Recent Sightings

Today presented us with ideal observation conditions. There was excellent  visibility at all three locations where we observed. We had no wind which allowed the blows to remain suspended and be easily seen. Backs were also visible.

🔷 AT VISTA POINT at the north end of Irish Beach:

🔶 NO WHALES SEEN

🔷 AT THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA:

🔶 3 humpback whales – all singles, slowly making their way south

🔶 102 harbor seals – low tide

🔶 3 American kestrels

🔶 1 red-tailed hawk

🔶 Dozens of brown pelicans flying mostly north and some smaller flocks flying south

🔷AT SAUNDERS REEF:

🔶 4 humpback whales- one pair and two singles all swimming south slowly

🔶 8 brown pelicans flying north and several more diving into the ocean to catch prey

Today we had a mix of sun and clouds over a calm ocean. There was a light breeze and very good visibility.

At the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula, we observed:

🟪 7 humpback whales – one group of two and five singles; one single breached four times;

all whales were between 2 and 4 miles offshore

🟪 27 harbor seals at high tide

🟪 2 black oystercatchers

🟪 13 black turnstones

🟪 2 American kestrels

🟪 1 great blue heron

🟪 1 red-tailed hawk

🟪 Dozens of brown pelicans mostly flying north and circling the Lighthouse; smaller size flocks flying south

Observing off Gualala Beach from behind the Surf Market we spotted one humpback whale slowly making his or her way south.

Hundreds of gulls and pelicans were resting on the beach, floating in the estuary, and taking frequent, short  flights over the ocean.

On this cloudy, overcast day at the Point Aren Lighthouse peninsula , the ocean was calm and there was a light breeze from the northwest. We had good visibility.

♦️ 2 humpback whales – singles

♦️ 23 harbor seals – out going high tide

♦️ 1 great blue heron

♦️ 1 red-tailed hawk

♦️ 2 American kestrels

♦️ 1 black oystercatcher

♦️ dozens of brown pelicans, mostly flying north and circling around the Lighthouse, some flying south; two large flocks passed over one another flying in opposite directions

We observed today at Vista Point which is at the north end of Irish Beach.   There was some offshore haziness that limited our visibility slightly.

🔷 3 humpback whales – two together and a third close by; no significant movement north or south

🔷 37 brown pelicans flying north

🔷 1 breaching humpback seen off Iversen Point just south of Hearn Gulch