Rare Sighting: Gray Whale Spotted Off Laguna Coast

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A small gray whale spotted swimming along the Orange County coastline delighted passengers aboard a whale watching boat this week. The crew aboard the boat, which is operated by Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari, were equally startled by the sighting, which is several months early, according to Capt. Dave Anderson.

Why the surprise? Gray whales are almost never seen off the coast of Southern California in September, he said. Their annual migration typically begins in December and ends in May.

"We've seen an occasional early-bird whale in October, but September really is early," says Anderson. "It's not unheard of for some grays to stop off along the coast and turn around before they ever get to Alaska. This could be one of those whales."

The migration usually begins in winter, when gray whales are seen migrating south along the U.S. west coast.

Gray whales typically journey about 6,000 miles from cold waters near Alaska, where they spend the summer feeding, to the warm lagoons of Baja, Mexico, Anderson explained. There, they mate and give birth.

In early spring the gray whales, along with their new calves, can be seen making the 6,000 mile journey back to their feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering Seas. Adult gray whales average about 45 feet in length and weigh 30 to 40 tons.

Southern California offers year-round whale watching. More commonly seen in September are blue whales, humpback whales, minke whales, or fin whales, as well as several different species of wild dolphins.

For more information, visit: www.dolphinsafari.com

Video filmed by licensed drone operator Grayden Fanning

Youtube photo