The LA-based shore census station (sponsored by American Cetacean Society, LA chapter) has counted a total of 69 southbound gray whales so far this month. They haven’t noted any calves yet, but the San Diego-based whalewatch boat did see one earlier this week. We would expect that most of these whales so far are near-term pregnant females, on their way to the calving lagoons in Baja California. And we’ll be right behind them!

December 26 update: They’ve counted 126 whales so far (southbound)!