If you haven't already, I'd suggest looking at NumPy for manipulating your OpenCV images in Python. If you load your images as CvMat objects instead of IplImages then you can manipulate them as NumPy objects without copying the data.
NumPy takes a while to get your head around, but once you do you can use techniques such as the ones given here to achieve what you want.
Based on that, running this program
#! /usr/bin/env python
import cv
import numpy
cvImg = cv.LoadImageM( "testImage.png", # Must use LoadImageM
iscolor=cv.CV_LOAD_IMAGE_GRAYSCALE )
npImg = numpy.asarray( cvImg ) # No copying takes place
coordList = numpy.argwhere( npImg == 255 )
numWhitePoints = len( coordList )
print coordList
print "Found {0} points".format( numWhitePoints )
on your image should output like this
[[ 97 318]
[ 97 322]
[ 97 323]
.. ..
.. ..
[141 200]
[146 189]
[153 178]]
Found 216 points