Monterey Bay Whale Watch

List of Most Recent Marine Mammal Sightings

in the Monterey Bay Region

Since September 1, 2020

compiled by Monterey Bay Whale Watch





This list, updated every few days, 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. Each month the sightings from the previous month are moved to a monthly summary 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) 9/17 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (Angel Wing and Halo were boat friendly,

tail throwing, breaching) 8 Harbor Porpoise 1 Leatherback Sea Turtle 9/16 10 a.m. 17 Humpback Whales (feeding) 20 Harbor Porpoise 9/15 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 15 Risso's Dolphins 9/14 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (mom/calf pair, breaching, tail throwing,

pec slapping, rolling around) 20 Harbor Porpoise 9/14 8 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (mom/calf pair) All Day 150 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 700 Risso's Dolphins 9/13 2:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales (mother and calf) 5 Harbor Porpoise 9/13 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (kelping, breaching, pec slapping, tail throwing) 1 Minke Whale 20 Harbor Porpoise 1 Leatherback Sea Turtle 9/13 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales Cheesemans' 160 Pacific White-sided Dolphins Safaris 380 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper!) 9/12 2:30 p.m. 1 Humpback Whale 9/12 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales (tail throwing) 9/12 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (tail slapping) 9/10 10 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales (mom/calf pair, tail throwing, lunge-feeding) 100 Risso's Dolphins 1 Leatherback Sea Turtle 9/9 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (mom/calf pair, friendly) 30 Risso's Dolphins 9/9 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales (mom/calf pair, friendly) 9/8 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales (breaching and "friendly" behavior) 9/7 5 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales 9/7 3 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/7 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/7 1:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 9/7 11 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (tail throwing) 200 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper!) 9/7 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales 200 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper!) 9/7 9 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales 450 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper!) 2 Harbor Porpoise 1 Elephant Seal 9/7 7:30 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 9/6 5:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/6 5 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/6 3 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/6 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 9/6 1:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 9/6 11 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 9/6 10 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 30 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 100 Risso's Dolphins 9/6 9 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 1 Minke Whale 60 Risso's Dolphins 5 Harbor Porpoise 9/6 7:30 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales 50 Risso's Dolphins 25 Bottlenose Dolphins 9/5 5:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 9/5 5 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (tail throws) 9/5 3 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/5 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/5 1:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 9/5 11 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales 250 Risso's Dolphins (nursery subgroup) 9/5 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 250 Risso's Dolphins (nursery subgroup) 9/5 9 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales 250 Risso's Dolphins (nursery subgroup) 9/4 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (mom/calf pair, breaching) 180 Risso's Dolphins 8 Harbor Porpoise 9/3 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 20 Risso's Dolphins 9/2 2:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales Charter 5 Killer Whales (Orcas) 9/2 10 a.m. 5 Killer Whales (Orcas) 9/1 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales 1 Blue Whale 100 Risso's Dolphins All photos © 2020 Daniel Bianchetta





Brown Pelican plunge diving (September 17, 2020)





Pacific White-sided Dolphins (September 14, 2020)





Breaching Humpback Whale (September 13, 2020)





Humpback Whale kelping (playing with kelp)

(September 13, 2020)





Elegant Terns with Anchovy (September 12, 2020)





Leatherback Sea Turtle (September 10, 2020)





Humpback Whale spyhopping (September 9, 2020)





White Risso's Dolphin Casper (September 7, 2020)





Risso's Dolphin Casper (September 7, 2020)





Thresher Shark (September 6, 2020)





Risso's Dolphins including a calf (September 5, 2020)





Humpback Whales lunge-feeding (September 5, 2020)





Humpback Whale tail throw (September 4, 2020)





Running Risso's Dolphins (September 4, 2020)





Southern Sea Otter eating a crab (September 3, 2020)





Killer Whales kelping (playing with kelp)

(September 2, 2020)





Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) (September 1, 2020)







All photos © 2020 Daniel Bianchetta





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Monterey, CA 93940 Phone 831-375-4658 E-mail whaletrips@gowhales.com Copyright © 1997-2020 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. All rights reserved.

Photos © Daniel Bianchetta Last updated September 18, 2020