WEEKEND OF MAY 1, 2004

Trip Report: Our whale watching boat New Keesa was surrounded by up to 10 gray whales who seemed to be milling in the area just southeast of the Farallon Islands. Other highlights included good looks at 20-25 harbor porpoise and many species of seabirds including 5,000+ common murres. Other notable bird sightings included hundreds of cormorants including Double-crested, Brandt's and Pelagic, Clark's and Western Grebes, Northern Fulmar, Least Storm-petrel, and Pigeon Guillemots.

WEEKEND OF APRIL 3-4, 2004

Trip Report: Another great weekend of whales watching here in the Bay Area. All our departures had spectacular sightings this weekend, making our sightings rate 100% for two weekends in a row! Our San Francisco departure Saturday April 3rd had good looks at 11 gray whales, including cow/calf pairs in the distance. Other highlights included 75 California sea lions, and many species of sea birds including Bonapart's Gull, Common Murres, Cormorants, Brants, and our first Tufted Puffins of the year! Nine of these charismatic seabirds were seen at the Farallon Islands on April 3rd. Sunday's trip saw 6 grays in total, 1 by Pt. Bonita, 3 near the Farallones, and 2 more about 10 miles out while returning to the harbor. Other highlights included sightings of California sea lions, harbor seals, harbor porpoise, and 10 species of sea birds.

Half Moon Bay also had great sightings over the weekend. Saturday's afternoon trip saw 3 adult grays close to the boat, and were able to stay with them for about an hour! There was one single, and a group of two. Other highlights included a large Ocean Sunfish, California sea lions, and 10 harbor seals. Fifteen species of seabirds were also seen, including Pacific and Common Loons, 3 species of Grebes, Northern Fulmars, Brown Pelicans, 3 species of Cormorants, Surf Scoter, Black Oystercatcher, Western gulls, Common Murres, and Pigeon Guillemots.

Our Bodega Bay departure on Saturday April 4th saw 7 grays in the morning, and 6 more in the afternoon. Five whales in the morning were seen very close to the boat, with one as close as 50 yards from our standing still boat just out from Bodega Bay. The afternoon trip saw 2 whales very close to the boat, and 4 more seen in the distance travelling about 2-3 miles out. Other highlights included California sea lions, harbor seals, and 13 harbor porpoise. Additionally, 13 species of sea birds were seen.

WEEKEND OF MARCH 26-28, 2004

We had a full weekend of whale watching, and it was one of our most exciting weekends to date with highlights including breaching whales and a kayaker rescue! Our San Francisco departure Friday 3/26/04 started off the weekend with sightings of 2 whales, excellent harbor porpoise sightings about 50 yards from the boat, and 14 species of sea birds. Saturday's trip from SF saw 10 grays, with the highlight being a breaching whale in the distance! The whale breached 8 times, and added 6 chin slaps. There were at least 2 cow/calf pairs sighted, travelling north. There was also one lone calf, which nearly hit our boat, as it quietly surfaced within 5m of the vessel. Other highlights included 4 harbor porpoise, harbor seals, and 10 species of birds. Sunday's trip added 6 more sightings of grays - including one cow/calf pair travelling north. Other highlights included, a California sea lion, 35 harbor seals, 6 harbor porpoise, and 8 species of seabirds.

Our Half Moon Bay trips were not to be outdone, with an incredible total of 43 whale sightings throughout the weekend! Saturday morning saw 15 grays, while the afternoon added 12 more. Whales were surrounding the boat, with some nearly next to the to boat. On the afternoon trip, one gray breached 7 times near the boat! Both the morning and afternoon trips watched 15 harbor porpoise, Northern elephant seals, harbor seals and there was a total of 14 species of seabirds including loons, grebes, Northern Fulmar, Sooty Shearwater, cormorants, Surf Scoter, Western gulls, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Marbled Murrelets. Sunday Afternoon's departure saw 15 grays, and 1 humpback whale! 3 grays were seen just off Pillar Point. They seemed not to be migrating, so we switched the engine off, and one adult surfaced around us for 15 minutes. We then headed north where we found an adult humpback. It breached 3 times, and then we followed the whale south for 20 minutes, getting within 20 yards of the standing still boat. After the humpback sighting 2 more cow calf pairs were observed heading north. California sea lions and 9 species of seabirds were also spotted.

Additionally, we had 3 Bodega Bay departures over the weekend. Saturday's 3/27/04 trips saw 5 grays in the morning, and 7 more in the afternoon. All whales were seen travelling north. Other highlights included California sea lions, harbor seals and 14 species of birds. Sunday afternoon added 6 more grays (seen in 3 different groups of 2), along with California sea lions, harbor seals, and several species of birds.

WEEKEND OF MARCH 20-21, 2004

Bodega Bay was the place to be this weekend for whale watching. Saturday March 20, our afternoon trip saw 4 grays in total. 1 was sighted just off Bodega Head, and 3 more were seen offshore. California sea lions and harbor seals were also sighted, along with an amazing 18 species of seabirds were seen, including Common Loons, Eared Grebes, 2 species of Cormorants, Brants, Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Buffleheads, Bonaparts gull, Willits, Western Gulls, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Snowy and Great Egrets, Black Turnstone, Snowy Plover and Semi-pulmated Plovers. Sunday's trip from Bodega Bay watched 4-6 grays in the afternoon, and saw 50 California sea lions, 35 harbor seals, 4 harbor porpoise, and 17 species of sea birds.

Half Moon Bay and San Francisco trips added 10 grays and one humpback was also sighted in Half Moon Bay. 3 of the grays (including a cow/calf pair) were seen within yards of our San Francisco boat on Sunday March 21st. The same trip also saw 6 common dolphins near Pt. Reyes within 5 yards of the boat. We stayed with them for 15 minutes as they were riding the waves at the stern. Other highlights from these trips included over 100 harbor porpoise over the weekend, California sea lions, Northern elephant seals, and 24 total species of seabirds!

WEEKEND OF MARCH 12-14, 2004

This weekend from San Francisco, participants were delighted to see 1 cow calf pair about 50 yards from the boat, moving north on Friday's 3/12 trip. We stayed with the pair for over an hour. We also saw 2 bottlenose dolphins, harbor porpoise, California sea lions, harbor seals, and 17 species of sea birds! Saturday and Sunday trips added 12 harbor porpoise, California sea lions, harbor seals, and 16 species of birds including Pacific and Common loons, 3 species of Grebes, Cormorants, and Gulls, Northern Fulmars, Surf Scoters, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and 18 Marbled Murrelets.

Half Moon Bay was the place to be this weekend, with 20 grays seen on Saturday's trip, many within yards of the boat! Spouts seemed to be coming from all around us. 5-10 harbor porpoise, along with 12 species of seabirds were also seen. Sunday's Half Moon Bay departure saw between 15-20 whales including 4 cow calf pairs!

Bodega Bay trips on Saturday and Sunday added 5 grays (2 individuals, and a group of 3), 100's of California sea lions, over 80 harbor seals, 2 harbor porpoise, and 24 species of seabirds, including 3 species of loons, Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe, Northern Fulmar, Short-tailed Shearwater, Great and Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Brant, American Coot, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, Black Oysercatcher, 2 species of Cormorants, Scaup, Snowy Plovers, Western Gulls, Common Murres, Pigeon and Guillemots.

WEEKEND OF MARCH 5-7, 2004

The northbound gray whale migration is now in full swing. This weekend, not only was the weather cooperating, but so were the whales. Our San Francisco departure on Saturday March 6th saw 2 grays, one near Pt. Reyes, and one by the Bolinas Ducksberry Reef. Other highlights included 12 harbor seals, 8 harbor porpoise, and 6 species of birds. Sunday's San Francisco trip saw 3 grays - including a cow-calf pair! Other highlights included California sea lions, harbor seals, 25 harbor porpoise, and 12 species of birds - including Common Loons, Western and Clarks Grebes, Northern Fulmar, Pink-footed and Sooty Shearwaters, 3 species of Cormorants, a flock of 8 Brants, Western Gulls, and Common Murres.

Half Moon Bay also had some fantastic marine wildlife sightings. Despite the fact we didn't see any whale activity on Friday's March 5th trip, Saturday's made up for it with 10 grays in the morning, and 4 more in the afternoon. On the morning trip, they first saw 6 blows at 11 miles SW of Half Moon Bay. Then the boat travelled north with 2 adult whales right off the bow ~ 150 ft. Later on, we came across 2 adults and one calf on the starboard side (about 300 feet away). The boat travelled with this group for the next mile. On the afternoon trip, 2 adults were seen heading north at about 12 miles out from Half Moon Bay, followed by 2 other blows. Other highlights included 3 California sea lions, 3 harbor porpoise, and 10 different species of sea birds. The Sunday trips observed 3 grays in the morning, and 4 more in the afternoon. Other highlights include harbor seals, 1 10-foot mola mola, harbor porpoise, and 7 species of seabirds.

We also had 3 Bodega Bay departures this weekend. On Saturday March 6th, we observed 6 grays in the morning, all heading north. The first group of 5 were seen just 7 minutes into the trip! On the afternoon trip, there were between 6-10 grays. Other highlights included California sea lions, harbor seals, harbor porpoise and 16 species of seabirds including Common Loons, 3 species of Grebes, 5 Sooty Shearwaters, Cormorants, >25 Brants, >75 Surf Scoters, 1 Black Oystercatcher, Western Gulls, Common Murres, Buffleheads, Greater Scaups, 2 Great Blue Herons, and 2 Great Egrets. Our Sunday morning trip added 1 more gray whale and some harbor porpoise to this fantastic weekend of whale watching.

WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 28-29, 2004

It was a windy weekend for us out at sea, and we were only able to get a few of our scheduled trips out. Our Half Moon Bay trips on Saturday Feb. 28 observed 3 gray whales about 50-100 yards from the boat. The whales were adults, and we were able to see great views of their tales, backs, and consistent swimming behavior. We also saw about 25 harbor porpoise and 10 species of sea birds for the day. Sunday's Half Moon Bay trip added 1 gray whale, 3 California sea lions, and 11 species of sea birds.

While we were able to get the Bodega Bay trips out over the weekend, no grays were seen unfortunately. We did see ~100 California sea lions, 3 Steller sea lions, 30-40 harbor seals, and 14 species of birds including >50 Common Loons, 3 species of Grebes, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, Cormorants, >100 Surf Scoters, >5 Phalarope sp., 3 species of Gulls, Common Murres, and >40 Buffleheads.

WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 20-22, 2004

Oceanic Society Whale Watchers had some great sightings of the gray whale migration this weekend. The trip out of Half Moon Bay Friday 2/20 observed 4-5 grays for about 1.5 hours, with the whales coming within 50 yards of the standing still boat at times. Other highlights included 5-6 harbor porpoise, 2 California sea lions, and 12 species of birds. Friday's San Francisco trip added 20 harbor seals, 20-22 harbor porpoise, and 11 species of birds including 4 Red-throated Loons, 6 Pacific Loons, 200 Western Grebes, 20 Clark's grebe, 100 Aechmorphorus sp., 120 Northern Fulmars, 25-30 Brandt's Cormorants, 70 Pelagic Cormorants, California Gulls, 50 Western Gulls, and 60-70 Common Murres.

Saturday's 2/21 morning and afternoon combined trips out of Half Moon Bay saw 3 grays about 7 miles off the coast with good looks at their backs and flukes. Other highlights included California sea lions, 1 harbor seal, 3 harbor porpoise and 13 species of birds. San Francisco's trip added 20 California sea lions, 30 harbor seals, 25 harbor porpoise, and 12 species of birds including 2 Common Loons, 40 Western Grebes, 40 Northern Fulmars, 100 Double-crested Cormorants, 17 Pelagic Cormorants, 20 Surf Scoters, 3 California Gulls, 1000 Western Gulls, 500 Common Murres, 4 Pigeon Guillemots, 3 Cassin's Auklets, and 2 Rhinoceros Auklets.

Sunday's 2/22 morning and afternoon trip from Half Moon Bay saw 5-6 grays in the morning, and 2 in the afternoon, both sightings occurring about 8 miles west of the harbor. We also had our first trips out of Bodega Bay this past weekend. The morning trip saw 1 gray whale about .75 miles away, and good looks at 6-7 on the afternoon trip. Other highlights included California sea lions and harbor seals.

WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 14-15, 2004

Our Half Moon Bay whale watching trips departing on February 14th saw a combined total of 3 gray whales, 22 harbor porpoise and 11 species of birds. The whales were adults, and participants were able to watch them for about an hour. On Sunday's Half Moon Bay trips, participants observed a combined total of 6 grays, 3 California sea lions, 2 harbor seals and 13 species of birds. The grays were seen heading north - which notes the beginning of the northbound migration for these magnificent creatures!

Our San Francisco trips added 1 gray whale, 7 California sea lions, 33 harbor porpoise, 5 Northern elephant seals, and 20 harbor seals out at the Farallon Islands. The gray whale was a juvenile seen about 200 yards from the boat. Another highlight from the San Francisco departures was observing 17 species of seabirds including 4 Pacific Loons, 1 Common Loon, 80 Western Grebes, 200 Northern Fulmars, 28Double Crested Cormorants, 20 Brandts Cormorants, 38 Pelagic Cormorants, 50 Black Scoters, 2 Black Oystercatchers, 10 Ring-billed Gulls, 8 California Gulls, over 400 Western Gulls, 2 Glaucous-winged Gulls, 1000's of Common Murres, 1 Pigeon Guillemots, 5 Cassin's Auklets, and 2 Rhinoceros Auklets.

WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 7-8, 2004

We saw a variety of marine wildlife this past weekend on our whale watching trips. Over the weekend, our Half Moon Bay trips had many highlights including 2 gray whales, 1 humpback whale, 100 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 1 Northern right whale dolphin, 3 harbor porpoise, 6 California sea lions, 1 harbor seal, and 14 different species of seabirds! The humpback whale sighting was a surprise, as they are not commonly seen this time of year outside the Bay. Our San Francisco trips added California sea lions, harbor seals, and a combined total of 48 harbor porpoise sightings. Seabirds species seen included Pacific Loons, Eared Grebes, Western Grebes, Northern Fulmars, Sooty Shearwaters, 3 species of Cormorants, Surf Scoters, 4 species of Gulls, and Common Murres.

WEEKEND OF JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 1, 2004

Trip Report: Unfortunately due to weather, only one trip departed this past weekend. Our Half Moon Bay Sunday morning trip on February 1st offered harbor porpoise, harbor seals, and plenty of seabirds including Common Loon, Northern Fulmar, Short-tailed Shearwater, Double-crested Cormorant, Surf-scoter, Common Murre, and Rhinoceros Auklet many of which were gathered in a big feeding frenzy.

WEEKEND OF JANUARY 24-25, 2004

We saw a variety of marine life on our whale watching tours this weekend. Our Saturday San Francisco departure saw between 5-8 gray whales, 7 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 2 harbor porpoise, 200+ California sea lions, and 7 species of birds! The sun was out, and the seas were calm. Meanwhile, on the Saturday afternoon departure out of Half Moon Bay we saw 2 gray whales, 10 common dolphins, 2 California sea lions, 2 harbor porpoise, and 11 species of birds. The Half Moon Bay trips on Sunday added more sea lions and harbor porpoise to our weekend marine wildlife list, along with wonderful feeding behaviors of Sooty shearwaters, Northern fulmars (light and dark), cormorants, brown pelicans and Common murres. The seabirds are currently feeding on the anchovies from the SF Bay.

WEEKEND OF JANUARY 17-18, 2004

The grays were a little shy this weekend, but there was plenty of other marine life to observe on the trips. The seas were calm and the sun was out throughout the weekend. Highlights from the weekend include gray whales blows, 1500 common dolphins out of Half Moon Bay, lots of sea lions, harbor porpoise, and 14 different species of seabirds including Common loons, Western Grebes, Northern Fulmars, Brown pelicans, 3 species of Cormorants, Surf scoter, Red-neck phalarope, Common murres, and 4 species of gulls.

WEEKEND OF JANUARY 10-11, 2004

Oceanic Society Whale Watchers had a nice weekend, viewing 10 gray whales on our San Francisco departure Sunday Jan. 11th. The seas were calm, and the whales were seen in 3 different groups throughout the day. The last gray of the day was the highlight - participants got a good look at the whale's back and blow. Other highlights included 800 California sea lions, 100 Northern elephant seals, and 2 harbor seals. Also seen were 4 harbor porpoise 11 species of seabirds. In addition to our San Francisco trip, our Half Moon Bay departure watched 5 harbor porpoise, 60 California sea lions, and 13 species of birds on Saturday Jan. 10.

WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 26 - 28, 2003 & JANUARY 3rd, 2004

The mighty gray whale migration, one of the world's most magnificent and accessible wildlife spectacles is now underway. We are off to a great start for our 2003/2004 winter whale watch season. The gray whales are now heading southbound to Baja, and so far they have delighted our participants with their presence. For the weekend of December 26-28, our Half Moon Bay Saturday afternoon departure watched 2 grays, 6 harbor porpoise, 3 Dall's porpoise, 3 California sea lions, 1 harbor seal, and 15 species of birds, including a tufted puffin, 2 Rhinoceros auklets, 10 Surf Scoters, 5 species of Gulls, 1 Common Loon, Northern Fulmars, Pink-footed and Sooty Shearwaters, 300 Brown Pelicans, Common Murres, and 20 Double-crested cormorants. Sunday's Half Moon Bay trip saw 5 gray whales, California sea lions, and 10 species of birds.

Our San Francisco departures also had great trips. Friday's Dec. 26th trip saw 7 grays, 4 of which were seen within 100-150 yards. Other highlights included 9 harbor porpoise, 25-30 Dall's porpoise, 200 California sea lions, 50-60 Northern elephant seals, 10-12 harbor seals, and 17 species of birds. Six more gray whales were viewed on Sunday, migrating together.

For the weekend of January 3rd, Our Half Moon Bay Saturday departure watched 5 grays, including a group of 2, and a group of 3 travelling together. There were also 2 sea lions, and murres, cormorants, pelicans, loons, Bonapart's skua, Northern fulmars, and Sooty shearwaters. Our San Francisco Saturday trip produced 2 grays. Whale watchers had a beautiful view of the Southeast Farallon Islands and also enjoyed viewing harbor porpoise, harbor seals, California sea lions, Steller sea lions and 13 species of birds.