March 2

Shortly after daybreak, Caroline and I meet a small group of fellow whale watchers on an observation deck at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, situated on a sheer cliff, 125 feet above the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. As part of the Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project, we join other volunteers of the American Cetacean Society weekly to identify and count marine mammals, with a focus on Eastern Pacific Gray whales (stock photo) that swim by here on their lengthy migration route. During the first 2 hours, we only manage to see two “porpoising” dolphins off shore while near the deck, a perching Allen’s Hummingbird and on the deck, a few friendly White Crowned Sparrows. While waiting for whales to show up, I exit the deck and approach a nearby Palm tree to observe a singing Savannah Sparrow as well as a Northern Mocking Bird. Following an earthen trail along the bluff, I first spot a foraging Desert Cottontail rabbit and then a Honeybee feeding on blossoms of California Lilac. Looking down at the rugged coastline, I notice a rock formation near shore occupied by some perching Cormorants. Close to the trails edge, I come upon several webs of funnel-weaver spiders, made visible by morning dewdrops condensing on their silken strands. Returning to the observation deck, I notice more spotters have joined Caroline and the rest of our group. Also, I check the white board that is updated daily for the many visitors who stop by to inquire about our sightings. Despite difficult viewing conditions due to an incoming marine layer of fog, we finally spot the “blows” and “backs” of a pair of gray whales heading north. As we continue to track them, one flukes. These amazing creatures have the longest known migration of any mammal. They travel 10,000-12,000 miles round trip every year between their winter calving lagoons in the warm waters of Mexico and their summer feeding grounds in the cold Arctic seas (Stock photo). Around noon as the sky clears and the temperature reaches 70 degrees, we bid farewell to the Tuesday morning team and head back to our winter home.

Eying the ocean

Scanning for clues

Spouts of air

Not many views

Whale of gray

Instinct your guide

Miles to swim

Calf along side

Gentle behemoth

Much to admire

Safely get home

My one desire

D. DeGraaf