September 2019 Monterey Bay Whale Watch Marine Mammal Sightings List

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
September 1-30, 2019

Note — In addition to sightings on Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips, this list includes all reported marine mammal sightings for this region. Unusual sightings of other marine animals such as Leatherback Sea Turtles and Basking Sharks are also listed. California Sea Lions, 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.

Date	#	Type of Animal(s)
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9/30 2 p.m.	1	Humpback Whale (lunge-feeding)

9/30 9 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales (tail throws)
	6	Blue Whales
	400	Common Dolphins
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	1300	Risso’s Dolphins
	50	Northern Right Whale Dolphins
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/29 2 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales (breaching, head slaps, pec slaps)

9/29 1 p.m.	11	Humpback Whales

9/29 8 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding, “friendly” behavior)

9/29 8 a.m.	19	Humpback Whales
All Day	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	500	Risso’s Dolphins
	50	Northern Right Whale Dolphins
	5	Harbor Porpoise

9/27 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	100+	Risso’s Dolphins
		Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/27 8 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	300	Risso’s Dolphins (breaching)
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	6	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)
	many	Sea Nettles

9/26 1 p.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	15	Harbor Porpoise

9/26 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	9	Harbor Porpoise
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/25 2 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding right next to the boat)
Pt. Sur Clipper	1	Huge Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/25 2 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, feeding frenzy)
Sea Wolf II

9/25 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
Pt. Sur Clipper	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	150	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Big Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/25 9 a.m.	2	Humpback Whale
Sea Wolf II	800	Short-beaked Common Dolphins
	10	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	150	Risso’s Dolphins

9/24 2 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	6	Harbor Porpoise
	7	Sea Otters (including mom and pup)
	500+	Jellyfish

9/24 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	200	Risso’s Dolphins (breaching, including Casper)
	2	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)
	100+	Sea Lions

9/23 1 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	2	Harbor Porpoise

9/23 9 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	40	Risso’s Dolphins (breaching)
	10	Harbor Porpoise
	5	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/23 8 a.m.	2	Harbor Porpoise
		Jellyfish

9/23 8 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
All Day		Risso’s Dolphins (porpoising)
	8	Harbor Porpoise

9/22 9 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales

9/22 8 a.m.	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)
(dense fog)		Sea Otters
		Jellyfish

9/21 5 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/21 2 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale

9/21 1 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/21 9 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/21 8 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale)
	1	Blue Whale
	8	Harbor Porpoise

9/20 10 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
	20	Harbor Porpoise

9/20 9 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	15	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/20 8 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
	10	Harbor Porpoise

9/19 2 p.m.	1	Humpback Whale (lunge-feeding)
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/19 9 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale (lunge-feeding)
	6	Harbor Porpoise
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/19 8 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
All Day	40	Harbor Porpoise

9/18 2 p.m.	1	Humpback Whale (lunge-feeding)
	30	Harbor Porpoise

9/18 10 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale (lunge-feeding)
	20	Harbor Porpoise

9/18 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throws)
	15	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/17 2 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales (lateral lunge-feeding)

9/17 9 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	2	Killer Whales
	150	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)
	1	Black-Footed Albatross

9/17 8 a.m.	13	Humpback Whales
	150	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/16 2 p.m.	3	Blue Whales
	100	Risso’s Dolphins
	8	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/16 1 p.m.	1	Humpback Whale
	6	Blue Whales
	150	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

9/16 9 a.m.	4	Blue Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Baby Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/16 8 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale (lunge-feeding)
	4	Blue Whale
	8	Harbor Porpoise

9/15 2 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales (mom & calf: very close looks and lunge-feeding)

9/15 1 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales (with calf)
	4	Harbor Porpoise

9/15 9 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	3	Blue Whales
	5	Harbor Porpoise

9/15 8 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	1	Blue Whale
	12	Risso’s Dolphins

9/15 8 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
All Day	1	Blue Whale
	300	Risso’s Dolphins
	15	Harbor Porpoise
	2	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/14 9 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)

9/14 8 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	1	Blue Whale

9/14 8 a.m.	2	Humpback Whale
All Day	1	Blue Whale
	8	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	2	Risso’s Dolphins (mom and newborn calf)

9/13 1:30 p.m.	3	Humpback Whale
	2	Blue Whales
	8	Risso’s Dolphins

9/13 10 a.m.	12	Blue Whales
	200	Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper)

9/13 9 a.m.	9	Blue Whales (feeding)
	400	Risso’s Dolphins

9/13 8 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale
	4	Blue Whales
	115	Risso’s Dolphins

9/12 1 p.m.	3	Blue Whales
	200+	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100+	Risso’s Dolphins

9/12 9 a.m.	5	Blue Whales
	3	Killer Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	1000	Risso’s Dolphins

9/12 8 a.m.	9	Blue Whales
	3	Killer Whales
	500	Pacific White-sided Dolphins

9/12 8 a.m.	13	Blue Whales
All Day	3	Killer Whales
	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Bottlenose Dolphins
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/11 2 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail throwing, rolling around)
	15	Harbor Porpoise

9/11 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
	20	Harbor Porpoise

9/10 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (mom and calf)
	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	1000	Risso’s Dolphins
	10	Harbor Porpoise
	2	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/9 1 p.m.	4	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, mom and calf)

9/9 9 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, mom and calf)
	4	Harbor Porpoise

9/9 8 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, mom and calf)

9/9 8 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing, lunge-feeding)
All Day	2	Blue Whales
	80	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	50	Risso’s Dolphins

9/8 1 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales (breaching)

9/8 9 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales (mom and calf, lunge-feeding, spy hopping)
	200	Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper)

9/8 8 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	350	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/8 8 a.m.	20	Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding)
All Day	400	Risso’s Dolphins
	10	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/7 2 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales (feeding)

9/7 1 p.m.	12	Killer Whales

9/7 9 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales (feeding)
	12	Killer Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Steller Sea Lion
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/7 8 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales (feeding)
	12	Killer Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins (with Casper)
	1	Steller Sea Lion

9/6 2 p.m.	1	Humpback Whale (lunge-feeding)
	1	Large Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/6 9 a.m.	16	Humpback Whales
	10	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	50	Risso’s Dolphins

9/6 8 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	250	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/5 2 p.m.	15	Humpback Whales (feeding frenzy, breaching, tail slapping, head slaps)

9/5 9 a.m.	17	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing, tail lobbing, feeding frenzy)
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100+	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Elephant Seal
	many	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/5 8 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	30	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	500	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Bottlenose Dolphins
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/5 8 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
All Day	2	Blue Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	650	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Bottlenose Dolphins

9/4 9 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales (feeding)
	9	Killer Whales (CA216s)
	190	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/4 8 a.m.	16	Humpback Whales (breaching)
	10	Killer Whales (breaching and tail slaps, including FATFIN)
	3	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish – 1 very large)

9/3 9 a.m.	25	Humpback Whales
	5	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins
	15	Harbor Porpoise
	6	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/2 1 p.m.	21	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	2	Harbor Porpoise

9/2 10 a.m.	19	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, tail throws, head slaps)
		Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/2 9 a.m.	26	Humpback Whales (breaching, chin slaps)
	150	Risso’s Dolphins
		Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/2 8 a.m.	13	Humpback Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
		Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/1 3 p.m.	12	Humpback Whales (breaching, feeding)
	7	Harbor Porpoise

9/1 2 p.m.	31	Humpback Whales (feeding, head slaps, breaching)
	10	Harbor Porpoise

9/1 1 p.m.	17	Humpback Whales (feeding)
	1	Harbor Porpoise

9/1 9 a.m.	20	Humpback Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper!)
	5	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)

9/1 8 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	300	Risso’s Dolphins
	4	Harbor Porpoise

9/1 7 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales (feeding)

All photos © 2019 Daniel Bianchetta
except as otherwise noted

Common Dolphins Mother and Calf, photo by Daniel Bianchetta

Common Dolphins Mother and Calf (September 30, 2019)

Breaching Pacific White-sided Dolphin
(September 29, 2019)

Female Sea Otter eating an Octopus
(September 29, 2019)

Humpback Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whales (September 26, 2019)

Sea Lions, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Lions (September 26, 2019)

Sea Nettle Chrysaora, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Nettle (Chrysaora) (September 26, 2019)

Casper the albino Risso's Dolphin and friend, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Casper the albino Risso’s Dolphin and friend
(September 24, 2019)

Sea Lion and Risso's Dolphins by the Pt. Pinos Lighthouse, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Lion and Risso’s Dolphins near Pt. Pinos Lighthouse
(September 24, 2019)

Running Risso's Dolphins, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Running Risso’s Dolphins (September 23, 2019)

Breaching Risso's Dolphins, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Risso’s Dolphins (September 23, 2019)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (September 23, 2019)

Humpback Whale blow close to shore
(September 21, 2019)

California Sea Lion, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
California Sea Lion (September 21, 2019)

Humpback Whale side lunge, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale side lunge (September 20, 2019)

Humpback Whale tail, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale tail (September 20, 2019)

Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish), photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) (September 19, 2019)

Sea Otter eating a crab, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Otter eating a crab (September 17, 2019)

Risso's Dolphins, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphins (September 15, 2019)

Blue Whale tail, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale tail (September 15, 2019)

Blue Whale by the Sea Wolf II, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale by the Sea Wolf II (September 15, 2019)

Harbor Seals, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Harbor Seals (September 15, 2019)

Mother and pup Sea Otters, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Mother and pup Sea Otters (September 14, 2019)

Risso's Dolphin newborn and mother, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphin newborn and mother
(September 14, 2019)

Casper, the Albino Risso's Dolphin, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Casper, the Albino Risso’s Dolphin (September 13, 2019)

Blue Whale with rain-blow, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale with rain-blow (September 12, 2019)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (September 12, 2019)

Female Killer Whales by the Sea Wolf II
(September 12, 2019)

Humpback Whale tail throw, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale tail throw (September 9, 2019)

Black-footed Albatross, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Black-footed Albatross (September 9, 2019)

Breaching Humpback Whale, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Humpback Whale (September 8, 2019)

Surfing Risso's Dolphins, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Surfing Risso’s Dolphins (September 8, 2019)

Killer Whale mother and calf, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whale mother and calf (September 7, 2019)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (September 6, 2019)

Harbor Seals, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Harbor Seals (September 6, 2019)

Sea Otter, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Sea Otter (September 6, 2019)

Blue Whale, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale (September 5, 2019)

Bottlenose Dolphins, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Bottlenose Dolphins (September 5, 2019)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Risso’s Dolphin (September 5, 2019)

Killer Whale, photo by Colleen Talty
Killer Whale (September 4, 2019)
photo by Colleen Talty

Humpback Whale tail and California Sea Lions
(September 2, 2019)

Humpback Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whales (September 2, 2019)

Red-necked Phalaropes, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Red-necked Phalaropes (September 2, 2019)

Albino Risso's Dolphin 'Casper', photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Albino Risso’s Dolphin ‘Casper’ (September 1, 2019)

California Sea Lions, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
California Sea Lions (September 1, 2019)

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