Author: tmercer

  • FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025

    OBSERVATIONS TODAY FROM GERSTLE COVE IN SALT POINT STATE PARK IN NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY: The morning began with excellent visibility until fog rolled in and remained for approximately 90 minutes. When the fog disappeared, visibility was once again excellent and we could see to the horizon. The wind picked up throughout the day. πŸ”† 4…

  • FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025 – IMPORTANT ARTICLE REGARDING GRAY WHALE STRANDINGS

    California Academy of Sciences Confirms Six Dead Whales in San Francisco Bay Area this Week – Califo

  • TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025 END OF SEASON REPORT FROM POINT VICENTE

    AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY Los Angeles Chapter (ACS/LA) ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update: The Gray Whale Census Project that takes place at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center ended their 41st season with a new record low southbound gray whale count (130), a new record low northbound count (485), a new record low southbound…

  • Federal public comment period opens on oil drilling in California coastal waters.

    Federal public comment period opens on oil drilling in California coastal waters. β€œOn April 30, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, announced a public-comment period open now through June 16 to receive input β€˜in preparation of a National (Outer Continental Shelf β€” OCS) Oil and…

  • FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025

    Observations today were from Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park in northern Sonoma County. We waited three hours for the fog to lift and when it did, we had excellent visibility to the horizon and the sea was calm. ✳️ 2 northbound gray whales – the first one reversed direction and headed southeast for…

  • THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025

    Today was sunny, breezy, with good visibility, At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: πŸŒ€ NO WHALES WERE SEEN πŸŒ€ 59 harbor seals, including 9 pups πŸŒ€ 25 brown pelicans flying north πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’  GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE (since November 1, 2024) 🟰 πŸ”Ί 348 northbound – including three mother/calf pairs πŸ”Ί 391 southbound πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ 

  • MONDAY, MAY 5, 2025

    Today we had sunny skies with an offshore marine layer which reduced visibity to approximately 3 miles. Wind was 15 mph north northwest with 25 mph gusts. πŸ”…πŸ”…NO WHALES SEEN AT POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA OR AT SAUNDERS REEFπŸ”…πŸ”… AT PAL: ❇️ 72 harbor seals – including 9 pups; 1 with fetal folds ❇️ 1…

  • FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025

    Today was sunny and clear but quite windy and whitecaps were plentiful. Observations from Gerstle Cove: πŸ”· 2 northbound gray whales – singles πŸ”· 19 harbor seals πŸ”· 20 brown pelicans flying north, 1 flying south πŸ”· 2 black oystercatchers πŸ”· 1 garter snake πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ’ πŸ”†πŸ’ πŸ’ πŸ”† GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1, 2024) =…

  • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025

    On this sunny day with a light wind, we did have some offshore fog and a marine layer that approached the shore and then receded throughout the day. Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: ♦️ 1 gray whale mother/calf pair ♦️ 51 harbor seals – including 8 pups ♦️ 1 sea lion swimming north…

  • TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2025

    πŸ”΅ NO WHALES SEEN AT POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE OR AT SAUNDERS REEF πŸ”΅ AT PAL: πŸ”Ά 39 harbor seals – including 6-7 pups πŸ”Ά 1 Northern harrier πŸ”Ά 1 brown pelican flying south πŸ”Ά 1 Osprey ✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️ GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE: (since November 1, 2024) 🟰 πŸ”· 340 northbound- includes 1 mother/calf pair seen…