Category: Daily Observations

  • FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026

    We observed today at Gerstle Cove.  We had good conditions in the morning hours as the fog remained well offshore at about five miles out.  Unfortunately, as the day progressed the wind increased , This created massive whitecaps making it very difficult to spot blows. 🔶 NO WHALES SEEN 🔷 12 harbor seals 🔶 3…

  • THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2026

    We had cloudy conditions today at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula. There was a strong wind and significant whitecaps upon the ocean. ♒️ NO WHALES SEEN ♒️ 110 harbor seals ♒️ 29 brown pelicans ♒️ 3 black,oystercatchers

  • IMPORTANT: Virtual Public Meeting on Coastal Management program– incl oil drilling discussion– Richard Charter says, sign up! 8/11 or 8/12 (2026) 2p-5p Pacific

    http://surfbreak.org  PLEASE USE THE LINK ABOVE TO REGISTER FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT ON-LINE MEETING 8/11 or 8/12, 2026 2:00 – 5:00 PM PACIFIC TIME The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will hold two virtual public meetings on Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time to…

  • TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026

    The wind was blowing at 19 mph and gusting to 28 mph from the north northwest at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula today.  It was cloudy and there were whitecaps on the ocean. 💠 1 humpback 💠 53 harbor seals at high tide 💠 27 brown pelicans

  • MONDAY, JULY 6, 2026

    Although it was cloudy and gray at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, visibility was quite good.  The ocean was mostly calm with some whitecaps offshore at about 3 miles out. 🔆 12 humpback whales – two groups of three and six singles – we observed tail lobbing and breaching; one humpback was tail lobbing consistently…

  • FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026

    It remained cloudy and gray at Gerstle Cove today with very little distinction between the ocean and the sky. There were big swells but no whitecaps. ♦️2 humpback whales – singles that stayed within our view slowly swimming north and south for about 4 hours ♦️ 9 harbor seals ♦️ 4 sea lions ♦️ 2…

  • THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026

    Same offshore fog persisted at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula limiting our visibility to between 2-3 mikes out. 🟣 NO WHALES SEEN 🟣 92 harbor seals 🟣 1 great blue heron 🟣 11 brown pelicans  

  • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2026

    There was offshore fog today limiting our visibility to between 2 -3 miles off the peninsula at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula. ✳️ NO WHALES SEEN ✳️ 94 harbor seals ✳️ 1 sea lion resting on his or her own rock by the harbor seal haul out site ✳️ 1 great blue heron ✳️ 14…

  • TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026

    Observations today from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula.  Offshore fog, some wind and whitecaps. 💠 NO WHALES SEEN 💠 118 harbor seals 💠 2 great blue herons 💠 9 brown pelicans

  • FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2026

    The day at Gerstle Cove began sunny, with moderate wind and moderate amount of whitecaps on a choppy ocean. Visibility was very good.  As the day progressed, it became cloudy and the wind diminished. 🔷 8 humpback whales – 6 singles and 1 deuce 🔷 11 harbor seals 🔷 2 osprey- one carrying a fish…

  • FINAL GRAY WHALE COUNTS FOR 2025-2026 SEASON

    This season’s counts were the lowest for both northbound and southbound in our thirteen years of doing this census. They were slightly lower than last season. SOUTHBOUND: December, 2025:    40 January, 2026:        315 February, 2026:      27 TOTAL:                     382 NORTHBOUND:…

  • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2026

    The wind picked up as the day went on creating numerous, small whitecaps upon the ocean. At first we had blue skies but clouds also began to roll in. The wind was blowing 14 mph and gusting to 21 mph out of the south southeast. AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA: ❇️ 4 humpbacks whales…