Recent Sightings

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 two southbound gray whales of this season at the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula!! These two whales were within 1/2 mile of shore and they were traveling at different  speeds.  We watched them for about 30 minutes as they moved through our observation area.

 At PAL we also saw:

*6 -8 harbor seals swimming around the rocks near their haul out site

 * 2 black oystercatchers

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 reported seeing 3 adult gray whales yesterday, Wednesday, December 4th!!!

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