Local Nature and whale watching Trips
Los Angeles and Orange County Coast Line
Here at Pierpoint we offer seasonal whale watching excursions, running from January through April. During this time we see the annual migration of the grey whale from their feeding grounds in Arctic and Bering Sea down to their mating and calving lagoons in Baja, California. We have been out on the water whale watching for more than 40 years!
Our whale watching excursions give you the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. You will not only get to see whales but also through our experienced narration during the excursions you will learn all about these creatures, their size, their habitat, eating habits, mating habits, and migratory patterns.
It is an experience for all ages and one that you won’t forget. Bring your grandparents and your kids! This is a unique opportunity to learn and observe whales in a way that few people can.
Recommended items to bring
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Jacket
• Sunscreen
• Chap stick
• Hat
• Cash- refreshment bar takes cash only
There is a vast amount of wildlife to be found just off of the coast of California. Join us on our weekend whale watch trips to take in the amazing sights of Grey Whales, Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, Killer Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises, California Sea Lions, and Harbor Seals.
Grey Whale
Description:
Grey Whales range in length from 40 to 50 feet long and can weigh between 40,000 and 50,000 pounds. The grey whale received its name from the grey patches and white molting on its dark skin. Grey Whales can carry over 400 lbs of barnacles and whale lice. They have no dorsal (back) fin. Instead, they have a low hump and a series of 6 to 12 knuckles and bumps.
Feeding:
Grey Whales feed on small crustaceans such as amphipods and tube worms found in bottom sediments. They feed primarily in the long daylight hours of the summer months in the cold arctic waters of the Bering and Chukchi seas. It has a series of 130-180 fringed overlapping plates hanging from each side of the upper jaw. The plates consist of fingernail-like material called keratin.
Migration:
Grey whales inhabit shallow coastal waters of the eastern north Pacific. The Grey whale makes one of the longest of all mammalian migrations, averaging 10,000 to 14,000 miles (16,000-22,530 km) round trip. In October the whales begin to leave their feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and head south for their mating and calving lagoons inBaja California, Mexico.
Dolphins and Porpoises
The dolphins and porpoises most frequently seen off the coast of southern California include, common, bottlenose, Risso’s and Pacific White Sided Dolphins. Dolphins are one of the most majestic animals on earth. With intelligence close to that of a human they are intriguing to watch. Few people would be able to forget an encounter with such a beautiful animal, let alone when pods (ranging up to several hundred) race in your wake and jump along your bow.
Description:
Dolphins and porpoises are cetaceans, which are mammals in the same family as whales. Dolphins are considered to be small whales if they are longer than 15ft. They can range from 1.2 meters (4ft) and 40kg (90lbs) to 9.5m (30ft) and 10 tonnes (9.8LT). The dorsal (back) fin is high and curved and located near the middle of the back.
Feeding:
Feeding behaviors are diverse among dolphins and porpoises. Primarily they involve individual prey capture, but sometimes involve coordinated efforts to catch food. Other behaviors include feeding in association with human fishing, and chasing fish into mud banks. An adult can consume 15-30 pounds (8-15 kg) of food each day.
Migration/Distribution:
Dolphins are found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters absent only from 45 degrees pole ward in either hemisphere. They are frequently seen in harbors, bays, lagoons, estuaries and river mouths. In some areas, dolphins have limited home ranges and in others they are migratory.
Seals and Sea Lions:
What’s the difference?
Sea Lions are from the family Otariidae and seals are from the family Phocidae. One of the biggest physical differences between seals and sea lions are their ears. Sea Lions have external ear flaps located on either side of their head covering the actual opening of the ear. Seals on the other hand do not have ear flaps. Seals have tiny holes on either side of their head from which they hear but are so small that they are barely visible. The other physical difference is that Sea Lions have hind-flippers that rotate underneath to allow them to “walk” on land. Seals on the other hand move on land by wiggling on their belly and keeping their hind-flippers straight out.
California Sea Lion
Description:
California Sea Lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness and noisy barking. These are the ones that are normally trained in Hollywood or for show. Their color ranges from chocolate brown in males to a lighter golden brown in females. Males reach 850 lbs (390 kg) and seven feet (2.1 meters) in length. Females grow to 220 lbs (110kg) and up to 6 ft (1.8 meters) in length. They have external ear flaps and large flippers that they use to “walk” on land.
Distribution:
California Sea Lions are found from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to the southern tip of Baja California in Mexico.
Pacific Harbor Seal
Description:
Pacific Harbor Seals have spotted coats and a variety of shades from white or silver-gray to black or dark brown. They reach 5 to 6 feet (1.7-1.9 meters) in length and weigh up to 300 lbs (140kg). Males are slightly larger than females. They are true or crawling seals, having no external ear flaps. They have small flippers and move on land by flopping along on their bellies.
Distribution:
Pacific Harbor Seals are found north of the equator in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the Northeast Pacific, they range from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. They favor near-shallow coastal waters and are often seen on rocky islands, sandy beaches, mudflats, bays, and estuaries.
