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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Whale Migration.

From the last week of December, and for a month or so, one can see a great many whales right from the shore, with or without binoculars. Hundreds of whales are seen hourly, all over the coast of Oregon, on their way south to the warm waters of Mexico for their annual migration.

In June, they'll return with their calves, and some will linger in these waters, mothers and daughters cavorting around these rocks, visible from this rail any time of the day.  One surfer swears that they were watching him!

If you are ever able to see these marvelous creatures up close, please do.  Add this to your wish list: a visit to the Pacific shores either in late December/early January, or all month of June. 

A friend of mine who volunteers at the shore to help visitors recognize the spouts, tells me she spotted 35 whales during her shift. A great record.
For more information,  a list of locations and a map, visit:

http://www.whalespoken.com/

36 comments:

Hope said...

thanks for this post Rosaria
I would love to see this perhaps one day soon

take care
Hope

Moannie said...

I clicked on the picture, Rosario and think those two fins might have been whales. Beautiful coast line.

Anonymous said...

They are such incredible creatures!
And this is an awesome photograph!! Thanks so much for sharing. You have lifted me up!

Maggie May said...

That was a lovely post. It must be wonderful to see the whales.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Dawn said...

Have always wanted to catch this in real life. I always see the documentaries...but real life would be breathtaking I'm sure!!!
Lovely capture!

rjerdee said...

Awesome opportunities you have at your end of the world! I clicked on the photo and made it as big as possible but can't determine if I see anything there or not...

Monkey Man said...

Just one more reason the Oregon coast is awesome.

Donna said...

Such giant graceful creatures!! We saw some on a trip once and I was in awe! I think if I lived where you do, I would sit on the banks and never leave!! What amazing sights you see!!!

Brian Miller said...

wow. that would be so cool to see...my parents saw the whales once..

Sally Wessely said...

Sounds wonderful. A few years back I was able to go on a whale watch trip in Boston with my son and grandson. I know of fewer things in my life that made me so thrilled as when the whales came right up near the boat. It was amazing. I kept hoping I could take a "National Geographic" type photo. No luck. I didn't have the right kind of camera. Finally, I realized that I was having a once in a lifetime experience so I should just put the camera away and enjoy the moment. Your photo is wonderful.

Unknown said...

Your photos always remind me of our trip down the coast out there in 2009. I would love to see the whales. I doubt we'd ever be out there in December or January, but maybe someday we'll get there in June.

potsoc said...

Two years ago on a ferry from Rivière-du-loup to Saint-Siméon, a 45 minutes crossing on the Saint-Laurent River, we saw whales and beluga whales.
Beside the wharf at Saint-Siméon we saw a pod of about 12 whales. One man was standing there and cursing. That afternoon he had forked over 60$ on a whale sightseeing boat and had not seen one. Now he had a classical ballet show for nothing.

yaya said...

We saw whales on a cruise we took to Alaska a few years ago. They were wonderful to watch! How lucky you are to have that opportunity right in your back yard!

decomondo said...

How nice! I knew nothing about it! Thans for sharing, Rosaria.

Arkansas Patti said...

I would love to see one of those giants.
If you love whales and want to be moved to tears, read "The Last Whales" by Lloyd Robert Abbey. I read it years ago and it haunts me today.

janis said...

Oh how grand! Something I would feel very Blessed to witness!

Marguerite said...

Great photo! The whales are now one more attraction on my list, for when I visit Oregon. I'd like to in June, when they return with their calves.

Stacy said...

This is definately an item I want to put on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!

Barb said...

We are coming up the coast to Oregon in May - hope some of them might make an early appearance!

Linda Myers said...

The last time I saw whales was in Hawaii two years ago. We were in a glass-bottomed boat scattering my mother's ashes. We could hear the whales singing, and just as the ashes were spread on the water, one of the animals breached. It was a wonderful sendoff for my mom.

Woman in a Window said...

Do you know, I think perhaps if I were to see them I might feel incredibly sad. But perhaps it is because in seeing them, I woul know how close they are to us, and how our behaviour with the environment is so directly connected. So let me change my mind, we should ALL see the whales, the young with their mothers, and then try to justify how we live.

xo
erin

Nancy said...

We are hooked on whale watching! The Humpback return to the warm waters of Hawaii in December to have their calves and usually stay until April. We spend as much time as possible there during that time. I do love the whales!

ds said...

Whales always make me smile. How wonderful that you have so many opportunities to see them!

#1Nana said...

We are blessed to live in a beautiful state with such natural wonders. This fall we stopped at a whale viewing area just south of Lincoln City. Just as we got out of the car a whale breached right in front of us. It was like he was waiting just for us to put on a show. Truly amazing.

Anonymous said...

I have always hoped to see them!

Vagabonde said...

What a pleasure it is to look at your beautiful pictures. The sunset on 31st December is stunning. Thanks for coming to my blog and for your good wishes. I wish you many beautiful sunsets in 2011 plus loads of happiness, laughs and serenity.

Grandmother Mary said...

Seeing these magnificent creatures is an inspiration. I saw them on the other coast.

Hilary said...

I think that would be a wonderful experience. I'd so love to see whales. Marvelous creatures.

RNSANE said...

It is so exciting to spot whales..and, even dolphins. On a couple of my Alaska cruises, we were thrilled, several times, to the sight of orcas, and gray whales, lifting their bodies, out of the water. Many times, schools of dolphins have followed my ships, sometimes for as long as an
hour, cavorting and leaping, much to all of our delights.

We can spot whales, also, off the Monterey and, sometimes, even, off the San Francisco coast

Unknown said...

Ah, sounds much like when the Southern Right Whales pass our way to calve and mate - always a magnificent spectacle. And they're always so curious - they seem to love to investigate and explore - I've seen it happen several times.

Ruth said...

The Oregon coast is fantastic. But I've never seen the whales.

That blue!

Lisa said...

I had the wonderful experience of watching a whale that came close to the boat and breathed out the water. It was in San Diego when we went out on the whale-watching sail boat.

I also had the wonderful experience which is almost unbelievable when a group of dolphins came playing around our boat and did their jumps and dances. This was in Langkawi, Malaysia and I had never heard of such sightings. I hope it was not a dream but my family was there with me so it couldn't be a dream.

Your picture is beautiful. It makes me feel nostalgic for some reason.

tiger said...

Thank you very nice topic
tiger
http://sporthotnews2day.blogspot.com/

Jasmine said...

omgosh that is so cool! i've never seen a whale before. only dolphins or an occasional shark down here.

christy said...

This picture is beautiful! Did you take it? Wonderful!

Robin said...

Hi from the Washington coast! I live high up on the bluff, and see the spouts going north and south in season. I once happened by purest luck to be looking at the horizon at the exact moment when a whale breached clear out of the water and crashed back down. It's astounding when it happens to you. Glad they've made it this far to inspire us.

Robin
http://rustyring.blogspot.com/