Lift off

  

Humpback Whales off Bodega Head this morning (10 October 2025).

Here's a view of the splashdown after the breach:

 

 

It's been an amazing summer and fall for seeing Humpbacks off Bodega Head.  Whales were visible across the entire horizon today, both close to shore (within 1 mile) and far offshore.

 

A few more views, showing a dorsal fin, flukes, and spouts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Splash dance

  

Whale activity continued off of Bodega Head today (26 July 2025).  This afternoon I tried to get a few photos of breaching.  The whales were pretty far off (perhaps 1.5-2 miles), so these photos aren't the sharpest, but I'm sharing several for the record.

 

 

 

Lobtailing (slapping the flukes against the surface of the water), too :

 

 

 

 

And a view of splashes out near the horizon:

 

 

  

 

 

White on gray

  

We were on a field trip to the Fort Ross/Salt Point area today (16 July 2025).  I didn't have a chance for many photos, but there was lots of whale activity visible offshore (mostly humpbacks), so here's a photo for the record. 

Offshore spouts

  

A distant shot, but I wanted to record that there have been good numbers of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Bodega Head this week -- often 6-8 spouts or more visible across the horizon at any one time.  (And lots of pelican diving, too!)

Whale worth it?

 

 

Lots of whale activity off Bodega Head today (3 October 2022)...the most Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) I've seen at one time in a while.  They were quite a ways offshore, but at times there were at least 10 or more whales visible at one time.  Scanning the horizon, it was easy to see spouts, some lobtailing, a few breaches.  Not sure if the activity will continue, but it could be worth a look!

Fins and flukes

  

I don't have much time tonight, but here are a few Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) photos from the offshore boat trip on 21 August 2022.

This is the same whale showing its flukes:

 

 

 

 

Breach!

  

I know, it's a bit distant and blurry, but there were some nice Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaches out near the horizon today off Bodega Head.  Some full body breaches (with giant splashes), some flipper-slapping, some lob-tailing, some spouts, fins, and flukes.  A little bit of everything!  So here's one photo for the record on 24 June 2021.

At the surface

 

 

 

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) at the surface just offshore of Bodega Head, 17 October 2020.

Spouts offshore

 

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been visible offshore of Bodega Head recently.  They've been pretty far out, but the sun lights up their spouts at the end of the day.  Photographed from Bodega Head on 13 June 2020.  I hope you've enjoyed World Oceans Week!

Hooked tips

 

Descending Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) flukes, offshore of Bodega Head, 6 October 2019.

Offshore spouts

 

There were quite a few Humpback Whales off Bodega Head tonight (20 September 2019).

A big splash

 

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been quite active off Bodega Head during the last couple of days.  Although somewhat distant — near the horizon when viewed from shore — they've been breaching frequently, creating enormous splashes when they hit the surface.  If you're at the coast this weekend, scan the horizon for breaching Humpbacks.

Through the fog

 

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) spout off Bodega Head, 16 September 2018.

 

Surrounded by spouts

Here are a few more photos from the pelagic trip to Cordell Bank last Sunday (15 October 2017).  If I remember right, we encountered this group of whales ~20 miles off Bodega Head.

Three examples of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), followed by some audio recordings:

 

 

 

If you can't see the audio files below, click on the title of the post above to go directly to the web page.  Also, you might need to turn up the volume of your speakers to hear the sounds of the whales.  [The third file makes me laugh...it includes a brief commentary by Rick Powers, captain of the New Sea Angler.]

Diving and surfacing

Nice views of Humpback Whales from the boat trip to Cordell Bank on 14 August 2016:

 

 

 

In the last picture, one whale has just surfaced (on the left, you can see the mound-like splashguard surrounding the blowhole and the spray from the exhalation), and a second whale is diving (on the right, with flukes raised).

Breaking the surface

I haven't posted about a mammal in a while, so this afternoon I decided to try to photograph the Humpback Whales that have been visible off Bodega Head during the past week.  

I finally spotted a couple of whales, but they were pretty far offshore, so I wasn't having much luck with a good photo.  Here's the best shot — which isn't saying much, but at least it alerts you to watch for Humpbacks if you're at the coast anytime soon.  Look for the very short dorsal fin.

 

More surprising was that while I was trying to photograph the Humpbacks, another cetacean surfaced much closer to shore.  My view of it was brief, but I saw a fairly long, dark back and a very hooked dorsal fin (see next photo).

 

I waited and waited...and waited and waited.  And just when I thought this whale wasn't going to appear again, it surfaced, this time further offshore.  I barely captured it on film before it disappeared:

 

I'm pretty sure this was a Northern Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).  It was too large for a dolphin, i.e., too much back was visible before the dorsal fin appeared.  It was all by itself.  It swam very quickly and surfaced only twice before diving again and staying under for over 5 minutes.  Note that the dorsal fin was relatively tall and falcate (sickle-shaped).

It's not common to see Minke Whales from shore, or even from boats in this area (in my limited experience).  So when the viewing conditions are right, as they have been recently, with calm seas, light winds, and overcast conditions, keep your eyes open for whales breaking the surface!