A Watched Pot

A Watched Pot
            Growing up in landlocked Upstate New York, I spent outdoor time walking in cornfields, forests and creeks. I never imagined being able to drive fifteen minutes to a beach where I might see whales right offshore.
            Recent local news reports people seeing humpback whales right here in San Francisco Bay as well as up and down the coast. 
            I get excited about going to a likely spot to see whales. Then I remember that every time I look for them—even when they’re reported to be swimming in large numbers nearby—I rarely see them.
            My best whale viewing experience was walking along a beach in Pacifica, CA with no thought of seeing marine mammals. I wasn’t even looking at the water. Eyes on the trail in front of me, my peripheral vision caught the movement of a large dark shape a very short distance offshore. I looked over to see a whale’s tail lift out of the water and then sink back into the waves. 
            Seeing wildlife takes patience and being in the right place at the right time. It helps to not get frustrated when we don’t see what we’re watching for.
            The featured hike from the archives is Pacifica Pier from Mori Point, an oceanside walk that is stunning whether whales are in view or not, but is known as a spot to see gray whales, humpback whales, sea lions, harbor seals, and other marine mammals.
            Whether you regularly carry binoculars or just trust your eyes to spot wildlife, it’s often the moment when we stop trying too hard that we receive the gift of a surprise appearance by a deer, a rabbit, a special bird, or a pod of dolphins. Keep your eyes open and your feet moving forward!
 
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New this week:
Hike Notes 62: Pacifica Pier from Mori Point