Category: Daily Observations

Today we headed south to observe at Gerstle Cove which is part of Salt Point State Park. * no whales seen    * no harbor seals seen as it was high tide and heavy surf covered the haul out site   * 4 black oystercatchers   * 4 black turnstones   * 1 red-tailed hawk…

Thick fog blew in today reducing visibility to zero for most of the day. Waves were 8-10 feet. AT PAL: * no whales or harbor seals seen * 1 red-tailed hawk * 1 great blue heron * 4 American kestrels  * 2 black oystercatchers  

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: * 2 humpbacks, one approximately 5 miles out, one  about 2 miles out * 89 harbor seals * 2 red-tailed hawks * 1 Great blue heron * 2 black oystercatchers * 3 American kestrels No whales seen at Saunders Reef.      

After three days of heavy rain, wind, and extremely rough ocean conditions, we were able to observe today at both the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and Saunders Reef. No whales were seen at either site. At PAL: * 69 harbor seals * 2 Great blue herons * 3 American kestrels * 1 bobcat sitting in…

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed a foraging gray whale less than 500 yards from shore for approximately 90 minutes. He or she stayed primarily in the same area for this time and then  began to swim southward while remaining that close to shore. Also seen at PAL: * 89 harbor seals *…

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:  * No whales seen  * 71 harbor seals  * 1 red-tailed hawk  * 2 black oystercatchers  * 2 American kestrels  Observations from Saunders Reef:  * 2 humpbacks

On a hike along the Salal Trail on the Sea Ranch this morning, Janet McElroy and I spotted a humpback whale within 500 yards of shore!! We watched it as it surfaced and exhaled as it slowly moved to the north. Quite a fantastic sighting. The day got even better as we saw our first…

NO WHALES SEEN AT EITHER POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA OR AT SAUNDERS REEF. AT PAL:  * 6 – 8  harbor seals swimming near their haul out site  * 4 American kestrels  * 1 red-tailed hawk  * 3 brown pelicans flying north

NO WHALES SEEN AT EITHER POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA OR AT SAUNDERS REEF. AT PAL:  * 10 – 12  harbor seals swimming near their haul out site  * 3 American kestrels  * 1 great blue heron  * 1 black oystercatchers   SPECIAL NOTE:  The Gray Whale Census & Behavior Project at  Point Vicente Interpretive Center…

NO WHALES SEEN AT EITHER POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA OR AT SAUNDERS REEF. AT PAL:  * 49 harbor seals  * 4 American kestrels  * 1 great blue heron  * 2 black oystercatchers   * 1 red-tailed hawk  

No whales seen at Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula or at Saunders Reef.    AT PAL:  * 28 harbor seals  * 3 black oystercatchers  * 2 red-tailed hawks  * 1 Great blue heron  * 6 black turnstones  * 1 Northern harrier  * 3 American kestrels

A huge thank you to our friends and neighbors, Fred and Janet McElroy, who took this amazing video of two humpback whales off Hearn Gulch. The blows of these whales can be clearly seen as well as excellent looks at their backs. Please click on the link below to watch these amazing whales! IMG_1720 AT…