It was a long, short day: short because of fog and long because our first and only, on-effort sighting of a northbound Gray whale was at 3:45 that produced our total of three for the day.

It has been an action packed, crazy six weeks. That we have seen so many whales makes it hard to believe the first phase of the migration is ending. The good thing is that the second phase — calves — is just getting started. We do not expect a rush for ten to fifteen days; but, as many Counters returning from the lagoons can attest ... the calves will be be here soon enough.

Before we set up, at least one Cow/calf pair passed the Point, but the fog had a hold and we could not start — on-effort — until almost ten. A passerby told us that whales were in the Ellwood surf. We saw a pair well to the west of us at the Ellwood Oil Pier. We could not count them, but we are glad to know they are on their way north.

Gray whales northbound (all) 3 | Calves 0 — 2015 Count 872 | 009

Hours 6:19