Animals in the United States

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grey whale :: Article Creator

Gray Whale Migration, California Brown Pelican, Red Flag Warnings

A breeching whale

A breeching whale

Gray Whale Migration Off San Diego County's Coast peaks this month. The best view spots from land are high points close to the surf. Aside from the whale-watching overlook at Cabrillo National Monument, try Sunset Cliffs, the vest-pocket parks and dead-end streets from Pacific Beach to Scripps Park in La Jolla, various ocean overlooks on the trail system at Torrey Pines State Reserve, the cliffs opposite Carmel Valley Road south of Del Mar, overlooks opposite Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach, and various clifftop viewpoints and beach access stairways in Encinitas and Leucadia. Scan the ocean a few hundred yards to a couple of miles out using high-power binoculars. Best times for viewing are about 9 a.M. To noon.

A Brown pelican takes flight

The California Brown Pelican Displays Its Most Colorful Plumage on its head and neck from late December through February in anticipation of the March-April breeding season. Brown pelicans typically stay in flocks, and can often be seen flying in "V" formation along the coast. The brown pelican can spot a fish from heights of 70 feet and dives headfirst into the water to grab its prey. No other known pelican uses this technique to catch fish.

The Palisades and Eaton fires in the Los Angeles area as seen by the GOES18 satellite.

U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Fires North Of Us are creating lots of toxic smoke, some of which is drifting south to San Diego County. Evidence of small particulates could be found on our streets and vehicles last weekend, especially along the coast. (Fire can also lead to some very orange sunsets.) Santa Ana winds typically blow the smoke out over the ocean; then, when the winds shift, the airborne particulates can return to land, sometimes north or south of where they originated. Santa Ana conditions returned to San Diego on Monday and fire crews are on alert in hopes that we don't see any fires in our local mountains. Dry brush with strong offshore winds and dangerously low humidity levels are the perfect conditions for a fire to start and spread. Red flag warnings are in place in our inland valleys and mountains until Thursday, when the winds will die down and humidity levels return to normal.


Gray Whales, Ahoy: Go In Search Of The Marvelous Migrating Giants

SPYING A WONDROUS OCEAN ANIMAL? It's something that can be done at any point of the calendar, at just about any place along the California coast. You might admire a colorful anemone in a tidepool, or a crab scuttling across the sand, or some frolicsome dolphins or seals in the waves. We truly live adjacent to an oceanic bounty, and every day can bring a new delight, or several. But if you want to talk about the gargantuan grays, those wondrous whales making their eons-old migratory journeys, you'll want to be out and near the surf in a cooler month. Island Packers, the venerable boat company known for all sorts of nature-watching cruises, begins its whale-watching season Dec. 26, a happy occasion for those who find cetaceans sensational (so, yes, that would be all of us).

THE EXCURSION... You'll want to book? It's the Island Packers Winter Whale Watch, a bracing out that departs from Ventura. The "marine mammal diversity" on display is impressive, but if you'd like to spy a whale, you'll need to keep a lookout for the telltale mist or spray as well as, yes, their fabulous flukes. Staffers will keep guests up on how to watch for whales, and every tip is welcome, for while gray whales are indeed some of the largest mammals around, they're moving past our shores in an expeditious fashion. The trips run around three hours, or a bit longer, and cost $47 for an adult (other ticketing tiers are available).

THE (BLOW) WHOLE STORY: It's true that not every whale watching cruise yields a sighting, but there are many marvels out on the waves, from barking pinnipeds to all sorts of seabirds. Check out all of the wonderful, wintry, and whale-y information at this site, but don't dally: The grays will rule the day, or days, through April.


Winter Whale Watch Week On Oregon Coast: Where To See Gray Whales

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