DECEMBER 2022 MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS LIST

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
December 2022

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 and descriptions.    Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project Date # Type of Animal(s) 12/30 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 35 Risso’s Dolphins 12/29 9 a.m. 4 Gray Whales 65 Risso’s Dolphins 12/28 2 p.m. 9 Humpback Whales Charter 500 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 3 Black-footed Albatross 12/28 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales 400 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 250 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 12/28 10 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales 14 Gray Whales 12/28 9 a.m. 22 Gray Whales 30 Risso’s Dolphins 1 Black-footed Albatross 12/26 1:30 p.m. 1 Humpback Whale 5 Gray Whales 15 Risso’s Dolphins 12/26 10 a.m. 1 Humpback Whales 250 Risso’s Dolphins 1 Black-footed Albatross 12/26 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 15 Risso’s Dolphins 1 Osprey (in harbor) 12/24 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 35 Risso’s Dolphins 12/23 1:30 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales 12/23 9 a.m. 1 Gray Whale 5 Risso’s Dolphins 12/22 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 2 Gray Whales 150 Risso’s Dolphins 12/21 9 a.m. 6 Gray Whales 140 Risso’s Dolphins 12/20 1:30 p.m. 4 Killer Whales (Orcas – new calf) 12/20 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales (breaching) 2 Gray Whales 25 Risso’s Dolphins 12/18 1:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales 1 Blue Whale 5 Gray Whales 70 Risso’s Dolphins 12/18 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 1 Blue Whale 12/17 1:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales 20 Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group) 12/17 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 5 Bottlenose Dolphins 1 Northern Elephant Seal 12/16 9 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales 1 Gray Whale 40 Risso’s Dolphins 12/15 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 50 Risso’s Dolphins 1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 12/14 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 75 Risso’s Dolphins 12/13 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 5 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 250 Risso’s Dolphins 12/9 9 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales 12/8 9 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales 60 Risso’s Dolphins 12/7 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (tail slapping) 20 Risso’s Dolphins 12/6 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (feeding) 30 Risso’s Dolphins 12/5 10 Humpback Whales Private Charter 5 Killer Whales (Orcas) 200 Risso’s Dolphins 12/4 9 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales 400 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 150 Risso’s Dolphins 3 Black-footed Albatross 12/3 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (breaching) 12/2 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 5 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 70 Risso’s Dolphins Photos © 2022 Daniel Bianchetta Breaching Risso’s Dolphin (December 28, 2022) Breaching Gray Whale (December 28, 2022) Sea Otter eating a Sea Urchin (December 28, 2022) Pacific White-sided Dolphin (December 28, 2022) Southern Sea Otter Mother and Pup (December 26, 2022) Baby Risso’s Dolphin (December 22, 2022) Killer Whales (December 20, 2022) Breaching Humpback Whale (December 20, 2022) Eared Grebes (December 18, 2022) Blue Whale tail (December 18, 2022) Risso’s Dolphins (December 17, 2022) Great Blue Heron (December 17, 2022) Bottlenose Dolphin (December 17, 2022) Osprey with fish (December 13, 2022) Humpback Whale fluking up with a flock of Brandt’s Cormorants in foreground (December 9, 2022) Brown Pelicans on breakwater (December 9, 2022) Photos © 2022 Daniel Bianchetta