CALIFORNIA WHALE WATCHING

If you're interested in whale watching, you've come to the right place! Northern California has some of the best whale watching there is - and you can even do it from shore!

WHAT MIGHT WHALE WATCHING IN CALIFORNIA NET YOU?

When you think of California whale watching, you probably are thinking

(CC) Ryan Harvey

Each year (from mid-winter to late spring) they slowly make their way down the coasts of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon & California to reach Baja; then they turn around and make the trip back - the longest migration of any creature on earth.

Another spectacular whale off Northern California shores is the Killer Whale or Orca - known to a lot of us as Shamu from SeaWorld or Willie from the movie Free Willie.

These tuxedoed mammals are easily recognized by their stark black & white appearance, and their playful nature. They can be seen year-round and are often spotted spy-hopping, leaping, and generally having a great time as if they were putting on a show for us!

(CC) Franco Folini

But there are several other species of whale off the coast of Northern California, and there's California whale watching of some sort or other out there all year long.

The largest whale - in fact, the largest animal ever - is the Blue Whale (ever wonder why those little cartoon whales are so often colored blue?), which is seen off the coast of California in the summer and fall (June through October).

They can be identified by their tall, narrow blow (up to 30 feet), their size, and their coloring, which appears from light blue to bright blue when seen through the water.

Let's not forget another of our behemoths - the Humpback Whale! These guys, too, are playful - jumping, breaching, slapping the water with their fins as they hang about (from April to December), or head for their southern breeding grounds in the late winter.

Remember Humphrey, who apparently lost his way and ended up in the Sacramento River for so many weeks? Follow the Sacramento River to Rio Vista - there's a monument to Humphrey there!

(CC) Dan Cicconi

More California whale watching you might not be aware of:

• Minke Whale - Minkes are around all year, but there are more of them in summer and fall. They're a smaller whale (smallest of the baleens ), and they are usually closer to shore than some of the others, but they're hard to spot because their blow is nearly non-existent. If you're near a rocky ocean-bottom, keep a lookout - large dorsal fin & black body? It just might be a Minke!

• Fin Whale - long, sleek & streamlined, these whales are off the Northern California coast in summer and fall. They stay farther offshore, but they have a tall blow, so you might spot them but not be able to ID them for certain. Their most noticeable feature (if you can get close enough) is their jaw coloration - the lower jaw is dark on the left side, and white on the right side, making them very distinctive!

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• Baird's Beak Whale - this is a whale that spends its time in deep, offshore waters, has an indistinct blow, and tends to avoid ships. As you might guess, sightings are rare, but if you have the chance to be offshore in the fall, that's the time to look for them.




• Short-finned Pilot Whale - the fact that they are typically found in deeper waters (although they may come closer to shore), combined with their less than impressive numbers off California's shores, makes them a rarer find for most of us.

In addition to California's whale watching, you'll find an abundance of other wildlife to espy as well. So, let's take a look at what's waiting for you to discover when YOU go whale watching in California!

CALIFORNIA WHALE WATCHING ISN'T JUST ABOUT WHALES!

Nope, there's more you're likely to see than - dare I say it - JUST whales . . .

While you're on the lookout for the Big Guys, keep an eye peeled for these little fellas as well:

• Great White Sharks; don't get too close, though!




(CC) Manoel Lemos




• Risso's Dolphins; they look a lot like a Pilot Whale

• Dall's Porpoise; these guys have a twin, too - they have black & white coloring similar to the Orca

• White-sided Dolphins; I call these the Playboys of the Pacific - they just LOVE to frolic!

• Harbor Porpoise; an inshore porpoise that likes shallower waters, so you have a pretty good chance of seeing them from almost any beach

• Elephant Seals; these are the ones with the big, bulbous noses




(CC) Ryan Somma




• Northern Fur Seals; these are the seals of the infamous Fur Trade, thanks to their thick and luxurious double coat

• Harbor Seals; these guys are true seals and have spotted coats - they're the ones we most often see along the coast as they're very common

• Sea Otters; these are the CUTEST little guys, so fun and playful! It's so much fun to watch them lying on their backs, opening and washing their food at dinner time!




(CC) Nic McPhee




• California Sea Lions; very numerous, very trainable, these fellas are the ones used for entertainment

• Leather Back Sea Turtles; largest of all turtles, they don't have a hard bony shell - not so common, but if you're lucky, you might see one

Well, I hope you've enjoyed our little tour of Northern California Whale Watching & Other Sea Life!

Click here for some whale watching videos I'm sure you'll enjoy:

Wondering how to go about a California whale watching trip? Check here for starters:

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