Whale Watching- Farallon Island and Eco Tours,San Francisco Bay

July 18th, 2004- Vessel "Superfish". Special Continental Shelf 9 hour Trip
With less than a Ľ mile of visibility on our journey to the Southeast Farallon Islands we were able to smell the islands before even seeing them! Although they were enshrouded in fog we were still able to see the multitudes of birds, seals and sea lions covering the rocks. Just as we were about to leave we sighted a Gray whale and after spending some time with this whale we ventured off into more fog and much deeper water. Suddenly, the fog lifted and we were treated to incredible vistas of bright sunshine and deep blue water. We searched for wildlife heading north for awhile and then looped around and headed south and when we were about five nm from the Farallones (still completely enveloped in fog) we were treated to one of nature's most spectacular sights - six blue whales! The spectacular colors of the water and the reflections of the light off the light gray bodies of the blue whales while submerged just beneath the surface were truly unforgettable! Just as we thought we had seen all there was to see for one day, we encountered yet another large whale, the Humpback, on our way back to San Francisco!

Report By: Carol Keiper, Marine Biologist/Naturalist

April 2nd, 2004- Vessel "Superfish". Sunny Day, Hazy. Rolling gentle waves. The islands were hidden by haze most of the trip out. We could only make them out in the distance for last half and hour of the passage to the islands, but they looked very mythical and alluring in the light marine haze. We stopped in Fisherman's cover and the Island was covered in bird staking out their territory for breeding. Entire faces of the island were covered in Murre Birds, and Gulls. We also saw Surf Scooters, Brandt’s Cormorants, Double-Crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants and Pigeon Guillemots. The scientists on the islands were talking about a pair of tufted puffins being in the area on the radio, but we did not see them. We did see a pod of two or three California Gray Whales off the Southwent side of the island and observed them for about 30 minutes. They were feeding, sounding, diving. blowing, and showing flukes. At one point one of them gave us quite a showing by rolling over slowly and on their side for a few minutes. On the trip home we saw a pod of 6 to 10 Gray Whales, may have been more by the weather bouy. These whales were very active diving, sounding, blowing, showing their flukes and backs. We stayed with them for another 20 to 30 minutes. In both cases of the whale sites the whale dives lasted about 3 or 4 minutes under water between surfaces. There were very few harbor porpoises. To avoid the outgoing ebb tide, we came in North of Cronkite. The coast was beautiful in the sunshine after the lifted haze. Two blows were spotted North of the Point Bonita Lighthouse, but the evaded us right after that. Everyone had a great time. Special Guest, Larry Otis.

March 28th, 2004- Vessel "Superfish". Clear Sunny Day. Rolling gentle waves. Made it to the islands. Spotted a pod of Orcas, one male, three females on the way to the Farallon Islands. Traveled with them for about 5 to 10 minutes. Had many gray Whale sitings at the islands. Many Birds, Sea lions, and Seals at the Islands. Nice Trip.

March 27th, 2004- Trip Cancelled due to high winds and waves and bad weather forcast.

March 26th, 2004- Very unusual occurance, we went out the mouth of the San Francisco Bay and found the height of the waves and distance apart unpassable and turned around without going through the Potato Patch. This has happened to us twice since 2002 when we started these trips. We post it here because this could happen. While we make every effort to prudently cancel trips, sometimes we just don't know until we get out there. The weather was beautiful, the information on the NOAA site looked fine, but when we got out there, it was too rough.

March 21st, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Made it to the Farallon Islands. Saw whales. It was a great trip and led by one of our best Naturalists.

March 20th, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Made it to the Farallon Islands. Saw a nice small pod of Gray Whales playing in the Surf on the North West Side in the waves. Got in the biggest Pod of Gray whales I have ever seen on the SouthEast side of the Island. While we stayed our proper distance from them, they came up to us. There could of been 15 to 30 whales in this pod. We were surrounded by Whales blowing, fluking, diving and showing their tails. The whole boat was in awe and everyone was very quite. Some of the whales came very close to us. The sound of their blows was an absolute definition of the word awesome. Two came right next to the boat for about 5 minutes, and their rolling dives made clear how large they were. It was an incredible day.

March 19th, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Made it to the Farallon Islands. Observed Whales, Bird and Sea Mammals.

March 14th, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Made it to the Farallon Islands. Observed Whales, Bird and Sea Mammals.

March 13th, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Could not make it to the Farallon Islands. Took a northern California Coastal trip to Point Reyes Lighthouse. Much like trip on March 12th except clearer and sunnier.

March 12th, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Could not make it to the Farallon Islands. Took a northern California Coastal trip to Point Reyes Lighthouse. It was incredibly beautiful. We did stop and observe a pair of two Gray Whales for about 30 minutes south of Double Point and North of Bolinas, but they were shy. The day was incredible, the scenery beautiful. Large flocks of seabirds near Double Point. Full flowing Waterfalls both North and South of Double Point. We made it right under the Point Reyes Lighthouse which provided a stunning photo opportunity.

March 7th, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Made it to the Farallon Islands. Observed Whales, Bird and Sea Mammals.

March 6th, 2004 - Vessel "Superfish". Made it to the Farallon Islands. Observed Whales, Bird and Sea Mammals.

February 14th, 2004- Vessel "Superfish". Clear Sunny Day. Rolling gentle waves. Made it to the islands. Saw three gray whales. The Islands were very green. In terms of birds we saw Cassis Aucklet, Loons, Muirs, Shearwaters, Surf Scooters, Brown Pelicans, among others. Saw harbor porpoise, Sealions, Seals and Lions Mane jellyfish. Same entry as Feb. 8th, because almost same conditions.

February 8th, 2004- Vessel "Superfish". Clear Sunny Day. Rolling gentle waves. Made it to the islands. Saw three gray whales. The Islands were very green. In terms of birds we saw Cassis Aucklet, Loons, Muirs, Shearwaters, Surf Scooters, a Loon, Brown Pelicans, among others. Saw harbor porpoise, Sealions, Seals and Lions Mane jellyfish.

October 5th- Vessel "Taku". Flat waters, sunny and high visibility. Billy Maley narrated. Spotted a white shark at the Farallon Islands, not a very clear sighting, about 10 to 12 feet long. A juvenile gray whale was near us most of the time we were there. Spotted blows in the distance. On the way home the Harbor Porpoises had moved South and surrounded us for the last 10 miles to San Francisco Bay. No one was seasick.

October 4th - Vessel "Taku". High Fog and rough waters. Made a decision that it was too rough to go to the islands. Had Carol Keiper on board, an expert marine biologist, went north hugging the shore towards Point Reyes. Spotted 2 or 3 Minke whales at Double Point. Was surround by hundreds of Harbor Porpoises north of Double Point. Spotted a Humpback Whale on the way south. It was a beautiful trip. No one was seasick.

September 21st -- Vessel "Prime Time". Great Trip. Spotted a mother humpback and her baby at the Farallon Islands, many gray whales and a tufted puffin. One tufted puffin apparently lagging behind the group. On the return trip spotted a pod of Orcas about half way back to San Francisco Bay.

September 20th -- Flat Water, Low lying fog all the way to islands. The fog broke about 10 miles away from the island and we had a whale watching extravaganza. There were many pods of gray whales in all directions in groups of two or three. We saw flukes, soundings, breechings, and many blows, and sufacings. We also saw a small shark about 7 feet long with a seal in it's mouth, but we did not think it was a white shark. It went by so fast it was hard to ID. We also saw a dead floating bloated sheep. Fog cleared for the ride home for great viewing of the coast and bridge.

September 7th -- White Shark sitings have been reported in the area off Stinson Beach and out near the Farallon Islands.

September 1st, Front coming in, too rough to go to the Islands. Took trip to about 1 mile south of Pt. Reyes Lighthouse. Foggy. Sited many harbor porpoises, seals, sea lions, and birds. Many Lions Mane jellyfish. No whales sited.

August 31st, low lying fog and overcast which provided smooth water for watching. We spotted at least 2 Blue Whales about 3/4s of the way to the Farallon Islands. Many Tufted Puffins and other birds at the Islands. Unusually noisy with birds. We spotted a very large, very unusual siting on the way back which we think may have been a basking shark. It hovered close to the surface, swam slowly and had a shark like fin. We stopped and watched for a while, but it never surfaced completely to make the id. Many Lions Mane Jellyfish present in the waters. Many seals actively jumping out of the water like dolphin, like something may be chasing them.

August 17th, foggy the whole way to the Farallon Islands. Visibility was very low. Was very ethereal but not a very enjoyable trip due to the waves coming from a strange direction with an incoming front that brought unusual thunderstorms to the Bay Area. Saw many Tufted Puffins and other birds. Many Jellyfish in the waters on the way back.

August 11, Could not make to the Farallons, went up the coast and anchored at Stinson Beach. Saw a bottlenose dolphin who played with us for quite a while! Saw many harbor porpoise.The Bottlenose Dolphin have been reported spotted from the beach. Sail by the Wind jellyfish still everywhere, larger older and purple now.

August 10, gray Whales and Humpback Whales spotted. Many gray Whale Blows on the western side of the island, a mother and baby humpback spotted on the south side of the island in the usual location we seem to find humpbacks. The baby was very playful and made full breeches. The trip back was beautiful.

July 12th, Too rough to go to the Farallon Islands and we toured up the coast.

July 6th 2003, Many gray Whales spotted.

June 28th 2003, Sunset Trip to the Farallon Islands. Glorious weather, people in tee shirts, saw 7 enormous gray whales feeding at sunset. They were very curious in us and came up to the boat. On came along side of us for a while showing us just how large he was.

June 4th 2003, Private School Charter. No whales. The Kids had a great time.

See a Flash Slide Show of a fall expedition, 2002 with a great white shark.

Guests on a spring Farallon Island expedition

Naturalists Trish Mirabella, Theresa Simmedinger and Guest we picked up at the Islands.