Oceanic Society Naturalist: Gail Broesder aboard the vessel Captain Joey.  Highlights include 2 gray whales, four encounters of 12 humpack whales.

Participants encountered gray cloudy skies and calm seas. Two gray whales were seen on the trip to the Farallones: one small gray whale was seen near the islands, and the other gray whale was seen on the return trip just outside of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Four encounters of humpback whales impressed the passengers along the trip to the Farallon Islands. A group of three feeding humpbacks were seen diving and feeding, giving participants a good opportunity to see the whales for around 30 minutes. Later in the trip participants enjoyed humpbacks traveling near the surface with lots of flukes. A total of 12 humpbacks were seen on the trip showing participants both feeding and diving behaviors. The types of pinnipeds seen were California sea lions, Steller sea lions and harbor seals were seen near the islands.

Birds seen on the trip were: Western grebes, Sooty shearwaters, Double-crested cormorants, Brandt's cormorants, Pelagic cormorants, phalaropes, Heermann's gulls, California gulls, Western gulls, as well as tufted puffins, Cassin's auklets, Pigeon guillemots, and Common murres.

Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf, depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Sunday, November 25 is our last trip this season. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 256-9941. 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. 

Oceanic Society Naturalist Pete Winch aboard Salty Lady—highlights include one Gray whale at the islands and three Humpback whales at the Continental Shelf.

Participants enjoyed calm seas and clear skies on their trip to the Farallon Islands. Approximately 2 miles West of SEFI, participants spotted one Gray whale. The animal came within 100 feet of the boat and its back and blows were seen for approximately 10 minutes. Also, in this area, participants had a 10 minute encounter with a Humpback whale that came within 120 feet of the boat. At the Continental Shelf, the back, blows, and flukes of two more Humpback whales were viewed within 75 feet of the boat. This encounter lasted 15 minutes.

Other marine mammals spotted on the trip included 15 Harbor porpoises, 50 California sea lions, 2 Stellar sea lions, and 2 Harbor seals.

Sea birds observed on the trip included 50 Western grebes, 30 Northern fulmars, 1 Buller's shearwater, 20 Sooty shearwaters, 120 Brown pelicans, 20 Double-crested cormorants, 50 Brandt's cormorants, 40 Pelagic cormorants, 100 Surf scoters, 10 Common mergansers, 30 Red-necked phalaropes, 20 Heerman's gulls, 10 California gulls, 120 Western gulls, 50 Elegant terns, 200 Common murres, 100 Cassin's auklets, 1 Rhinoceros auklet.

Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf, depart from San Francisco on weekends (and some Fridays) through November. Sunday, November 25 is our last trip this season. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 256-9941. 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. Gray Whale Watching starts December 22nd.

Oceanic Society Naturalist Susan Sherman aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sighting of 2 Gray whales and 3 Humpback whales.

Photo taken by trip participant Dan Murphy. 

Just north of the Great Arch at SEFI, participants enjoyed encounters with one adult and one juvenile Gray whale. The encounter lasted 45 minutes and the juvenile was observed coming up high out of the water 3 times. Participants also observed a juvenile Humpback whale that breached approximately 25 times, rolling over with flipper slapping, flukes and blows. Everyone watched for an hour. On the return trip, a cow/calf pair of Humpback whales was seen breaching for about another 60 minutes.

Other marine mammals observed included about 20 Harbor porpoises, California sea lions and Harbor seals.

Sea birds observed at the islands included Western grebes, Pink-footed shearwaters, Sooty shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Brandt's cormorants, Pelagic cormorants, Surf Scoters, Red-necked phalaropes, Red phalaropes, Heerman's gulls, California gulls, Western gulls, Elegant Terns, Common murres, Pigeon guillemots, Cassin's auklets, Rhinoceros auklets, and Tufted puffins.

Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf, depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Sunday, November 25 is our last trip this season. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 256-9941. 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. 

Oceanic Society Naturalist Susan Sherman aboard Salty Lady—highlights include sightings and one breach from nine Humpback whales close to the boat for 40 minutes. Three of the nine humpbacks approached the boat for a closer look. There were also 2 Gray whales, 10 harbor porpoises, puffins in breeding plumage,  and the dorsal fin of a Great White shark.

Upon reaching the Farallon Islands, participants observed 2 Gray whales. They were observed for about 30 minutes, and participants were able to see barnacles and lice patches on the backs of the whales. At the Continental Shelf (3 miles southwest of SW Farallon Island), participants observed 9 Humpback whales engaging in a variety of behaviors. Several were deep diving for krill, four were shallow diving, three came alongside the boat and lay on the surface for 10 minutes. They appeared to just be watching us. A juvenile breached and head-slapped 8 or 9 times.

Other marine mammals sighted included 10 Harbor porpoises, Stellar sea lions, Harbor seals and California sea lions. The fin of a Great White Shark was observed at the surface.

Sea birds observed at the islands included Black-footed albatross, Sooty shearwaters, Pink-footed shearwaters, Brown pelicans, Double-crested cormorants, Brandt's cormorants, Pelagic cormorants, Surf scoters, Red-necked phalaropes, red phalaropes, Black oystercatcher, Heerman's gulls, California gulls, Western gulls, Elegant Terns, Common murres, Pigeon guillemots, Cassin's auklets, Rhinoceros auklets, Tufted puffins.

Naturalist-led trips to the Farallon Islands and, weather permitting, the Continental Shelf, depart from San Francisco on weekends May through November. Sunday, November 25 is our last trip this season. Make your reservations today! Call (415) 256-9941. 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.