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

May 2021
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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.


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Date # Type of Animal(s)

5/31 10 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales
  20 Risso's Dolphins
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/31 8 a.m. 16 Humpback Whales
All Day 50 Risso's Dolphins
  6 Harbor Porpoise

5/30 5:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching)

5/30 3 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching)
  20 Risso's Dolphins

5/30 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping)
  70 Risso's Dolphins

5/30 1:30 p.m. 11 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
  120 Risso's Dolphins
  3 Harbor Porpoise

5/30 11 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping)

5/30 10 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
  100 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/30 9 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
  200 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/30 8 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
Private Charter 100 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)
  50 Harbor Porpoise

5/29 5:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales

5/29 2:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales
  150 Risso's Dolphins
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/29 1:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales
  50 Risso's Dolphins

5/29 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (amazing lunge-feeding)
  250 Risso's Dolphins (foraging squid)

5/29 9 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales
  70 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)

5/29 8 a.m. 26 Humpback Whales
All Day 200 Risso's Dolphins
  30 Harbor Porpoise

5/28 2:30 p.m. 17 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
  200 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)

5/28 10 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
  200 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)

5/28 9 a.m. 19 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
  200 Risso's Dolphins
  10 Harbor Porpoise

5/27 10 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
  30 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)

5/26 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (feeding, breaching)
  50 Risso's Dolphins
  10 Harbor Porpoise

5/26 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales
  30 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/25 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding)
  30 Risso's Dolphins
  15 Bottlenose Dolphins

5/24 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
  200 Risso's Dolphins

5/24 9 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales
  4 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  10 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  30 Risso's Dolphins

5/24 8 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
All Day 4 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  30 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  200 Risso's Dolphins

5/23 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales
  100 Risso's Dolphins

5/23 10 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales
  50 Risso's Dolphins
  12 Harbor Porpoise

5/23 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales
  200 Risso's Dolphins

5/23 8 a.m. 39 Humpback Whales
All Day 3000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  250 Risso's Dolphins
  3000 Northern Right Whale Dolphins
  1 Northern Fur Seal

5/22 1:30 p.m. 13 Humpback Whales
60 Pacific White-sided Dolphins (including Casper)

5/22 9 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching)
  150 Risso's Dolphins
  35 Harbor Porpoise

5/22 8 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales
All Day 30 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  200 Risso's Dolphins
  1 Northern Fur Seal

5/18 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)
  100 Risso's Dolphins

5/17 1:30 p.m. 30 Humpback Whales
  25 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  40 Risso's Dolphins

5/17 10 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales
  1000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  100 Risso's Dolphins
  1000 Northern Right Whale Dolphins
  10 Harbor Porpoise

5/17 9 a.m. 17 Humpback Whales
  1000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  150 Risso's Dolphins
  1500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins

5/17 8 a.m. 28 Humpback Whales
All Day 2000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  150 Risso's Dolphins
  2500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins

5/16 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching, feeding, friendly)
  25 Risso's Dolphins

5/16 10 a.m. 24 Humpback Whales
  40 Risso's Dolphins

5/16 9 a.m. 21 Humpback Whales
  150 Risso's Dolphins
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/16 8 a.m. 22 Humpback Whales
All Day 30 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  400 Risso's Dolphins
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/15 2:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales
  20 Risso's Dolphins

5/15 10 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales
  12 Risso's Dolphins
  7 Harbor Porpoise

5/15 9 a.m. 19 Humpback Whales
  100 Risso's Dolphins
  15 Harbor Porpoise

5/15 8 a.m. 31 Humpback Whales
All Day 1 Blue Whale
  150 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  600 Risso's Dolphins

5/14 2:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales

5/14 10 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching and pec slapping)
  2 Blue Whales
  100 Risso's Dolphins

5/14 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (breaching)
  3 Blue Whales
  200 Risso's Dolphins

5/14 8 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales (cow/calf breach)
All Day 3 Blue Whales
  10 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  200 Risso's Dolphins

5/13 2:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (kelping)
  150 Risso's Dolphins

5/13 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales
  2 Blue Whales
  3 Fin Whales
  100 Risso's Dolphins

5/13 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales
  2 Blue Whales
  3 Fin Whales
  200 Risso's Dolphins
  50 Harbor Porpoise

5/12 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales
  200 Risso's Dolphins
  3 Harbor Porpoise

5/12 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales
  9 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  50 Risso's Dolphins
  5 Harbor Porpoise

5/12 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales
  5 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  200 Risso's Dolphins

5/11 10 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (cow & calf breaching & tail throwing)
  100 Risso's Dolphins

5/11 8 a.m.
All Day
Private Charter
11 Killer Whales (Orcas)

5/10 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (2 pairs mother & calf)
  20 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  50 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)
  1 Harbor Porpoise

5/9 9 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales (cow & calf breaching)
  200 Risso's Dolphins

5/8 10 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale
  2 Fin Whales
  50 Risso's Dolphins

5/8 8 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales
All Day 3 Fin Whales
  50 Risso's Dolphins

5/7 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales (Fran and Clubs)
  60 Risso's Dolphins

5/7 8 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales
All Day 200 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  300 Risso's Dolphins

5/6 10 a.m. 10 Killer Whales (Orcas -CA51s and CA51As,
breaching and spyhopping)

5/6 8 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales
All Day 10 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  300 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)

5/5 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (mother & calf)
  100 Risso's Dolphins

5/5 10 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale
  500 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  500 Risso's Dolphins
  200 Northern Right Whale Dolphins

5/4 10 a.m. 10 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  70 Risso's Dolphins
  5 Black-footed Albatross

5/3 10 a.m. 40 Humpback Whales (feeding)
  3000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  50 Risso's Dolphins
  1500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins

5/3 8 a.m. 40 Humpback Whales (feeding)
All Day 3000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  100 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)
  1500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins

5/1 10 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales (cow/calf breach)
  100 Risso's Dolphins
  11 Harbor Porpoise

5/1 8 a.m. 30 Humpback Whales
All Day 2500 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  100 Risso's Dolphins
  500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins
  5 Harbor Porpoise

   Photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta

Humpback Whale surface rolling and tail throwing photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale surface rolling and tail throwing
(May 31, 2021)

Leaping Risso's Dolphin feeding on squid near squid boats photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Leaping Risso's Dolphin feeding on squid
near squid boats (May 31, 2021)

Brown Pelicans photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Brown Pelicans (May 31, 2021)

Breaching Humpback Whale completely out of the water photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Humpback Whale with unusual white belly,
completely out of the water (May 30, 2021)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (Note baleen) photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (Note baleen)
(May 30, 2021)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Risso's Dolphin (May 28, 2021)

Risso's Dolphin Casper photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso's Dolphin Casper (May 27, 2021)

Sea Lion photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Lion (May 27, 2021)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (May 27, 2021)

Breaching Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Humpback Whale (May 25, 2021)

Male Orca (Killer Whale) photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Male Orca (Killer Whale - May 24, 2021)

Humpback Whale side-lunging photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale side-lunging (May 24, 2021)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 23, 2021)

Northern Right Whale Dolphins photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Northern Right Whale Dolphins (May 23, 2021)

Humpback Whale tail ID photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale tail ID photo (May 22, 2021)

Risso's Dolphin photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso's Dolphin (May 18, 2021)

Humpback Whale ID photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale ID (May 17, 2021)

Humpback Whale preparing to dive photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Tail of diving Humpback Whale (May 17, 2021)

Northern Right Whale Dolphin photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Northern Right Whale Dolphin (May 17, 2021)

Sea Otter with crab photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Otter with crab (May 16, 2021)

Risso's Dolphins photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso's Dolphins (May 16, 2021)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (May 16, 2021)

Risso's Dolphins Casper and friends photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Dorsal fins of Risso's Dolphins
Casper and friends (May 14, 2021)

Killer Whales (Orca) photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whales (Orcas - May 14, 2021)

Humpback Whale near Sea Wolf II photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale near Sea Wolf II (May 14, 2021)

Sea Lion and Sea Otter photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Lion and Sea Otter (May 13, 2021)

Blue Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale (May 13, 2021)

Risso's Dolphins including Casper, off Pacific Grove photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso's Dolphins including Casper,
off Pacific Grove (May 11, 2021)

Breaching Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Humpback Whale (May 11, 2021)

Underside of Orca fluke photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Underside of Orca fluke (May 10, 2021)

Fin Whales photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Fin Whales - May 8, 2021)

Killer Whale calf photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whale calf (note orange coloration - May 6, 2021)

Southern Sea Otters in kelp photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Southern Sea Otters in kelp (May 5, 2021)

Spyhopping Killer Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Spyhopping Killer Whale (Orca - May 4, 2021)

Risso's Dolphin Casper photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso's Dolphin Casper (May 4, 2021)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 3, 2021)

Pacific White-sided Dolphins photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphins (May 3, 2021)

Humpback Whale arching back photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale arching back (May 1, 2021)

Pacific White-sided Dolphins and Northern Right Whale Dolphins photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (left) and
Northern Right Whale Dolphins (right) (May 1, 2021)



Photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta


Copyright © 2021 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.


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Photos © Daniel Bianchetta
Last updated June 10, 2021