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…
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…
What Time of Day Are Whales Most Active in California?
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Weekly Report ~ February 20 – 26, 2023
Gray Whale Migration Transition Continues! As we move toward spring, we should continue to see more northbound whales each week. Once the southward migration starts each fall, pregnant females usually arrive first, then non-pregnant but fertile females, followed by other adults and immature females, with the immature males arriving last. Most southbound whales we are…