A Pacific gray whale stopped off at the Hermosa Beach Pier to vist local surfers, including (top photo) ET shaper Pat “Gumby” Ryan (paddling out), ET Surf manager Daniel Del Castillo (pointing), Spyder Surf salesperson Tamara Lentz and Sean Larned. George Bryant photographed the whale from the Hermosa pier. He said the whale rounded the pier and then turned back toward shore at 8th Street on its way south.
According to Learner.org, “Gray whales have the longest known migration of any mammal. They travel 10,000-12,000 miles round trip every year between their winter calving lagoons in the warm waters of Mexico and their summer feeding grounds in the cold Arctic seas. Whales are still arriving in Mexico, but northbound sightings have begun. In the two-way whale traffic near Los Angeles, more northbound whales than southbound were counted for the first time on Feb. 10.”
This particular whale was obviously taking its time heading south. By time it reaches Baja, it will be time for it to turn around and head back up to its summer home in the Chukchi and Bearing Sea off of Alaska, according to April House, a Cabrillo Whale watching naturalist and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society volunteer.
Related whale watching information.
