observed:; πŸ”» 2 northbound gray whales – both singles πŸ”» 20 harbor seals…

  • THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025

    Ideal ocean and weather conditions today!! Excellent visibility all the way to the horizon. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed: πŸ”† 11 northbound gray whales – two sets of two and seven singles; one of the singles breached twice in quick succession!! πŸ”† 45 harbor seals πŸ”† 4 black oystercatchers πŸ”† 32 brown…

  • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025

    The day began with excellent visibility, sunny skies, and a light breeze. However, in the afternoon, our observation area at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula become completely encompassed in fog for approximately one hour. The fog did lift and our visibility returned. At PAL: πŸ”Έ 3 northbound gray whales – all singles πŸ”Έ 50 harbor…

  • Important LA Times article published on April 8, 2025

    gray-whales-are-dying-off-the-pacific-coast-again-and-scientists-arent-sure-why This important article was written by Susanne Rust, an award-winning investigative reporter specializing in environmental issues. She has been following and reporting about the status of the gray whale population for several years. We had the great privilege of meeting Susanne in 2020.

  • TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025

    Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: ✳️ 3 northbound gray whales – two traveling together and one single ✳️ 48 harbor seals ✳️ 3 sea lions swimming north ✳️ 1 red-tailed hawk ✳️ 35 pelicans flying north ✳️ 2 gophers Observations from Saunders Reef: ✳️ 2 northbound gray whales – both singles ✳️ 7…

  • MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2025

    With foggy and soggy conditions throughout the day, we did not observed any whales at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula or at Saunders Reef. However, in between rain showers, Shari Goforth did observe 5 northbound gray whales at Gualala Point Regional Park. At PAL, we observed: ✳️ 33 harbor seals ✳️ 1 red-tailed hawk ✳️…

  • Saturday, March 5, 2025

    We participated in our community march and rally for Democracy today.πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ After the rally, Shari Goforth reported seeing two northbound gray whales passing by Gualala Point. πŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”Έ TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1, 2024) = πŸ”·πŸ”· 289 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf ♦️♦️ 391 southbound πŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”ΈπŸ”Έ

  • FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025

    With excellent visibility and mostly calm seas at Gerstle Cove, we observed: * 8 northbound gray whales – one pair traveling together and six singles * 21 harbor seals * 1 California sea lion * 3 black oystercatchers * 5 brown pelicans flying north * 1 flock of about 75 cackling geese flying north *…

  • THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025

    Windy conditions persisted today with 19 mph winds from the north northwest with 29 mph gusts. Whitecaps covered the ocean. It was sunny and clear with good visibility. At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we observed: * 4 northbound gray whales – all singles * 67 harbor seals * 1 sea lion swimming north *…