Recent Sightings

The ocean was as calm as a lake today and visibility was excellent.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

🔺 8 humpbacks

🔺27 harbor seals – at high tide

🔺 300-350 brown pelicans flying north; others resting in the ocean

🔺 4 flocks of approximately. 50-60 cormorants flying north

🔺 1 osprey

🔺 1 American kestrel

AT SAUNDERS REEF, WE OBSERVED:

🔺 1 humpback

🔺8 sea lions swimming south

🔺13 brown pelicans

🔶 Shari Goforth observed one very energetic humpback just north of Gualala Point. This whale breached 7 times, chin slapped, tail thrashed twice, then did five more breaches!

Shari sent this picture of the humpback to us and we appreciate her allowing us to share it with you in this website.

 

After three consecutive days of very foggy conditions,  today finally provided some decent conditions and visibility for observing whales.

We received word from Shari Goforth that several humpbacks could be seen offshore from the  beach at Gualala Point Regional Park, south of Gualala Point Island. Thank you, Shari!

We went there and observed:

💠 7 humpbacks

💠 4 sea lions

💠  approximately 100-125 brown pelicans, resting on the beach with many gulls, then taking flight and returning to the beach to rest

💠 6 Canada geese

We then went to Saunders Reef where several more humpbacks were present. Here we observed:

💠 8 humpbacks

💠 14 brown pelicans

💠 1 red-tailed hawk

With a cloudy sky, blows were challenging to see today at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula.  We observed:

🔷 11- 12 humpbacks scattered throughout our observation area

🔶 61 harbor seals

🔷 1 great blue heron

🔶 23 brown pelicans

NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

🔷 18 brown pelicans

Another beautiful day with excellent visibility. Calm seas with a light breeze.

AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA, WE OBSERVED:

🔆 4 humpbacks – two singles and one group of two

🔆 111 harbor seals

🔆 4 black oystercatchers

🔆 1 great blue heron

AT SAUNDERS REEF:

🔆 2 humpbacks

A huge thank you to Michel Reinhart for allowing us to share his amazing photos of these humpback whales he photograph from his home on the south end of the Sea Ranch on Monday evening, August 18th. Look closely and you will see that birds have joined the humpbacks in snatching a meal.