Tag Archives: Mother/Calf pair

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Shari Goforth-Eby recently photographed two Gray Whales swimming very close together. She thought she might have a mother/calf pair.

Scott Mercer took a look at Shari's photo and determined these are two adults swimming unusually close together. Here is what a mother/calf pair looks like. The calf, with its stubby head, is partially breaching next to its mother. This photo was taken by Paul Brewer a few years ago.

Scott and Tree Mercer have seen four mother/calf pairs so far this past week. More are headed our way. This weekend could be the perfect time to see if you can spot a pair. A sighting of a mother and her calf is sure to warm your heart - guaranteed!

Thanks to Shari and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's sunny, calm and beautiful on the Mendonoma Coast today!

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Richard Kuehn has been enjoying the mother/calf pairs now passing by the Mendonoma Coast. He caught this great photo showing the baleen of a juvenile Gray Whale. The calf's mother is close behind.

A Gray Whale calf shows its baleen with mom close behind by Richard Kuehn

The baleen is a filter-feeder system where the whale takes in water. The whale then pushes the water out and the animals in the water, such as krill, are filtered by the baleen and become food for the whale. However, this calf is still nursing.

Rich saw this calf breach twelve times! Earlier in the day a Gray Whale calf  spyhopped and Rich got that photo too.

CA Gray Whale calf spyhopping by Richard Kuehn

Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share these photos with you here.

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Lately the Mendonoma Coast has had so much wind that we wouldn't be able to see a whale even if it were just offshore. The Pacific Ocean is filled with whitecaps. But several weeks ago Kathy Bishop spotted a mother Gray Whale with her calf quite close in. As she was photographing them, the calf breached.

Kathy said she knew it was the young calf because the mother was covered with barnacles. What a great photo! Thanks to Kathy for allowing me to share it with you here.