About Observation Post #10
Half Moon Bay, California, United States
(37.46N, -122.44W)

Northbound gray whales may pass this post from January through April; in March, whale watching is in full-swing just off the San Mateo coastline. Half Moon Bay is about 25 miles (40 km) south of San Francisco and 10 miles (16 km) west of San Mateo. The famous big wave surf area is at the north edge of Half Moon Bay. Do you think the sounds of these waves may help guide their migration? Here also is the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, a natural refuge for plants and animals adapted to live at the edge of the ocean. Journey North gets sighting reports of gray whales from the captain of the Queen of Hearts during this vessel's whale-watching season in spring.

Do you see two whales in the photo? The misty spout tells us that one whale is blowing (exhaling).

Photo: Tom Kotzebu