Recent Sightings

Today was sunny and clear but very windy. Winds blew at 19 mph from the northwest with frequent gusts up to 31 mph. Whale blows were visible for only a brief moment and whales were difficult to track.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

* 4 northbound gray whales – all singles

* 31 harbor seals

* 1 American kestrel

NO WHALES WERE SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

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TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE (as of November 1, 2024) =

🌊⚡️🌊 275 northbound – including 1 mother/calf

🌊⚡️🌊 391 southbound

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Inbetween rain showers and gusty wind, at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we observed:

* 9 northbound gray whales – two groups of two and five singles

* 9 harbor seals

* 2 oystercatchers

* 1 great blue heron

* 3 southbound pelicans and 22 northbound

* 1 American kestrel

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 white-tailed kite

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

* 4 northbound gray whales – all singles

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TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE (since November 1, 2024)

🔆🔆 271 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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On this mostly cloudy, overcast day, we observed the following from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

* 13 northbound gray whales – a loose group of four, a loose group of 3, two groups of two, and two singles

* 1 foraging gray whale

* 30 harbor seals

* 1 great blue heron

* 1 Northern harrier

* 1 American kestrel

* 6 brown pelicans flying south and 10 flying north

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

* 1 northbound gray whale

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TOTAL GRAY WHAKES SEEN TO DATE (since November 1, 2024) =

🔆🔆 258 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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Despite intermittent rain showers and cloudy skies, visibility at Gerstle Cove in Salt Point State Park was quite good. Waves were about 10-12 feet.

* 15 northbound gray whales – two groups of two and eleven singles

* 42 brown pelicans flying north

* 1 flock of cackling geese, approximately 300 birds

* 2 pelagic cormorants

* 1 harbor seal swimming around the rocks at the haul out sight

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Total gray whales seen to date (as of November 1, 2024) =

🔆🔆 244 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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Extremely rough seas, waves of 15-18 feet, poor visibility, high surf, and much spray.
Wind 16 mph from south southwest with 29 mph gusts

NO WHALES SEEN AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA OR A SAUNDERS REEF

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TOTAL WHALES SEEN TO DATE (since November 1, 2024) =

🔆🔆 229 northbound – includes 1 mother/calf

🔆🔆 391 southbound

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