Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
May 2024
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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| Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project |
| Date |
# |
Type of Animal(s) |
|
| 5/31 1:30 p.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/31 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
350 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
250 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 5/30 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/29 9 a.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales (friendly!) |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B, hunting harbor porpoise) |
|
12 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
| 5/28 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B, feeding and celebrating) |
|
| 5/27 9 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B) |
|
| 5/27 8 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B) |
|
| 5/26 5:30 p.m. |
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B) |
|
| 5/26 2:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B, breaching) |
|
| 5/26 1:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/26 10 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B, hunting sea lions) |
|
| 5/26 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA50B, breaching) |
|
1 |
Minke Whale |
|
12 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 5/25 2:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 5/25 10 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales (tail lobbing) |
|
| 5/25 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 5/24 9 a.m. |
16 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/23 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/22 10 a.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/22 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
12 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/21 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing) |
|
| 5/20 2:30 p.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
3 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins (outside the harbor) |
|
| 5/20 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales (friendly, breaching, pec slapping) |
|
| 5/20 8 a.m. |
75 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
| All Day |
10 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/19 1:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 5/19 10 a.m. |
40 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 5/19 9 a.m. |
44 |
Humpback Whales |
|
35 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/19 8 a.m. |
75 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
200 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
| 5/18 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
15 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/18 10 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback Whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/18 9 a.m. |
35 |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/18 8 a.m. |
110 |
Humpback Whales (chronic breaching) |
| All Day |
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/17 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/17 10 a.m. |
50 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, chin slapping) |
|
| 5/17 9 a.m. |
60 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail throwing) |
|
15 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
35 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/16 2:30 p.m. |
21 |
Humpback Whales |
|
8 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/16 9 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback Whales |
|
300 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/15 9 a.m. |
20+ |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
25 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/14 1:30 p.m. |
30 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As + CA50B) |
|
200 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
15 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 5/14 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As + CA50B) |
|
| 5/13 2:30 p.m. |
30 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 5/13 9 a.m. |
14 |
Humpback Whales |
|
10 |
Baird’s Beaked Whales |
|
| 5/13 8 a.m. |
35 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/12 2:30 p.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/12 10 a.m. |
14 |
Humpback Whales |
|
9 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
20 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
10 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/12 9 a.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
20 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
200 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/12 8 a.m. |
29 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
9 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/11 1:30 p.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/11 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
30 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
| 5/11 8 a.m. |
60 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
200 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
1000 |
Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
| 5/10 10 a.m. |
35 |
Humpback Whales (tail throws) |
|
| 5/10 9 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback Whales (tail throws) |
|
| 5/10 8 a.m. |
55 |
Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) |
| All Day |
40 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/9 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/9 8 a.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
150 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
800 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
75 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 5/8 9 a.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 5/7 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
200 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/7 8 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
1000 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
15 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/6 8 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
1000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1500 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 5/5 8 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
700 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
60 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
20 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 5/4 8 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As) |
|
100 |
Common Dolphins |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/3 8 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
250 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 5/2 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
500 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
| 5/1 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1000+ |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
5 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
2500 |
Sea Lions (large feeding group!) |
|
|
|
Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta
 Killer Whales (Orcas – May 29, 2024)
 Killer Whale flukes (May 28, 2024)
 Orcas (Killer Whales) including calf (May 27, 2024)
 Killer Whale (May 26, 2024)
 California Sea Lion (May 22, 2024)
 Humpback Whale tail (May 21, 2024)
 Common Murres on the water (May 21, 2024)
 Orca Spyhopping near the Blackfin (May 19, 2024)
 Humpback Whale and Sea Lions (May 19, 2024)
 Mother and pup Sea Otters (May 19, 2024)
 Breaching Risso’s Dolphin (May 16, 2024)
 Two Risso’s Dolphins (May 15, 2024)
 Breaching Killer Whale (Orca – May 14, 2024)
 Killer Whale near Pt. Sur Clipper (May 12, 2024)
 Killer Whales (May 12, 2024)
 Sea Otter in kelp (May 12, 2024)
 Breaching Humpback Whale (May 12, 2024)
 Risso’s Dolphins Casper and friends (May 11, 2024)
 Velella Velella (By-the-Wind Sailor May 11, 2024)
 Risso’s Dolphin calf (May 9, 2024)
 Surf Scoter (May 8, 2024)
 Black-footed Albatross (May 8, 2024)
 Northern Right Whale Dolphins (May 6, 2024)
 Humpback Whale ‘Frosty’ (May 3, 2024)
 Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 3, 2024)
 Common Murres in flight (May 2, 2024)
 Long-beaked Common Dolphin and California Sea Lion
(May 1, 2024)
Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta |
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Copyright © 2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
