The gray whale lost its way during the 6,000-mile migration from Alaska, but found its way back out of the Dana Point Harbor to continue on its journey to Mexico’s warm waters.
The first southbound gray whale of the season was spotted on Tuesday, Nov. 3, video showing it emerging next to stand-up paddleboarders enjoying the morning.
Nona Reimer, a naturalist for Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, happened to be out on a walk when she spotted the visitor.
“Sometimes gray whales wander into the harbor, only to realize it’s a dead end. They make a U-turn and head right back out,” said Reimer, known to many as Nona the Naturalist.
The whale cruised past Coffee Importers before turning around and heading back out of the harbor to continue its journey south to Mexico.
The California Gray Whale migration typically starts in late November, when the whales travel from Alaska to the warm-water lagoons in Baja, Mexico.
The peak season is January through March, about the time the whales start heading back north after breeding and giving birth in the lagoons.