Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
December 2023
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) |
|
| 12/31 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 12/31 10 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 12/31 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
3 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 12/30 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
9 |
Killer Whales (Orcas - CA140Bs and CA122Cs) |
| |
1500 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| |
200 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 12/25 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
| 12/24 9 a.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
| |
600 |
Risso's Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
| 12/23 1:30 p.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 12/23 10 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/23 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 12/21 9 a.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
400 |
Risso's Dolphins |
|
| 12/17 9 a.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/16 1:30 p.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
50 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| |
350 |
Risso's Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
| 12/16 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
50 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| |
650 |
Risso's Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
| 12/15 9 a.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales ("Chin-up" + calf + escort) |
|
| 12/14 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
80 |
Risso's Dolphins |
| |
4 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 12/13 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
10 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| |
115 |
Risso's Dolphins |
| |
3 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
| |
5 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 12/12 9 a.m. |
8 |
Killer Whales (Orcas - friendly and active) |
| |
50 |
Risso's Dolphins |
|
| 12/11 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
5 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 12/10 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
20 |
Risso's Dolphins |
|
| 12/9 1:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/9 9 a.m. |
17 |
Killer Whales (Orcas - Minke Whale predation) |
|
| 12/8 1:30 p.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/8 10 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
| Charter |
60 |
Risso's Dolphins |
|
| 12/7 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
80 |
Risso's Dolphins |
| |
4 |
Black-footed albatross |
| |
1 |
Belted Kingfisher |
| |
1 |
Ancient Murrelet |
|
| 12/6 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
| |
30 |
Risso's Dolphins |
| |
3 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 12/4 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
200 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| |
1000 |
Risso's Dolphins |
| |
10 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 12/3 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) |
|
| 12/2 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas - CA39As) |
|
| 12/1 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
| |
60 |
Risso's Dolphins |
|
|
|
Photos © 2023 Daniel Bianchetta
Gray Whale flukes (December 31, 2023)
Killer Whales including calf (Orcas)
(December 30, 2023)
Southern Sea Otters (December 23, 2023)
Eared Grebes (December 21, 2023)
Breaching Humpback Whale (December 16, 2023)
Breaching Risso's Dolphin (December 16, 2023)
White Risso's Dolphin Casper (December 16, 2023)
Humpback Whale tail throwing (December 13, 2023)
Killer Whale (Orca) kelping (playing with kelp)
(December 7, 2023)
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (December 3, 2023)
Black-footed Albatross (December 2, 2023)
Killer Whales (Orcas - December 2, 2023)
Photos © 2023 Daniel Bianchetta
|
Copyright © 2023 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings
information is permitted without prior approval.
|
|
 |
Sightings List 12/1-12/31/23 |
|
 |
|
| Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC |
84 Fisherman's Wharf
Monterey, CA 93940 |
|
| Phone 831-375-4658 |
|
| E-mail whaletrips@gowhales.com |
|
|
Copyright © 1997-2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. All rights
reserved.
Photos © Daniel
Bianchetta
Last updated January 2, 2024 |
