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

May 2024
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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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   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

  

Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta


Killer Whales (Orcas) photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whales (Orcas - May 29, 2024)

Killer Whale tails photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whale flukes (May 28, 2024)

Orcas (Killer Whales) including calf photo by daniel bianchetta
Orcas (Killer Whales) including calf (May 27, 2024)

Killer Whale photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whale (May 26, 2024)

California Sea Lion photo by daniel bianchetta
California Sea Lion (May 22, 2024)

Humpback Whale tail photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale tail (May 21, 2024)

Common Murres photo by daniel bianchetta
Common Murres on the water (May 21, 2024)

Orca Spyhopping near the Blackfin photo by daniel bianchetta
Orca Spyhopping near the Blackfin (May 19, 2024)

Humpback Whale and Sea Lions photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale and Sea Lions (May 19, 2024)

Mother and pup Sea Otters photo by daniel bianchetta
Mother and pup Sea Otters (May 19, 2024)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta
Breaching Risso's Dolphin (May 16, 2024)

Two Risso's Dolphins photo by daniel bianchetta
Two Risso's Dolphins (May 15, 2024)

Breaching Killer Whale (Orca) photo by daniel bianchetta
Breaching Killer Whale (Orca - May 14, 2024)

Killer Whale near Pt. Sur Clipper photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whale near Pt. Sur Clipper (May 12, 2024)

Killer Whales photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whales (May 12, 2024)

Sea Otter in kelp photo by daniel bianchetta
Sea Otter in kelp (May 12, 2024)

Breaching Humpback Whale photo by daniel bianchetta
Breaching Humpback Whale (May 12, 2024)

Risso's Dolphins Casper and friends photo by daniel bianchetta
Risso's Dolphins Casper and friends (May 11, 2024)

Velella Velella (By-the-Wind Sailor) photo by daniel bianchetta
Velella Velella (By-the-Wind Sailor May 11, 2024)

Risso's Dolphin calf photo by daniel bianchetta
Risso's Dolphin calf (May 9, 2024)

Surf Scoter photo by daniel bianchetta
Surf Scoter (May 8, 2024)

Black-footed Albatross photo by daniel bianchetta
Black-footed Albatross (May 8, 2024)

Northern Right Whale Dolphins photo by daniel bianchetta
Northern Right Whale Dolphins (May 6, 2024)

Humpback Whale Frosty photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale 'Frosty' (May 3, 2024)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 3, 2024)

Common Murres photo by daniel bianchetta
Common Murres in flight (May 2, 2024)

Long-beaked Common Dolphin and California Sea Lion photo by daniel bianchetta
Long-beaked Common Dolphin and California Sea Lion
(May 1, 2024)


Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta



Copyright © 2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.


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Copyright © 1997-2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. All rights reserved.
Photos © Daniel Bianchetta
Last updated June 1, 2024