April 11,2023 Tuesday

Heavy FOG continues: 55 degrees early morning, wind 0-1mph visibility less than 1 mile out. Mid morning fog lifting to over 2 mile visibly and cleared up by noon despite gray skies. House finches are feasting on coreopsis seeds and mourning doves coo and preen on the observation deck. Sea lions are out and drying off on Sea Lion Rock-the nearest to shore set of pinnacles. It is a delight to see so many out and up on the rocks all at once. Usually they are resting on the rocks below the bluff or out hunting and feeding with less than a handful scrambling to top of pinnacles. Loud barking can be heard as they alternate taking the top spot and settle back in as new sea lions climb up or off and go back into the water.

Early afternoon an osprey was seen near shore heading south.

2:37 pm the 6th cow/calf pair of 2023 to migrate past Point Dume came in close to shore. The cow was underweight with mild dip in cervical neck area and visible scapular areas but not sunken which still indicate a mild loss of body volume. Gray whale moms (cows) lose 1/3 of body weight while nursing calfs on milk that contains 50-55% fat. It will take up to five months in the feeding grounds to gain back the blubber layer needed for next years migration. The pair stopped in Pirates Cove displaying several behaviors including, head lifts, rolling, bubble blasts and flukes up out of the water. Audible blows on several surfacings delighted beachgoers and nature hikers up on the bluff. The pair traveled close to shore for over a 1/2 a mile before heading out to deeper water.

Clouds and fog rolled back inland at sunset and up into the canyons. Totally different blue skies few miles north looking back towards Point Dume from County Line. The sun set behind tall bank of clouds at the horizon and marine layer continued to drift inland with many cars pulling over to watch at different pull outs along the PCH and up the canyon roads.