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Dana Wharf Blog

Whale Watching

Weekly Whale Watching Report ~ May, 8 2023 – May 14, 2023

Magnificent Blue and Mighty Fin Whales Still Feeding Off Our Coast! A Blue Whale was feeding for two days just outside the Dana Point Harbor early in the week before heading north!  Multiple Fin Whales are seen daily on almost every trip.  Many of these whales are VERY boat friendly, and our passengers are getting…

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May 15, 2023

Weekly Report ~ April 24, 2023 – April 30, 2023

Fin Whale Mania including a Cow/Calf Pair, Gray Whales, a Humpback Whale, and a Minke Whale! Fin whales have been seen eight of the last nine days, including a cow/calf pair where the baby whale appeared to be playing with the dolphin very close to shore just north of the Dana Point Headlands. On multiple…

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May 1, 2023

Weekly Report ~ April 17, 2023 – April 23, 2023

FINTASTIC Week with Fins on Parade! We have had several encounters with up to four and even five fin whales. The week’s highlight was the Dana Wharf 8-hour Ultimate Whale Watch which began with a cloudy, hazy morning with three fin whales feeding off the Dana Point Headlands. The brilliant contrast of the fin whale’s…

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April 24, 2023

What Time of Day Are Whales Most Active in Califonia?

Whales are a majestic species that captivate people’s hearts and minds with their impressive size and movements. California is known as one of the best places in the world to watch whales, with several species found along its coast, including gray whales, humpback whales, and blue whales. If you’re planning a whale-watching trip in California,…

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April 19, 2023

Top Five Things To Do in Dana Point California

Dana Point, California, is a beautiful coastal town in Orange County, known for its scenic views, sandy beaches, and water activities. If you’re planning a visit to Dana Point, here are five things you should definitely do: Visit Dana Point Harbor: The harbor is the heart of the town, offering stunning views of the Pacific…

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April 19, 2023

Weekly Update ~ April 10, 2023 – April 16, 2023

Babies on Parade! As the last phase of the Gray Whale northbound migration begins to peak, we are seeing several cow/calf pairs.  The highlight of the week was watching a northbound gray whale cow/calf gray pair swimming together off Victoria Beach. They clearly entertained whale watchers and beachgoers as this calf was “playing” displaying surface behaviors…

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April 17, 2023

Weekly Report ~ April 3, 2023 – April 9, 2023

By-the-Wind-Sailors Along For the Ride! This week’s sightings include Gray Whales, cow-calf pairs, Fin Whales, Bottlenose, and Common Dolphin, plus By-the-Wind-Sailors or Velella velella and a Blue Shark. With the recent red tide, we saw hundreds of By-the-Wind-Sailors or Velella velella in our local waters.  This organism is actually a colony of many polyps that…

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April 10, 2023

Weekly Report ~ March 27 – April 2, 2023

Gray Whale Calves Join Northbound Migration Each year by mid-February, most, if not all, of this season’s gray whale calves have been born.  These cow-calf pairs are the last to leave the lagoons giving the calves time to grow, including developing a blubber layer before beginning their first migration north to their feeding grounds.  Traveling…

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April 4, 2023

Weekly Report ~ March 13 – 19, 2023

Record-Breaking Day Set as Gray Whale Migration Peaks On Saturday, March 18, our sightings included 29 Gray Whales, 6 Fin Whales, 1 Bryde’s Whale, Pacific white-side Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, and Common Dolphin   On our first trip of the day ~ the Epic 4-hour Whale Watch on the New San Mateo ~ our newest vessel…

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March 20, 2023

Weekly Report ~ March 1 – 5, 2023

Gray Whales continue the migration North, great sightings on the days we could get out, but Sunday was a Festival of Whales GRAND FINALE! Ending the weekend with 13 Gray Whales, Bottlenose, and Common Dolphin! Nona the Naturalist started the day with story time inside the belly of a whale teaching kids some fun facts…

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March 6, 2023