Eric Zetterholm noticed this Gray Whale feeding just off of the beach at Gualala Point Regional Park.
That whale is certainly quite close to shore! We believe this is one of the younger Gray Whales that didn't migrate to points north. This whale and others are finding enough food off the Mendonoma Coast, a wonderful development.
Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Foggy and mild on the coast today.
I'll let Shari tell the story. She wrote, “On Monday [of last week], Scott Mercer, of Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, told me that during his survey he had seen two Gray Whales foraging near the Point Arena Lighthouse, and they were there when he left just 30 minutes before. I drove to the Lighthouse, watched, and saw a blow. A whale was still there."
“The whale was close enough that, though I had to crop my photos heavily to increase the size, they were sharp enough to see detail, so I texted them to Scott. I was surprised when he texted back that he had sent them to a researcher in Washington, who replied immediately. The whale is somebody! It’s CRC-6, first photographed in the Straits of Juan De Fuca in 1986.
“That makes it older than 34 years old [they can live 40-60 years]; it escaped a boat collision, but sustained boat propeller injuries on its left side, and has rope scars on its right side where it escaped entanglement in fishing gear. It apparently has not migrated, since most Gray Whales should be in Alaskan waters feeding and storing resources for the winter migration to Mexican lagoons. CRC-6 may be a ‘resident,’ a local Gray Whale, at least for a while.”
Scott later learned this whale is a female. She's been seen with a calf in the past. What stories she could tell us if we only knew her language!
Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
The morning fog quickly gave way to a sunny, mild day.
Paul Brewer recently photographed a mother/calf pair as they swam northward past Gualala. In the first photo the calf breached!
Here's another look at the calf.
And here is the calf with his or her mother. The calf is on the right.
Gray Whale mothers only have one calf per year. She will feed her calf nutrient-rich milk during their long migration.
Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/
Paul was photographing on a sunny day. Today we have had unexpected showers. Anytime we get the wet stuff we are happy!
Spring doesn't know...
Gray Whales are one of the oldest species of mammals. They have been swimming in the Earth's oceans for nearly 30 million years, according to Science Daily. To contemplate their awesome twice-yearly migration is to fill you with wonder. Scott and Tree Mercer watch for whales and other marine sightings on the bluffs near the Point Arena Lighthouse. This past week they have counted 133 northbound Gray Whales.
Paul Brewer has a front row seat to view the ocean. Over the years he has photographed Gray Whales. Here is one spouting, where the whale is exhaling.
The Mercers have seen their first mother/calf pair, which is very early this year. Another pair was seen by Diane Hichwa off of Bodega Bay. Calves seem to enjoy breaching, as Paul captured. The baby whale is beside his/her mother.
Calves have stubby heads as Paul's photo shows.
And here's a look at two Gray Whale tails, perhaps mother/calf.
And here's an x-rated sighting of a male's member, which is nicknamed the Pink Floyd.
Males on the northbound migration can have mating on their minds, but the females aren't interested. We have seen this action several times in the past week off the Mendonoma Coast.
I hope you will take comfort in these trying days that the Gray Whale migration continues as it has for millennia. I wish for all of us the best of health.
Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his wonderful photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/
Margaret Lindgren was on the bluffs at Gualala Point Regional Park when she saw a Gray Whale very close to the surf break.The person on the beach is pointing to the whale.
In this next photo the whale is spouting and you can see some of his body on the left.
Here again the whale spouts.
And then the Gray Whale spyhopped!
Spyhopping is when the whale's head comes up vertically from the ocean. We think the whale is either looking around, or listening for the surf break. Or maybe you have a theory!
Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her photos with you here. Margaret leads fabulous nature hikes here on the Mendonoma Coast. Her website is: http://www.unbeatenpathtours.com/index.html