Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
May 2021

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 (May 31, 2021) Leaping Risso's Dolphin feeding on squid near squid boats (May 31, 2021) Brown Pelicans (May 31, 2021) Breaching Humpback Whale with unusual white belly, completely out of the water (May 30, 2021) Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (Note baleen) (May 30, 2021) Breaching Risso's Dolphin (May 28, 2021) Risso's Dolphin Casper (May 27, 2021) Sea Lion (May 27, 2021) Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (May 27, 2021) Breaching Humpback Whale (May 25, 2021) Male Orca (Killer Whale - May 24, 2021) Humpback Whale side-lunging (May 24, 2021) Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 23, 2021) Northern Right Whale Dolphins (May 23, 2021) Humpback Whale tail ID photo (May 22, 2021) Risso's Dolphin (May 18, 2021) Humpback Whale ID (May 17, 2021) Tail of diving Humpback Whale (May 17, 2021) Northern Right Whale Dolphin (May 17, 2021) Sea Otter with crab (May 16, 2021) Risso's Dolphins (May 16, 2021) Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (May 16, 2021) Dorsal fins of Risso's Dolphins Casper and friends (May 14, 2021) Killer Whales (Orcas - May 14, 2021) Humpback Whale near Sea Wolf II (May 14, 2021) Sea Lion and Sea Otter (May 13, 2021) Blue Whale (May 13, 2021) Risso's Dolphins including Casper, off Pacific Grove (May 11, 2021) Breaching Humpback Whale (May 11, 2021) Underside of Orca fluke (May 10, 2021) Fin Whales - May 8, 2021) Killer Whale calf (note orange coloration - May 6, 2021) Southern Sea Otters in kelp (May 5, 2021) Spyhopping Killer Whale (Orca - May 4, 2021) Risso's Dolphin Casper (May 4, 2021) Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 3, 2021) Pacific White-sided Dolphins (May 3, 2021) Humpback Whale arching back (May 1, 2021) Pacific White-sided Dolphin (left) and Northern Right Whale Dolphins (right) (May 1, 2021) Photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta

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Sightings List 5/1-5/31/21

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Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC 84 Fisherman's Wharf Monterey, CA 93940   Phone 831-375-4658   E-mail whaletrips@gowhales.com

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Photos © Daniel Bianchetta
Last updated June 10, 2021