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Pods
of Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) Make regular scheduled seasonal
appearances along Newport to feed on the bottom of our shallow coastal
waters during their annual 5,000 mile migration from the artic waters of
the Bering Sea. 
©
Photo by
Marine Discovery Tours
They move quite close to shore, traveling at about 5 miles per hour on their way to the warm lagoons along the west coast of Baja California, where the Mothers will give birth to their calves. (The North bound trip March-April is about 1/2 that speed with the calves and their mothers bring up the rear) |
They
appear the week between Christmas and New Years, and at this time knowledgable
residents are on hand at the rocky headlands to act as volunteer interpreters
to our guest who want to see a whale. Watch for signs that say "Whale
watching Spoken Here."
In place of teeth, Gray whales have great strands of flexible baleen hanging from the upper jaw (looking much like a row of combs), which they use to strain their food of (bottom dwelling) plankton and other small invertebrates and fish. These mamals reach 45 feet in length (a cross country bus is only about 40 feet) and 45 tons in weight. On the average adult females are larger than the males. We do enjoy a few resident rogue whales here year round, who have dropped out of their pods for various periods of time to make the Central Coast their home. |
Some
tips:
• Visitors should be equipped with appropriate clothing for cold winds or rain which may come up. • The best places to see the whales, are at any elevated coastal headland that juts out into the ocean, especially ones with good elevation. • Observe in the early morning hours, before winds cause white caps on the water's surface. • Overcast days are good because there is less glare. • Scan the water's surface for upward shooting vapor as the whales spout out air after a dive. • Whale watching can be enjoyed from shore, excursion boat or from airborn observation. For more information
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