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

Recent Sightings


  • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2025

    At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

    🟣 3 humpbacks – 1 deuce and 1 single

    🟣 350- 400 hundred brown pelicans resting on the bluffs

    At Saunders Reef, we observed:

    🟣 5 humpbacks – 3 swimming south and 2 swimming north


  • PRESENTATION ON GRAY WHALES ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2025

    We will be presenting “Where and How are the Gray Whales: An Update On The Current Status of the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale Population”

    The talk begins at 4:00 pm at the Point Arena Lighthouse.

    Please join us!


  • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025

    Along the Salal Trail at the Sea Ranch:

    🔆 3 humpbacks – a duo and 1 single

    At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

    🔆 7 humpbacks – one group of 2 and 5 singles, one whale breached three times

    🔆 87 harbor seals

    🔆 23 brown pelicans flying north

    AT SAUNDERS REEF:

    🔆 2 humpbacks – a duo

    🔆 35 brown pelicans flying north

    🔶 SHARI GOFORTH reported seeing 6 humpbacks at Gualala Point North

    🔶 KATE BLOCH alerted us to several whales seen out on the horizon north of Gualala Point Island in the morning and later in the afternoon, south of Gualala Point Island


  • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025

    An ideal day for observing whales with unlimited visibility, no wind, and very calm ocean.

    AT SAUNDERS REEF, WE OBSERVED:

    💠 5 humpback whales – 1 group of 2 and 3 singles

    💠 3 brown pelicans flying south

    ✅ MEL SMITH alerted us to 9-10 humpbacks seen off the bell buoy in Point Arena
    heading south

    ✅ SHARI GOFORTH reported seeing 6 humpbacks off Ollie’s straight which is south of Anchor Bay and north of downtown Gualala

    ✅ KATE BLOCH observed 2 humpbacks south of Gualala Point Island at the north end of the Sea Ranch and also 3 humpbacks off the Sea Ranch Lodge


  • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2025

    Today was sunny but quite windy. The wind was blowing 23 mph from the north northwest with gusts up to 38 mph.

    AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA, WE OBSERVED:

    ♦️ 6 humpbacks – all singles

    ♦️ 3 harbor seals swimming around their haul out site at high tide

    ♦️ 1 red-tailed hawk

    ♦️ 12 brown pelicans flying north

    AT SAUNDERS REEF:

    ♦️ 8 humpbacks – 1 group of 3 and 5 singles

    ♦️ 5 pelicans flying south