Aug. 27: I saw 8-10 whales on Tue. and Wed. right out from the parking lot at Bodega Head, some VERY close to the rocks. The whale migration docent, Larry, was out there both days. He says that the whales are going to stay there and are not migrating. He calls them the summer residents, and says there are 20 of them. It’s come down the whale pipeline (their soundings can carry for up to 1000 miles!) that there isn’t so much food in the Bering Sea, so Larry says they are going to be here until Nov. or Dec., before traveling south. There is an abundance of krill in the Bodega area. On both days, very close in, there was one especially large (50′) & smooth whale that Larry calls Mr. Clean (probably MS. Clean), because he’s so barnacle free and doesn’t have any scratches. Quite a show out there. Look for Larry. He’s a pleasant looking older fellow, with gray hair and beard, who sits on the end-of-parking lot rocks in a folding chair. He’s full of information and loves to share it. Happy whale watching!
Debbie
Aug 25: If you want to see the whales, today would be the day to go while the weather holds. We launched from Doran Beach and headed out to the Seal Rock where we had seen a blow even before we launched. We closed on the whale inshore of the rock when it got quite close to where waiting. The whale dove and surfaced sever times close to where we were waiting, he dove, we waited then I had to back paddle because the water was starting to swirl around my kayak. Think it was a Minke.
We then headed south for a mile or so, turned and headed for Bodega Head outside of Seal Rock where we picked up a Gray. We tracked the whale for about 20 minutes watching it go deep to feed. Back to the beach for food and the addition of a paddling jacket. After the break we headed out again and as soon as we rounded the head we ran into three whales who were just poking along doing whale stuff. Spent between one to two hours pacing the whales up and down the coast and watching the people on the cliffs. We were close enough to hear the whales inhale as well as exhale, it’s much softer. One of the reasons we went outside the whales was that it took us out of being down wind of them, whale breath is not good.
While crashing waves on the rocky shore can be intimidating being 100 yards or more off shore was quite safe yesterday. There was about a 3 foot swell running with an ocasionall 7 footer coming through. The wind ? about 5 to 10 knots from the northwest.
VT Don
Aug 21: Today to the whales were between Seal Rock and the buoy about half way to the mouth of Tomales. I counted 3 that were just swimming back and forth between them. Another one was hanging out in the channel between Seal Rock and Bodega Head. Hope you see them tomorrow.
Sig
Aug. 18: Hey gang. I’ve been camping at Bodega/Doran the last couple days. Saw a couple whales Mon. afternoon, but it was pretty choppy w/cold wind, so I didn’t stick around. Went back out yesterday around 2:00p, and saw 6-8 pretty close to shore, right off the parking lot viewpoint. Watched them hang about, for an hour or so. Long back sightings, with a bit of tail now and then. Today was so flat calm–great conditions, so checked it out again before coming home. Saw two whales down south, just off the harbor buoy, cavorting around. That was all. I’ve been out there a number of times over the last 3 weeks or so, and have always seen them. Awesome.
Debbie (of the bright orange rec boat)
Aug 18: Thanks for the heads up. Great excuse to have fish n chips at The Boathouse. I saw at least 4 whales surfacing frequently and not moving very far. I assume they were feeding. I didn’t think they were Gray Whales but after I got home and compared my pictures to whale guides I decided they were skinny young Gray Whales that hadn’t developed the prominent mottling of adults. A few pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/111357793106017929533/WhalesAtBodegaHead#
-Paul
Aug 18: A friend and I met at Bodega Bay for breakfast this morning and then went out to Bodega Head to check for whales. We saw one whale quite a ways out.
Joe
Aug. 17: A friend called me just before sunset tonight from Bodega Head all excited about her whale sightings. Multiple sightings of perhaps 10 or more whales close to shore. I am going up in the morning to check it out.
Joe
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