While in our area be sure to visit the Whale Watching Platform located across from the Umpqua River Lighthouse.

There are two opportunities each year to view the majestic creatures as they travel up and down the coast!

Watch for the tell-tale geysers of water that indicate the presence of majestic gray whales traveling south to their breeding grounds in Baja, California during the winter migration. Your second opportunity to view these mammals occurs during the spring migration when they return north with their calves to the feeding grounds up around Alaska.

The winter whale watching season in our area is late December  through early January.

The second opportunity to view the whales occurs in the third week of March.

Those of us who are in love with Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) have several locations along the coast from which to view the creatures during their migration periods. The website http://www.whalespoken.org/ has a page listing all 28 or 30 sites.

Gray whales are the ones most commonly viewed from these locations, but several other species can be seen by lucky viewers, including Humpback Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Harbor Porpoises, and Dolphins.

Information about other Cetacean species that may rarely be viewed in our area can be found here.
 

Jaw bone of a Humpback Whale.
The Umpqua Oyster Triangle can be seen in the background.

When coming to our area, please remember that this is the Oregon Coast. Bring clothing for warm weather and cold weather, rain and sunshine. You may also want to pack along a pair of binoculars. Viewing is best when there is no wind to disturb the water surface. Look for the tale-tell puffs of air and geysers of water from whales blowing when they surface to breathe. Once you have spotted a blow, concentrate on that location, looking for more blows. With luck you will see the body of the whale as it sounds preparing to breathe before diving back beneath the waves.

View of the Umpqua River Lighthouse and Whale Watching Platform from the dunes.

For more information on Cetaceans, you can visit the following sites:

Sea Lions on Whistle Buoy off the mouth of the Umpqua River: Mother's day, 2005.
(Photo courtesy of River's End Guide Service)