Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
August 1-31, 2018

Note -- In addition to sightings on Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips, this list includes all reported marine mammal sightings for this region. Unusual sightings of other marine animals such as Leatherback Sea Turtles and Basking Sharks are also listed. California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, and Southern Sea Otters, which are seen on all whale watching trips, are not included in the list.

These sightings are copyright protected and may not be used without permission from Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of this information is a violation of federal copyright law, and is subject to prosecution to the full extent of the law.

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Date # Type of Animal(s) 8/31 2 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (breaching with breaching mom & calf pair) 8/31 1 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail slaps and tail throws) 8/31 10 a.m. 30 Humpback Whales (breaching and lunging)   300 Common Dolphins   2 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/31 9 a.m. 35 Humpback Whales (breaching and lunging)   500 Common Dolphins   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/31 8 a.m. 22 Humpback Whales (tail slaps and breaching)   450 Common Dolphins 8/30 4:30 p.m. 32 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, tail throwing, breaching)   1000+ Common Dolphins 8/30 2 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, tail throwing, breaching)   2 Blue Whales 8/30 1 p.m. 13 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, tail throwing, breaching)   3 Blue Whales (feeding, social behavior)   200 Common Dolphins   10 Risso's Dolphins   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/30 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching)   5 Blue Whales   5 Harbor Porpoise 8/30 8 a.m. 27 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail throwing, breaching)   5 Blue Whales   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/29 2 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   5 Killer Whales   1,000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 8/29 9 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   2 Blue Whales   1,500 Long-beaked Common Dolphins   2 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/29 8 a.m. 40 Humpback Whales 8 hour All Day   5 Killer Whales   3 Blue Whales   2,000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins   160 Risso's Dolphins   4 Black-footed Albatross 8/28 4:30 p.m. 43 Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail throws, tail lobs)   1,500 Common Dolphins 8/28 2 p.m. 36 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, breaching, pec slapping)   1,000 Common Dolphins   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/28 1 p.m. 50 Humpback Whales   1,000 Common Dolphins (nursery pod) 8/28 9 a.m. 43 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, breaching)   2,000 Common Dolphins (nursery pod) 8/28 8 a.m. 42 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)   1,000 Common Dolphins (nursery pod)   10 Harbor Porpoise   2 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/27 4:30 p.m. 19 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, head slapping, pec slapping)   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/27 2 p.m. 17 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)   4 Bottlenose Dolphins 8/27 1 p.m. 21 Humpback Whales (breaching)   15 Risso's Dolphins 8/27 9 a.m. 28 Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping)   20 Risso's Dolphins   15 Harbor Porpoise 8/27 8 a.m. 26 Humpback Whales (breaching)   25 Risso's Dolphins 8/27 8 a.m. 8 hour All Day   40 Humpback Whales (breaching, side-lunging, pec slapping, tail slapping)   15 Risso's Dolphins   20 Dall's Dolphins 8/26 4:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales (calf tail throwing, breaching, pec slapping)   80 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 8/26 2 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales 8/26 1 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (calf tail throwing)   80 Risso's Dolphins 8/26 9 a.m. 16 Humpback Whales (tail throwing, breaching)   150 Long-beaked Common Dolphins   65 Risso's Dolphins   12 Dall's Porpoise   3 Black-footed Albatross 8/26 8 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales (tail lobbing, breaching, lunge feeding)   150 Common Dolphins 8/25 4:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail slapping, tail throws) 8/25 2 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales   2 Blue Whales   3 Harbor Porpoise 8/25 1 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales   1 Blue Whales 8/25 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales   1 Blue Whales 8/25 9 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching)   2 Blue Whales   50 Risso's Dolphins 8/25 8 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching and tail throwing)     Blue Whales   40 Risso's Dolphins 8/24 4:30 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales (cow/calf, breaching, tail slapping, pec slapping)   50 Harbor Porpoise 8/24 2 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching & lunge-feeding)   3 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/24 1 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail slapping, lunge-feeding)   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/24 10 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales   70 Risso's Dolphins   1 Black-footed Albatross 8/24 9 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales   50 Risso's Dolphins   5 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   50 Common Dolphins   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/24 8 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales   30 Risso's Dolphins (breaching & tail-slapping) 8/23 4:30 p.m. 23 Humpback Whales   100 Harbor Porpoise 8/23 2 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/23 1 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales   10 Bottlenose Dolphins   170 Harbor Porpoise   15 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/23 10 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales 8/23 9 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding)   30 Risso's Dolphins   4 Harbor Porpoise 8/23 8 a.m. 36 Humpback Whales   26 Risso's Dolphins   70 Harbor Porpoise   4 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/22 4:30 p.m. 13 Humpback Whales   50 Harbor Porpoise 8/22 2 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing & pec slapping)   10 Harbor Porpoise   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/22 1 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales (breaching)   6 Harbor Porpoise 8/22 10 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales   6 Harbor Porpoise 8/22 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail throwing & pec slapping)   20 Dall's Porpoise 8/22 8 a.m. 16 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   7 Bottlenose Dolphins   10 Dall's Porpoise   5 Harbor Porpoise 8/21 4:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/21 2 p.m. 16 Humpback Whales (breaching)   3 Harbor Porpoise 8/21 1 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 8/21 9 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   2 Fin Whales   80 Risso's Dolphins   2 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 8/21 8 a.m. 17 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)   1 Fin Whales   10 Risso's Dolphins (nursery-pod, tail slaps) 8/20 4:30 p.m. 28 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding, tail throws, pec slaps) 8/20 2 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail lobs, tail throws, pec slaps) 8/20 1 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales (breaching)   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/20 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales   1 Blue Whale   65 Risso's Dolphins   8 Black-footed Albatross 8/20 8 a.m. 24 Humpback Whales   2 Blue Whales   75 Risso's Dolphins   15 Dall's Porpoise   5 Black-footed Albatross 8/20 8 a.m. 67 Humpback Whales 8 hour All Day   2 Fin Whales   600 Risso's Dolphins   6 Dall's Porpoise   5 Harbor Porpoise 8/19 5:30 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales 8/19 4:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slaps, tail throws)   5 Risso's Dolphins 8/19 2 p.m. 21 Humpback Whales (breaching)   5 Risso's Dolphins 8/19 1 p.m. 11 Humpback Whales (breaching)   10 Risso's Dolphins 8/19 9 a.m. 33 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding)   3 Blue Whales   10 Dall's Porpoise   2 Black-footed Albatross 8/19 8 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail-throws)   3 Blue Whales   5 Fin Whales 8/19 7:30 a.m. 12 hour All Day  45 Humpback Whales (feeding with 2,500 Sea Lions)   2 Blue Whales   6 Fin Whales   1 Minke Whales 8/18 5:30 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales   4 Common Dolphins 8/18 4:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (tail-throwing, lunge feeding) 8/18 2 p.m. 28 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail-throwing) 8/18 1 p.m. 30 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail-throwing)   60 Risso's Dolphins 8/18 9 a.m. 16 Humpback Whales (breaching)   2 Baird's Beaked Whales   3 Blue Whales   1 Fin Whale   50 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   20 Harbor Porpoise   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/18 8 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales (3 cow/calf pairs)   60 Risso's Dolphins 8/18 8 a.m. 30 Humpback Whales 8 hour All Day   8 Blue Whales   2 Fin Whales   4 Black-footed Albatross   7 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/17 5:30 p.m. 18 Humpback Whales (breaching & lunge-feeding) 8/17 4:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales 8/17 2 p.m. 22 Humpback Whales (breaching & tail-throwing)   1 Harbor Porpoise   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/17 1 p.m. 25 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail slapping, tail throwing & lunge-feeding) 8/17 9 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales (breaching & lunge-feeding)   7 Blue Whales   3 Fin Whales   1 Black-footed Albatross 8/17 8 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales (cow/calf breaching)   6 Blue Whales 8/17 8 a.m. 8 hour All Day   48 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching & tail-slapping)   8 Blue Whales   4 Harbor Porpoise 8/16 4:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales 8/16 2 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   2 Harbor Porpoise 8/16 1 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing) 8/16 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales   10 Blue Whales   2 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/16 9 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales   6 Blue Whales   30 Risso's Dolphins 8/16 8 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales   4 Blue Whales 8/15 4:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing, lunge-feeding) 8/15 2 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales   8 Blue Whales   40 Risso's Dolphins 8/15 1 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales   10 Blue Whales (side-lunge feeding)   100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   200 Risso's Dolphins   100 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)   1 Ray 8/15 10 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales   8 Blue Whales   40 Risso's Dolphins   2 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/15 9 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales   1 Blue Whale   20 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   40 Risso's Dolphins 8/15 8 a.m. 29 Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail lobbing) 8/14 4:30 p.m. 27 Humpback Whales (mom and calf pair, breaching, tail throws, tail slaps, pec slaps) 8/14 2 p.m. 24 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, tail throws) 8/14 1 p.m. 52 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, tail slaps)   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/14 10 a.m. 28 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/14 9 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)   15 Harbor Porpoise   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/14 8 a.m. 27 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   20 Harbor Porpoise 8/13 5:30 p.m. 25 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 8/13 2 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 8/13 1 p.m. 18 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 8/13 9 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)   1 Fin Whale   4 Dall's Porpoise   2 Harbor Porpoise 8/13 8 a.m. 26 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   1 Fin Whale   5 Harbor Porpoise   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/13 8 a.m. 30 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8 hour All Day   1 Fin Whale   1 Minke Whale   20 Risso's Dolphins 8/12 5:30 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching) 8/12 4:30 p.m. 25 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail slaps, breaching) 8/12 3:30 p.m. Charter   25 Humpback Whales 8/12 2 p.m. 31 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail slaps, breaching) 8/12 1 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail lobs, pec slaps) 8/12 9 a.m. 35 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail slaps)   1 Blue Whale   3 Fin Whales 8/12 8 a.m. 34 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)   10 Bottlenose Dolphins 8/12 8 a.m. 34 Humpback Whales 8 hour All Day   3 Blue Whale   2 Fin Whales 8/11 5:30 p.m. 30 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, tail throwing) 8/11 4:30 p.m. 18 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/11 2 p.m. 23 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/10 1 p.m. 23 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, pec-slapping & tail throwing)   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/11 9 a.m. 22 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/11 8 a.m. 24 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   5 Harbor Porpoise 8/11 8 a.m. 60 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8 hour All Day   150 Risso's Dolphins   5 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)   4 Albatross 8/10 4:30 p.m. 18 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & tail-slapping) 8/10 2 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding with California Sea Lions) 8/10 1 p.m. 17 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & pec-slapping) 8/10 9 a.m. 21 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & pec-slapping)   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/10 8 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & pec-slapping) 8/10 8 a.m. 64 Humpback Whales 8 hour All Day   10 Bottlenose Dolphins   40 Risso's Dolphins   6 Dall's Porpoise   5 Harbor Porpoise   2 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)   5 Black-footed Albatross 8/9 4:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/9 2 p.m. 17 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, spouting, fluking) 8/9 1 p.m. 26 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/9 9 a.m. 29 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/9 8 a.m. 40 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/8 5:30 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/8 2 p.m. 13 Humpback Whales (cow/calf breaching & pec-slapping) 8/8 1 p.m. 13 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, cow/calf breaching, pec-slapping) 8/8 9 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & tail-throws)   20 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   100 Risso's Dolphins   30 Harbor Porpoise 8/8 8 a.m. 17 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   50 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   120 Risso's Dolphins 8/8 8 a.m. 8 hour All Day   50 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, pec-slapping)   50 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   100 Risso's Dolphins   3 Dall's Porpoise   1 Black-footed Albatross 8/7 4:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping, tail throws) 8/7 2 p.m. 23 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping, tail throws) 8/7 1 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping, tail throws) 8/7 10 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping, tail throws) 8/7 9 a.m. 27 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping, tail throws)   2 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/7 8 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping, tail throws) 8/6 5:30 p.m. 25 Humpback Whales 8/6 4:30 p.m. 18 Humpback Whales 8/6 2 p.m. 22 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding, pec slaps) 8/6 1 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/6 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales lunge-feeding, pec slaps) 8/6 8 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales   3 Harbor Porpoise 8/6 8 a.m. 42 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8 hour All Day   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/5 5:30 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, pec slapping, tail throws, breaching) 8/5 4:30 p.m. 25 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/5 2 p.m. 23 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching) 8/5 9 a.m. 21 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/5 8 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/5 7:30 a.m. 12 hour All Day   54 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/4 2 p.m. 27 Humpback Whales   10 Harbor Porpoise 8/4 1 p.m. 30 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 8/4 10 a.m. 30 Humpback Whales (breaching,, lunge-feeding) 8/4 9 a.m. 33 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 8/4 8 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales   3 Bottlenose Dolphins 8/3 5:30 p.m. 18 Humpback Whales 8/3 4:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching) 8/3 2 p.m. 24 Humpback Whales   5 Harbor Porpoise 8/3 1 p.m. 22 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching calf) 8/3 10 a.m. 36 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, pec-slapping)   1 Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) 8/3 9 a.m. 31 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec-slapping) 8/3 8 a.m. 35 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   100 Harbor Porpoise   1 Black-footed Albatross 8/2 2 p.m. 19 Humpback Whales 8/2 1 p.m. 21 Humpback Whales 8/2 9 a.m. 33 Humpback Whales   2 Bottlenose Dolphins   2 Risso's Dolphins   1 Black-footed Albatross 8/2 8 a.m. 31 Humpback Whales   2 Bottlenose Dolphins 8/1 4:30 p.m. 24 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & breaching) 8/1 2 p.m. 28 Humpback Whales 8/1 1 p.m. 27 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & breaching) 8/1 9 a.m. 37 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, pec slapping, & breaching)   6 Harbor Porpoise 8/1 8 a.m. 37 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding & breaching)   14 Harbor Porpoise

Dall's Porpoise (August 27, 2018) Sea Lions and Humpback Whale (August 27, 2018) Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelican and Brandt's Cormorants (August 27, 2018) Humpback Whale Tail Throw Long Beaked Common Dolphins (August 26, 2018) Blue Whale (August 25, 2018) Risso's Dolphin Tail (August 25, 2018) Humpback Whale (August 25, 2018) Harbor Seals (August 25, 2018) Humpback Whale breaching (August 23, 2018) Harbor Porpoise (August 23, 2018) Bottlenose Dolphins (August 23, 2018) Humpback Whale & Gulls (August 23, 2018) Risso's Dolphins - calf and mom (August 21, 2018) Risso's Dolphin calf - still has fetal folds (August 21, 2018) Risso's Dolphin back-breaching (August 20, 2018) Humpback Whale Tail and Shearwater (August 20, 2018) Southern Sea Otter eating a Crab (August 19, 2018) Humpback Whales lunge feeding (August 18, 2018) Humpback Whales lunge feeding (August 18, 2018) Fin Whale (August 18, 2018) Risso's Dolphin (August 18, 2018) Blue Whale tail (August 18, 2018) Phalarope (August 18, 2018) Breaching Humpback Whale (August 17, 2018) Blow holes of a Blue Whale (August 17, 2018) Humpback Whale tail and a California Sea Lion (August 16, 2018) Harbor Porpoise (August 15, 2018) Snowy Egret (August 15, 2018) 3 Blue Whales (August 15, 2018) Blue Whale tail (August 15, 2018) Humpback Whale tail throw (August 13, 2018) Humpback Whale lunge-feeding near shore (August 13, 2018) Southern Sea Otter with crab (August 13, 2018) Fin Whale (note white lower jaw on the right side) (August 11, 2018) Fin Whale (August 11, 2018) Harbor Seals (August 11, 2018) Phalaropes (August 10, 2018) California Sea Lions (August 10, 2018) Humpback Whale breaching (August 10, 2018) Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales by the Sea Wolf II (August 10, 2018) Breaching young Risso's Dolphin (August 10, 2018) Pigeon Gullemots (August 9, 2018) Humpback Whale, note tongue (August 9, 2018) Humpback Whales lunge-feeding with anchovies flying! (August 6, 2018) Harbor Seal (August 6, 2018) Humpback Whale rain-blow (August 5, 2018) Humpback Whales tails (August 5, 2018) Humpback Whale lunge-feeding (August 5, 2018) Humpback Whales lunge-feeding (August 5, 2018) Humpback Whales lunge-feeding (note anchovies) (August 5, 2018) Humpback Whale tail (August 4, 2018) Humpback Whale by the Blackfin (August 4, 2018) Humpback Whales near shore (August 4, 2018) Humpback Whale near shore (August 4, 2018) Humpback Whale breaching, note eye (August 3, 2018) Humpback Whale close to shore (August 3, 2018) Humpback Whale lunge feeding close to shore (August 3, 2018) Northern Fulmar (light morph) (August 2, 2018) Northern Fulmar (darker morph) (August 2, 2018) All photos © 2018 Daniel Bianchetta

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Last updated September 5, 2018