Field Notes 2012
Monterey Bay, California, United States

First northbound cow/calf pair: March 11. We spotted a little blow and a big blow, although we didn't actually see the bodies. They are coming!

First northbound whale: February 8! Three whales were spotted heading north. By the end of February, nearly every gray whale they saw was headed north.

Numbers tapered off in February as Monterey Bay Whale Watch saw the end of the southbound migration and waited for the northbound whales to start coming.

Whale watchers aboard Monterey BAy Whale Watch trips spotted their first southbound gray whale December 11 and the numbers picked up until they saw 15 on Dec. 20. On January 15, 2012, they saw 45 gray whales! Sightings of 25, 30 and 36 were signs that it's a great migration year.