Recent Sightings

Excellent conditions today for observing.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we spotted:

* 25 southbound gray whales – one seen by Shari Godorth-Eby breached three times , 1 group of 4, 1 group of 3, 3 pairs, and  12 singles

* we also watched one forager slowly swimming north and south between 200 and 600 yards off shore for 90 minutes

* 75 harbor seals

* 1 black oystercatcher

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 great blue heron

* 2 American kestrels

     GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE:   225 southbound

Two southbound gray whales were seen about 4 miles off of Saunders Reef this morning by Shari Goforth-Eby. They took multiple blows.

At the Point Arena  Lighthouse  peninsula, we observed:

 *16 southbound grays- 9 singles, 2 pairs, and 1 group of three

* 8 harbor seals swimming about their haul out sites

* 1 kingfisher

* 2 red-tailed hawks

* 3 American kestrels

* 1 great blue heron

   TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 200 southbound

The morning clouds disappeared into a sunny day with excellent visibility.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula we observed:

 * 8 southbound gray whales – 6 singles and 1 pair

* 6 harbor seals

* 2 American kestrels

* 1 White-tailed kite

     GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 182 southbound

While hiking along the Pelican Bluff Trail this morning, Janet McElroy and I spotted a juvenile gray whale foraging in the kelp about 200 yards off shore.

Cloudy, gray conditions today created no distinction between the ocean and the sky making it challenging to spot blows. The ocean was calm at first but the wind picked up throughout the day.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

* 8 southbound gray whales; one breached three times, one did a half breach and another one did a chin slam

* 26 harbor seals

* 1 great blue heron

* 1 red-tailed hawk

* 2 American kestrels

   GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE = 174 southbound

Another day with ideal observation conditions.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

* 35 southbound gray whales – 21 singles, 4 groups of two, 2 groups of 3, varying in distance from the shore between 1/4 mile to 4 miles

* 59 harbor seals

 * 1 red-tailed hawk

* 1 sea lion foraging 

* 3 American kestrels

* 1 great blue heron

* 2 gophers

TOTAL GRAY WHALES SEEN TO DATE:  166 southbound