Recent Sightings

Observations from Gerstle Cove with good visibility despite cloudy skies. No fog today!!

🔆 1 finback whale traveling south

🔆 1 foraging gray whale

🔆 5 – 6 sea lions swimming south

🔆 25 harbor seals

🔆 3 ospreys

🔆 152 brown pelicans

🔆 4 black oyster catchers

EXCELLENT PRESENTATION BY MARINE BIOLOGIST, BARBIE HALASKA WITH THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY:

18 gray whales, 1 pygmy sperm whale, 1 minke whale, 1 cuvier’s beaked whale
17 undetermined or no necropsy, 4 probable vessel strike

May 31, 2025: gray whale, Montara State Beach; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

May 29: gray whale, McNears Beach County Park, San Rafael; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

May 29: female gray whale, South San Francisco Bay, San Leandro; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

May 28, 2025: subadult gray whale, Alamere Falls, Point Reyes National Seashore; cause of death: probable vessel strike

May 26, 2025: suspected gray whale, Alcatraz; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

May 26, 2025: gray whale, Point Bonita; cause of death: undetermined

May 24, 2025: subadult female gray whale, Berkeley; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

May 22, 2025: gray whale, Fisherman’s Bay, Southeast Farallon Island; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

May 21, 2025: yearling gray whale, Bolinas; cause of death: undetermined

May 12, 2025: adult female gray whale, Rodeo; cause of death: suspected vessel strike

May 11, 2025: gray whale, Point Lobos, San Francisco; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

May 8, 2025: subadult female gray whale, Martinez; cause of death: undetermined, no necropsy performed

April 30, 2025: subadult female gray whale, Treasure Island; cause of death: undetermined

April 17, 2025: adult female gray whale, Alameda; cause of death: undetermined

April 15, 2025: cuvier’s beaked whale, La Tortuga Beach, San Luis Obispo County; cause of death: undetermined

April 8, 2025: subadult female minke whale, Emeryville; cause of death undetermined

April 4, 2025: subadult male gray whale, Fort Point Rock Beach; cause of death probable vessel strike

April 2, 2025: adult male gray whale, Angel Island State Park; cause of death suspected vessel strike

March 30, 2025: female gray whale, Black Sands Beach, Golden Gate National Recreation Area; cause of death undetermined

February 14, 2025: adult male pygmy sperm whale, Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo County; cause of death undetermined

January 19, 2025: adult male gray whale, Oso Flaco Beach, San Luis Obispo County; cause of death undetermined

Observations from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula:

⚛️ 4 – 5 humpbacks; one breached once

⚛️ 36 harbor seals

⚛️ 102 brown pelicans flying north

OBSERVATIONS TODAY FROM GERSTLE COVE IN SALT POINT STATE PARK IN NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY:

The morning began with excellent visibility until fog rolled in and remained for approximately 90 minutes. When the fog disappeared, visibility was once again excellent and we could see to the horizon. The wind picked up throughout the day.

🔆 4 humpback whales: 2 singles and one group of two, all traveling north

🔆 6 ospreys

🔆 14 harbor seals

🔆 1 sea lion

🔆 97 pelicans flying north