This image shows the fins of several gray whales above the surface of the water

Recent Sightings


  • SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2026

    The day began with excellent visibility but fog did roll in later in the day greatly reducing our visibility.

    AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

    🟩 13 southbound gray whales – we watched a group of two become three, then four, and eventually six whales were traveling south together- quite an awesome sight!!
    one group of two and five singles

    TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE ➡️ 257 southbound

    🟦 16 harbor seals with an outgoing tide

     

     


  • SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2026

    Another ideal day for observing whales. Calm ocean, no wind, excellent visibilty.  There was offshore fog which fortunately stayed offshore throughout our observation period.

    AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

    💠 36 southbound gray whales – one group of three, twelve pairs, and nine singles

    💠 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE 🟰 244 southbound 💠

    🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆🔅🔆

    💠 65 harbor seals

    💠 3 brown pelicans flying south

    💠 1 great blue heron

    💠 2 American kestrels

    💠 1 Northern harrier

     

     

     

     

     


  • FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026

    Ideal observation conditions today! No wind, sunny, calm ocean, excellent visibility. Blows remained suspended and heads, backs, and flukes were visible.

    AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

    🔷 36 southbound gray whales – one group of four, three groups of three, six groups of two, and eleven singles;  one whale  breached four times

    🔷 108 harbor seals

    🔷 2 great egrets foraging  on the rocks

    🔷 1 great blue heron

    🔷 2 black oystercatchers

    🔷 1 red-tailed hawk

    🔷 1 American kestrel

    🟩🟦🟩🟦🟩🟦🟩🟦🟩🟦🟩🟦🟩🟦🟩🟦🟩🟦

    🔶 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 208 southbound 🔶

     

     


  • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026

    Our day at the Point Arena Lighthouse began with a completely cloudy sky and a great deal of haziness. Eventually, the sun did shine through and our ability to see blows  improved greatly. Some haziness remained but visibility was good.

    AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

    🔺 7 southbound gray whales – one deuce and five singles; some were as close as 1/2 mile offshore and others were between 3 and 4 miles offshore

    🔺 74 harbor seals

    🔺 1 Ferruginous hawk

    🔺 1 great blue heron

    🔺 2 American kestrels

    🔺 5 brown pelicans flying south

    🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆

    🔷 TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE ▶️   172 southbound 🔷