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

July 2023
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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)

7/31 10 a.m. 17 Humpback Whales
  1 Black-footed Albatross

7/31 9 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales
  1 Harbor Porpoise
  1 Black-footed Albatross

7/31 8 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales
All Day 5 Harbor Porpoise
  15 Black-footed Albatross

7/30 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales (tail throwing, feeding)

7/30 10 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (tail throwing)

7/30 9 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)

7/28 1:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales

7/28 10 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)

7/28 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail throwing)
  1 Harbor Porpoise

7/27 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)

7/27 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales

7/27 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (breaching, lob tailing)
  1 Thresher Shark

7/26 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
  20 Risso's Dolphins

7/26 10 a.m. 24 Humpback Whales
  30 Risso's Dolphins
  1 Thresher Shark

7/26 9 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (including 2 calves!)
  30 Risso's Dolphins
  3 Harbor Porpoise

7/25 2:30 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales

7/25 10 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales

7/25 9 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales

7/24 2:30 p.m. 13 Humpback Whales (kelping, breaching)

7/24 10 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing, feeding)

7/24 9 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales

7/24 8 a.m. 29 Humpback Whales (non-stop breaching!)
All Day 10 Black-footed Albatross

7/23 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales (very friendly whale)
  6 Harbor Porpoise

7/23 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (feeding group, a very friendly whale, and a breach)
  3 Harbor Porpoise

7/23 9 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales
  30 Risso's Dolphins

7/22 2:30 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales

7/22 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales
  20 Risso's Dolphins
  1 Elephant Seal

7/22 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (including Lefty, Angel Wing, Morton and Piper)
  12 Harbor Porpoise

7/22 8 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (friendly, breaching, pec slapping)
All Day 125 Risso's Dolphins (nursery group)

7/21 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales (breaching)

7/21 10 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales (pec slapping)

7/21 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (pec slapping)

7/20 1:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales (cow+calf Angelwing! pec slaps, tail throws, lunging)

7/20 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (cow+calf, vertical lunge feeding)

7/20 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales
  12 Harbor Porpoise

7/18 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales

7/18 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales
  20 Risso's Dolphins

7/18 9 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales
  300 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)

7/17 1:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales (Angel Wing & Walter,
lunge-feeding and breaching)

7/17 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales
  30 Risso's Dolphins
  2 Harbor Porpoise

7/17 9 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (pec slapping, breaching, feeding)

7/16 2:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales
  1 Harbor Porpoise

7/16 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales

7/16 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales
  750 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  3 Offshore Killer Whales (Orcas)
  2 Blue Whales
  35 Common Dolphins

7/16 9 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales
  3 Offshore Killer Whales (Orcas)
  30 Common Dolphins

7/15 1:30 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales (tail throws and lunge feeding)

7/15 9 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales
  2 Risso's Dolphins

7/15 8 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales
All Day 10 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  60 Risso's Dolphins (including Casper)

7/13 2:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales
  1 Thresher Shark

7/13 9 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale
  30 Risso's Dolphins

7/12 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (breaching)

7/12 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales
  60 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  1 Great White Shark

7/12 9 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales
  300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  500 Risso's Dolphins
20 Northern Right Whale Dolphins
  3 Harbor Porpoise
  5 Black-footed Albatross

7/11 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales
  100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  200 Risso's Dolphins

7/10 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales
  200 Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/10 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales
    Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/9 10 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales
  10 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  50 Risso's Dolphins (nursery group)

7/9 9 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale (friendly behavior)
  40 Risso's Dolphins

7/7 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (breaching and lunge-feeding)
  30 Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/7 9 a.m. 21 Humpback Whales (breaching)
  2000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins (nursery pod)
  50 Risso's Dolphins
80 Northern Right Whale Dolphins

7/6 1:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales
  2 Black-footed Albatross

7/6 10 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales
  25 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  50 Risso's Dolphins
  2 Black-footed Albatross

7/6 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales
  25 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  50 Risso's Dolphins
  6 Harbor Porpoise
  2 Black-footed Albatross
  1 Red-footed Booby

7/5 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales
  4-6 Cuvier's Beaked Whales (Rare!)
  100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  100 Risso's Dolphins (nursery pod)
  1 Harbor Porpoise

7/5 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales
  50 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  100 Risso's Dolphins (nursery pod)
  4 Harbor Porpoise

7/4 2:30 p.m. 1 Humpback Whale

7/4 11 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales
  25 Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/4 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (mom/calf)
  50 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  40 Risso's Dolphins
  10 Dall's Porpoise
  1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

7/4 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales
  12 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
  12 Risso's Dolphins
  1 Blue Shark
  1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

7/3 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (Ratchet and Clubs lunge-feeding)

7/3 1:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales (Ratchet, Clubs and a mom/calf pair)
  1 Harbor Porpoise

7/3 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales (Ratchet and Clubs lunge-feeding)
  5 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  1 Minke Whale
  5 Harbor Porpoise
  1 Dall's Porpoise

7/3 9 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales
  5 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  1 Minke Whale
  5 Harbor Porpoise
  1 Dall's Porpoise

7/3 8 a.m. 5 Killer Whales (Orcas)
  1 Minke Whale
  65 Risso's Dolphins
  1 Harbor Porpoise

7/2 5:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales (breaching)

7/2 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (feeding and breaching)

7/2 1:30 p.m. 1 Humpback Whale

7/2 11 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales
  25 Risso's Dolphins

7/2 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales
  25 Risso's Dolphins

7/2 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales
  25 Risso's Dolphins
  6 Harbor Porpoise

7/1 5:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales

7/1 2:30 p.m. 100 Risso's Dolphins

7/1 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
  200 Risso's Dolphins

7/1 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
  30 Risso's Dolphins

7/1 8 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, breaching)
All Day 250 Risso's Dolphins
  1 Mako Shark
  1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

  

Photos © 2023 Daniel Bianchetta


Humpback Whale fluke-slapping photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale fluke-slapping (July 30, 2023)

Southern Sea Otter eating breakfast photo by daniel bianchetta
Southern Sea Otter eating breakfast (July 30, 2023)

Canada Goose and California Sea Lion photo by daniel bianchetta
Canada Goose and California Sea Lion
(July 30, 2023)

California Sea Lion close-up photo by daniel bianchetta
California Sea Lion close-up (July 28, 2023)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale photo by daniel bianchetta
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (July 27, 2023)

Pigeon Guillemots photo by daniel bianchetta
Pigeon Guillemots (July 26, 2023)

Risso's Dolphins and sailboat photo by daniel bianchetta
Risso's Dolphins and sailboat (July 26, 2023)

Southern Sea Otters photo by daniel bianchetta
Southern Sea Otters (July 22, 2023)

Common Murre photo by daniel bianchetta
Common Murre (July 21, 2023)

Brown Pelican and Brandt's Cormorants photo by daniel bianchetta
Brown Pelican and Brandt's Cormorants
(July 21, 2023)

Black Turnstones photo by daniel bianchetta
Black Turnstones (July 21, 2023)

Humpback Whale by Sea Wolf II photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale by Sea Wolf II (July 21, 2023)

Humpback Whale cow and calf photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale cow and calf (July 20, 2023)

Humpback Whale tail photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale tail (July 20, 2023)

Humpback Whale breaching photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale breaching (July 17, 2023)

Killer Whales (Orcas)  photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whales (July 16, 2023)

Killer Whale photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whale (July 16, 2023)

 White Risso's Dolphin 'Casper' and friends photo by daniel bianchetta
White Risso's Dolphin 'Casper' and friends
(July 15, 2023)

Humpback Whale by Pt Sur Clipper photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale by Pt Sur Clipper (July 13, 2023)

Red-footed Booby photo by daniel bianchetta
Red-footed Booby (July 12, 2023)

Humpback Whale pectoral fin photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale pectoral fin (July12, 2023)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta
Breaching Risso's Dolphin (July 9, 2023)

Risso's Dolphin blowhole photo by daniel bianchetta
Risso's Dolphin blowhole (July 9, 2023)

Black-footed Albatross photo by daniel bianchetta
Black-footed Albatross (July 7, 2023)

Pacific White-sided Dolphins with calf photo by daniel bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphins with calf (July 7, 2023)

Velella Velella (By-the-Wind sailor) photo by daniel bianchetta
Velella Velella (By-the-Wind Sailor) (July 6, 2023)

Southern Sea Otter eating a crab photo by daniel bianchetta
Southern Sea Otter eating a crab (July 5, 2023)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (July 5, 2023)

Humpback whale fluke before it disappears under the surface as the whale dives photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback whale fluke before it disappears under
the surface as the whale dives (July 4, 2023)

Brandt's cormorants resting on their nests watching over their growing chicks photo by daniel bianchetta
Brandt's cormorants resting on their nests
watching over their growing chicks (July 4, 2023)

Killer Whales (Orcas) by Sea Wolf II photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whales (Orcas) by Sea Wolf II (July 3, 2023)

California Sea Lions photo by daniel bianchetta
California Sea Lions (July 3, 2023)

Risso's Dolphins photo by daniel bianchetta
Risso's Dolphins (July 2, 2023)

Humpback Whale and Brown Pelicans photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale and Brown Pelicans (July 2, 2023)

Close-up of Humpback Whale blow hole photo by daniel bianchetta
Close-up of Humpback Whale blow hole (July 1, 2023)

Humpback Whales lunge-feeding photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whales lunge-feeding (July 1, 2023)

Mako Shark photo by daniel bianchetta
Mako Shark (July 1, 2023)



Photos © 2023 Daniel Bianchetta



Copyright © 2023 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.


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Photos © Daniel Bianchetta
Last updated August 9, 2023