Category: Daily Observations

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: No whales seen –  FOG rolled in shortly after our arrival reducing visibility to zero. We did receive a report of humpbacks seen off the point earlier in the day before the fog arrived. At Saunders Reef:  * 4 humpbacks  * 1 red-tailed hawks  

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: * 6 humpbacks  * 77 harbor seals   *  1 great blue heron Observations from Saunders Reef:  * 4 humpbacks Report from Diane Hichwa:  * 7 humpbacks observed  off Pebble Beach/ Navigators Reach at the Sea Ranch  

Today we observed at five different locations along the Mendonoma Coast (northern Sonoma County and southern Mendocino County) and saw a total of 17 humpback whales.  Truly, an amazing day! Excellent visibility and calm seas. Several whales were 300-500 yards off shore; others 1-3 miles offshore. Blows, backs, heads, flippers, dorsal fins,  and flukes were…

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef:  AT PAL:  * 5 humpback whales, one swimming steadily southbound, the others meandering about  * 78 harbor seals AT SAUNDERS REEF:  none seen  

Observations from Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef:  No whales seen at either site, FOG at both sites, reduced visibility AT PAL:  * 52 harbor seals  * 2 American kestrels  * 3 black oyster catchers

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef: At PAL: * 5 humpbacks  * 19 harbor seals  * 1 American kestrel  At Saunders Reef:  * 2 humpbacks  * 1 red-tailed hawk This is a letter I received today from Cecile Majerus, the Chief Executive Officer of the Marine  Mammal center in Sausalito,…

Observations from Gerstle Cove at Salt Point State Park:  * 3 humpbacks  * 21 harbor seals  * 1 sea lion  * 1 sharp-shinned hawk  * 2 black oyster catchers  * 1 osprey catching a fish  * 1 Great Blue Heron  

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula: * 5 humpbacks  * 3 harbor seals Report from Mel Smith and Linda Bostwick: seen from their home in Point Arena:  two blue whales, several humpbacks, and Risso’s dolphins

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and From Saunders Reef At PAL:  * 5 humpbacks  * 5 harbor seals  At Saunders Reef:  * 4 humpbacks  

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef At PAL: * 2 humpbacks  * 3 harbor seals  * several flocks of 20-30 brown pelicans flying north  * 3 black oystercatchers At Saunders Reef:  * 1 humpback  * 1 great blue heron  * 1 osprey carrying a fish  

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse  peninsula and from Saunders Reef At PAL: * no whales seen * 27 harbor seals  * 24 pigeon guillemots At Saunders Reef:  * 8-10 humpbacks, spread out between 2 miles and 5 miles off shore, flukes observed, most likely feeding      

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef Excellent visibility, calm seas No whales seen at either site  At PAL: * 78 harbor seals