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Oceanic Society
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
P.O. Box 437
Ross, CA 94957
415-256-9604 (local)
800-326-7491
Recorded recent whale & marine life sightings:
415-258-8220
OCEANIC SOCIETY WHALE WATCH. Thousands of gray whales are now swimming just off our coast. Join an Oceanic Society whale watch cruise led by expert naturalists. Full day and half day trips are available select Fridays, and every Saturday and Sunday March through May13th from San Francisco, and now through May 13th from Half Moon Bay. From May 19 - November 25th, humpback and blue whales can be observed on our Farallon Island trips.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Izzy Szczepaniak aboard Salty Lady—highlights include 4 Gray whales, 5 Harbor porpoises and many seabirds.
Participants braved early morning fog and cold temperatures to see a group of 4 Gray whales swimming close together. Five Harbor porpoises were also spotted.
The Seabirds sighted on this trip included: Eared grebes, Western Grebes, Northern fulmars, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Double Crested cormorants, Brandt's cormorants, Phalarope sp., Western gulls, Common murres, and Cassin's auklets.
Naturalist-led trips for the Gray whale migration depart from Half Moon Bay on weekends December through may and from San Francisco on weekends March through May. Trips are filling up. Make reservations today! Call (415) 256-9604. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Whale Watch schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Susan Sherman aboard Salty Lady—highlights include excellent sightings of 2 Great White sharks, 1 Gray whale, and 25+ Harbor porpoises.
Participants enjoyed a thrilling day with the sighting of two Great White sharks over 15 feet in length and weighing approximately 1500-2000 pounds each. The first shark was at the surface for 10 minutes and then dove showing its dorsal fin and tail fin. The second shark stayed at the surface for 35 minutes and kept circling the boat, showing its white mouth, eye, dorsal fin and tail fin.
Also sighted was one Gray whale by Saddle rock. Participants enjoyed the blows, back, and flukes of the whale for 30 minutes. Other marine mammals sighted included 25+ Harbor porpoises, California sea lions, and Harbor seals.
Birds sighted on this trip included: Pacific loons, Common loons, Western grebes, Clark's grebes, Northern fulmars, Pink-footed shearwaters, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Double Crested cormorants, Brandt's cormorants, Black scoters, Surf scoters, White-winged scoters, Heerman's gulls, California gulls, Western gulls, Elegant terns, Common murres, Pigeon guillemots, Cassin's auklets, and Rhinoceros auklets.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Saturday, November 26 is our last trip this season. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Eric Lichtwardt aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings of 2 Humpback whales, 15+ Harbor porpoises and a Great White shark.
Participants enjoyed clear skies, and views of Mt. Diablo. During this trip of of many highlights, one highlight was seeing 2 adult humpback whales swimming close together. Participants also witnessed a Great White shark attack on a seal in Mirounga Bay off Seal Rock. In addition participants saw over 400 California sea lions and 15+ Harbor porpoises.
Birds sighted on this trip included: 1 Pacific Loon, 20 Eared grebes, 15 Northern fulmars, 15 Brown pelicans, 20+ Double Crested cormorants, 25+ Brandt's cormorants, and 10+ Pelagic cormorants, 2 Black oystercatchers, 4 Heerman's gulls, 35+ Western gulls, 20 Common murres, and 5 Rhinoceros auklets.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Nicole Larson aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings of 1 Humpback whale, 10 Harbor porpoises and several Ocean Sunfish.
Participants were able to observe one Humpback whale at four separate times. The whale surfaced every 10-25 minutes. Participants also spotted 10 Harbor porpoises under the Golden Gate bridge. In addition participants saw three Ocean Sunfish, or Mola Mola's, at Fisherman's cove.
Birds sighted on this trip included: Western Grebes, Clarks Grebes, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Pelagic cormorants, Western gulls, Common terns, Common murres, and the possible sighting of a Peregrine falcon by one of the participants.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Susan Sherman aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings of 1 Gray whale, 20 Harbor porpoises, one Ocean Sunfish and a Great White shark.
Participants enjoyed the blows and back of one Gray whale and the sightings of 20 Harbor porpoises. Also briefly spotted was a Great White shark thrashing at the surface.
Other marine mammal sightings included California sea lions, Steller sea lions, Harbor seals, and Northern fur seals.
Birds sighted on this trip included: Pacific loons, Common loons, Western Grebes, Clarks Grebes, Northern fulmars, Pink-footed shearwaters, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Brandt's cormorants, Surf Scoters, Black Oystercatchers, Heerman's gulls, California gulls, Western gulls, Elegant terns, Common murres, Pigeon guillemots, Cassin's auklets, and Rhinoceros auklets.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Susan Sherman aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings of 2 Gray whales, 6 Humpback whales, 25 Harbor porpoises, 15 Dall's porpoises and one Ocean Sunfish.
Participants enjoyed sightings of 6 Humpback whales, 1 close to the boat. The others blows, backs, and flukes were seen in the distance. Participants also saw the backs, flukes and blows of two Gray whales. Also sighted were over 25 Harbor Porpoises and 15 Dall's porpoises riding the bow waves of the boat.
Other marine mammal sightings included California sea lions, and harbor seals.
Birds sighted on this trip included: Pacific loons, Common loons, Western Grebes, Clarks Grebes, Northern fulmars, Pink-footed shearwaters, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Brandt's cormorants, Double crested cormorants, Surf Scoters, Black Oystercatchers, Red-necked phalaropes, Heerman's gulls, Western gulls, Common murres, Pigeon guillemots, and Cassin's auklets.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Susan Sherman aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings of 2 Gray whales, 4 Humpback whales, over 200 Pacific white sided and plus Northern right whale dolphins.
Participants enjoyed sightings of 4 Humpback whales close to the boat for 35-40 minutes. The whales showed their backs, flukes, and blows. Participants also saw the backs, flukes and blows of two Gray whales that were swimming around SEFI. Also sighted were 150 Pacific white sided dolphins and 100 Northern right whale dolphins for 25 minutes.
Other marine mammal sightings included 50 Harbor porpoises, California sea lions, and harbor seals.
Birds sighted on this trip included: Pacific loons, Western Grebes, Clarks Grebes, Northern fulmars, Pink-footed shearwaters, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Brandt's cormorants, Double crested cormorants, Surf Scoters, Black Oystercatchers, Red-necked phalaropes, Heerman's gulls, Western gulls, Elegant terns, Common murres, Pigeon guillemots, and Cassin's auklets.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Izzy Szczepaniak aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings of 1 Gray whale, 35 Risso's dolphins, one Leatherback Turtle, and one Ocean Sunfish.
Participants enjoyed calm seas and warm weather for a sighting of 1 Gray whale, two distinct groups of 35 Risso's dolphins, a Leatherback turtle, and a very close up view of an Ocean Sunfish, also known as a Mola Mola.
The numerous seabirds sighted on this trip included: 3 Black footed albatross, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Cormorants, California gulls, Western gulls, and Common murres.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist David Wimpfheimer aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings of 3 Humpback whales and hundreds of California sea lions, Harbor seals, and Elephant seals.
Participants enjoyed sightings of 3 Humpback whales. A cow-calf pair was spotted 2 miles West of Seal Rock. Also sighted were 200 California sea lions, 4 stately Steller sealions, 20 Elephant seals, and 8 Harbor seals. During the course of the trip, participants also saw 10-12 Harbor Porpoises.
The numerous Seabirds sighted on this trip included: 2 Common loons, 10 Western Grebes, 4 Black footed albatross, 4 Northern fulmars, 3 Pink-footed shearwaters, 20-22 Sooty shearwaters, 30 Brown pelicans, 15 Double crested cormorants, 40 Brandt's cormorants, 4 Pelagic cormorants, 2 Black oystercatchers, 15 Red-necked phalaropes, 2 Parasitic jaegers, 20 Heerman's gulls, 10 California gulls, 200 Western gulls, 20 Elegant Terns, 150 Common murres, 3 Cassin's auklets, 4 Rhinoceros auklets and 2 Tufted puffins (rare this time of year).
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
Oceanic Society Naturalist Izzy Sczcepaniak aboard Salty Lady— unusual highlight was a Great White shark attack at the North end of Mirounga Bay. Also spotted were 6 Humpback whales, 1 Blue whale and 1 Gray whale.
Participants experienced a rare sighting of a Great White shark attack on a pinniped (most likely a California sea lion or Harbor seal). Both the dorsal and caudal fin of the shark were seen as it twisted back and forth. The encounter lasted for 15 minutes. Participants also enjoyed sightings of 6 Humpback whales, 1 Blue whale, and 1 Gray whale.
During the course of the trip, participants also saw California sea lions, Harbor seals, 28 Harbor porpoises, and 20 Pacific white sided dolphins riding the bow waves of the boat.
The numerous Sea birds sighted on this trip included: 1 Black footed albatross, Pink-footed shearwaters, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Double crested cormorants, Pelagic cormorants, Surf scoters, Phalarope sp., Heerman’s gulls, Western gulls, Elegant terns, Common murres, Cassin's auklets, and Tufted puffins.
Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Trips are filling up. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 474-3385. Or simply download our registration form and fax it to our office, (415) 474-3395. Or register via Acteva as offered at the bottom of the Farallon Islands schedule.
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