June 14, 2008: Farallon Whale Watch Sightings

Shortly after passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, our boat encountered up to 20 harbor porpoises. On our way to the Farallones, we came upon short-finned pilot whales, and right after that whale watchers were able to have great observations of 20 Risso's dolphins and 15 Pacific white-sided dolphins. Six miles south of the Farallones, we encountered three humpback whales that were apparently deep-dive feeding as they rose to the surface, replenished their air, then dived for longer periods of time. At the Farallones, we sighted a mother gray whale with her calf. On this trip we all saw California sea lions, Steller sea lions, harbor seals and three Northern fur seals. Bird sightings included loons, grebes, 6 Black-footed albatross, fulmers, shearwaters, storm-petrels, pelicans, cormorants, scoters, oystercatchers, gulls, terns, murres, pigeon guillemots, auklets, and great up-close looks at the colorful tufted puffin.

Naturalist led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf depart from San Franciscoo 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.

In cooperation with Cascadia Research, the Oceanic Society sponsors long-term humpack whale research in the Gulf of the Farallones. Many of the whale watching trips include dedicated whale field researchers.

Armchair whale lovers may wish to check-out our Adopt-A-Whale program. You can keep up with the life histories of individual Farallon Islands whales and learn their migration routes.