Newborn Gray Whale Calf Spotted near Moss Landing

    On January 16th, 2012 our crew aboard High Spirits was three miles outside Moss Landing when Captain Jim spotted a blow. We were a little surprised since most gray whales that pass through the Monterey Bay choose to cut from point to point, taking the shortcut rather than following the coast and venturing inside the bay. But few do, and most we find inside the bay don't surface as much as the ones who take the short cut and linger near Point Pinos. Being just three miles outside Moss Landing meant we were well inside the bay and quite close to shore.

Mother Gray Whale. Photo by Kate Cummings.

       We approached slowly and stayed further away than usual to make sure we didn't disturb the lone traveler. The whale surfaced often, hardly showing her back, and never dove. We could follow her foot prints (the calm circles created on the surface of the water created by the upward stroke from a whale's flukes) one after another as she steadily headed closer to the beach. When she was below the surface, we noticed what we thought was a sea lion tagging along with her. We took pictures with our telephoto lens' and zoomed in on the image. Then it was clear: this whale had a newborn calf!

Newborn Gray Whale Calf. Photo by Kate Cummings.

      Our pictures revealed that the calf might have been just hours old being so tiny and having fetal folds so apparent on it's little body. Once we realize how delicate the situation had become, we maintained our distance and sat in idle as the two continued to the beach.

      Most calves are born once the pregnant mothers reach the nursery lagoons in Baja California, Mexico. However, some calves are born prematurely along the migration south. The two appeared healthy and spunky when we bid them farewell and gently left the area. It was an encounter we'll never forget.