Recent Sightings

We observed today at Gerstle Cove. The conditions varied throughout the day ranging from cloudy to clear skies, some offshore fog, and huge swell and crashing waves. A high surf advisory was in effect.

♦️ 3 humpbacks – all singles

♦️ 3 harbor seals – one swimming in the cove the other two being tossed around by the rough surf at their haul out site

♦️ 1 red-tailed hawk

♦️ 1 adult bald eagle perched high in a tree

♦️ 35 brown pelicans

We were notified by Roberta Chan and Diane Hichwa that up to 16 fulmars beached along the southern end of Manchester Beach. They were all successfully transported to the bird rescue center in Santa Rosa.

We had excellent visibility today all the way to the horizon.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

🔷 7 humpbacks – all singles

🔷 12 harbor seals – high tide, limited access to haul out site

🔷 1 great egret

🔷 24 brown pelicans flying north and 11 flying south

NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

After a very foggy day yesterday, today brought decent visibility. The surf was quite rough.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

🔆 2 harbor seals swimming in the high surf surrounding their haul out site

🔆 1 American kestrel

🔆 1 red-tailed hawk

🔆 4 black oystercatchers

🔆 16 brown pelicans flying north

🔆 NO WHALES SEEN

🟢 The carcass of the juvenile male humpback whale that stranded last Thursday, October 16th on the southern end of Manchester Beach is now floating in the P’da Hau Garcia River, not far from the mouth of the river.

AT SAUNDERS REEF, we observed:

🔆 3 humpbacks – all singles

🔆 7 brown pelicans flying north

The ocean was quite loud and rough with 6 to 8 feet waves breaking far out from shore. This created a great deal of ocean spray and haze. It was possible to spot blows but tracking the whales was challenging as they often disappeared behind the waves.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

🔷 5 humpback whales – 3 singles and 1 deuce

🔷 at high tide, harbor seals could not haul out but we did see 6 swimming around the rocks

🔷 2 black oystercatchers

🔷 1 Northern harrier

NO WHALES SEEN AT SAUNDERS REEF

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