Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
December 2020

Note -- This list includes reported sightings from Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips. Unusual sightings of other marine animals such as Leatherback Sea Turtles and Basking Sharks are also listed, in addition to unusual seabirds such as Albatross and Brown Boobies. California Sea Lions are mentioned only if numbers or behavior are of interest. 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.

Visit our Facebook page for more photos. Date # Type of Animal(s) 12/30 2:30 p.m. 1 Humpback Whale (breaching)   15 Common Dolphins 12/30 10 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale   6 Gray Whales 12/29 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales   6 Gray Whales   20 Risso's Dolphins 12/28 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales   4 Gray Whales   200 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   10 Risso's Dolphins 12/27 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (breaching) 12/27 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales   10 Killer Whales (Orcas - Jagged [CA216B] and friends) 12/26 2:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching)   40 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   10 Risso's Dolphins 12/26 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (rolling)   200 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   280 Risso's Dolphins 12/24 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales   5 Killer Whales (Orcas) 12/24 10 a.m. 5 Killer Whales (Orcas)   1 Blue Whale   3 Gray Whales   150 Risso's Dolphins 12/22 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales   1 Gray Whale   10 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   700 Risso's Dolphins 12/21 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales (feeding)   70 Risso's Dolphins (nursery group) 12/20 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales (friendly behavior, spyhopping, rolling under the boat, close spouting) 12/19 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales   9 Killer Whales (Orcas)   25 Risso's Dolphins 12/19 8 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales All Day 9 Killer Whales (Orcas)   2 Blue Whales   2 Gray Whales   200 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   200 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 12/18 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales   800 Risso's Dolphins 12/16 10 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale   40 Risso's Dolphins 12/15 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   5 Killer Whales reported (Orcas) 12/13 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales (tail throwing)   5 Killer Whales (Orcas)   600 Risso's Dolphins 12/12 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (tail throwing) 12/12 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales (tail throwing)   300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   250 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 12/11 10 a.m. 8 Killer Whales (Orcas - including one small calf) 12/10 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales 12/9 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales mom/calf pair, calf rolling around)   400 Risso's Dolphins 12/8 10 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale   1000 Risso's Dolphins   1 Breaching Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 12/7 10 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (feeding, rolling around) 12/6 1:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales   8 Killer Whales   50 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   200 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper) 12/6 10 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale   8 Killer Whales   300 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper) 12/6 9 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching)   8 Killer Whales (Orcas - CA216Bs and CA51As)   1000 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper) 12/5 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (tail throwing) 12/5 1:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales (friendly behavior)   5 Harbor Porpoise 12/5 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (breaching)   150 Risso's Dolphins   5 Harbor Porpoise 12/5 9 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales (pec slapping, breaching)   150 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   1000 Risso's Dolphins   2 Bottlenose Dolphins 12/4 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales   4 Killer Whales (Orcas)   10 Risso's Dolphins 12/3 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales   4 Killer Whales (Orcas - hunting, breaching, socializing))   5 Blue Whales 12/2 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales   11 Blue Whales (feeding) 12/1 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)

All photos © 2020 Daniel Bianchetta Gray Whale heart-shaped blow (December 30, 2020) Gray Whales (December 30, 2020) Pacific White-sided Dolphin (December 28, 2020) Spyhopping Killer Whale (December 24, 2020) Humpback Whale tail throw at sunset (December 23, 2020) Risso's Dolphin and calf (December 21, 2020) Killer Whales (Orcas) at sunset (December 19, 2020) Breaching Risso's Dolphin (December 18, 2020) Humpback Whale tail (December 12, 2020) Pacific White-sided Dolphin (December 12, 2020) Humpback Whale and California Sea Lion (December 12, 2020) Chrysaora (Sea Nettle) (December 7, 2020) White Risso's Dolphin Casper (December 6, 2020) Killer Whales (Orcas) (December 6, 2020) Kingfisher (December 6, 2020) Breaching Humpback Whale (December 5, 2020) Southern Sea Otter mom and pup (December 5, 2020) Blue Whale (December 2, 2020) All photos © 2020 Daniel Bianchetta

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Sightings List 12/1-12/31/20

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Last updated January 17, 2021