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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/
at

36 comments:

  1. HopeJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:00 AM

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

    take care
    Hope

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  2. MoannieJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:32 AM

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

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:51 AM

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

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  4. Maggie MayJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:53 AM

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

    Nuts in May

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  5. DawnJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    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!

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  6. rjerdeeJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    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...

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  7. Monkey ManJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Just one more reason the Oregon coast is awesome.

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  8. DonnaJanuary 5, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    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!!!

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  9. Brian MillerJanuary 5, 2011 at 2:04 PM

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

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  10. Sally WesselyJanuary 5, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    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.

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  11. UnknownJanuary 5, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    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.

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  12. potsocJanuary 5, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    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.

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  13. yayaJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    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!

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  14. decomondoJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:30 PM

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

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  15. Arkansas PattiJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    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.

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  16. janisJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:50 PM

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

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  17. MargueriteJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    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.

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  18. StacyJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:40 PM

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

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  19. BarbJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:18 PM

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

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  20. Linda MyersJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    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.

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  21. Woman in a WindowJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:20 AM

    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

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  22. NancyJanuary 6, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    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!

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  23. dsJanuary 6, 2011 at 8:58 AM

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

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  24. #1NanaJanuary 6, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    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.

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  25. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I have always hoped to see them!

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  26. VagabondeJanuary 7, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    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.

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  27. Grandmother MaryJanuary 7, 2011 at 9:59 AM

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

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  28. HilaryJanuary 7, 2011 at 4:54 PM

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

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  29. RNSANEJanuary 7, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    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

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  30. UnknownJanuary 8, 2011 at 4:20 AM

    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.

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  31. RuthJanuary 8, 2011 at 5:46 AM

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

    That blue!

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  32. LisaJanuary 8, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    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.

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  33. tigerJanuary 18, 2011 at 8:34 AM

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

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  34. JasmineJanuary 19, 2011 at 2:13 AM

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

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  35. christyJanuary 19, 2011 at 7:07 AM

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

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  36. RobinJanuary 20, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    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/

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