Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
September 2024
Our sightings are updated every few days, listing sightings from Whale Watch trips, with indications of the numbers of marine mammals seen frequently, including Humpback Whales, Gray Whales, Blue Whales, Killer Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, and others. 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 listed.
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) |
|
| 9/30 9 a.m. |
22 |
Humpback Whales (chronic breaching calf, pec slapping,
tail lobbing, lunge feeding frenzy!) |
|
9/30 8 a.m.
All Day |
28 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, breaching) |
|
| 9/29 2:30 p.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/29 10 a.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding) |
|
| 9/29 9 a.m. |
37 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding) |
|
| 9/29 7:30 a.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
| Pelagic Bird |
20 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| Trip |
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
|
Flesh-footed Shearwaters |
|
|
South Polar Skuas |
|
|
Wilson’s Storm Petrels |
|
|
Buller’s Shearwaters |
|
| 9/28 9 a.m. |
23 |
Humpback Whales (constant lunge feeding) |
|
| 9/28 9 a.m. |
26 |
Humpback Whales (constant lunge feeding) |
|
| 9/28 8 a.m. |
40 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, friendly, breaching) |
| All Day |
50 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
200 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
10 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
1 |
Mola Mola |
|
1 |
Blue Shark |
|
1 |
Manx Shearwater |
|
| 9/27 2:30 p.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales (intervening in killer whale predation) |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA39As hunting sea lions) |
|
| 9/27 10 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, intervening in killer whale predation) |
|
9 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – A140s and CA39As) |
|
| 9/27 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
15 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As, CA140s, and CA39As) |
|
| 9/25 2:30 p.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, tail lobbing, lunge feeding) |
|
| 9/25 9 a.m. |
19 |
Humpback Whales |
|
2 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
35 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
30 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 9/24 10 a.m. |
13 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding frenzy) |
|
6 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 9/23 2:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/23 9 a.m. |
27 |
Humpback Whales (feeding) |
|
| 9/23 8 a.m. |
26 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping) |
| All Day |
10 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 9/22 2:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/22 10 a.m. |
21 |
Humpback Whales (feeding) |
|
3 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA20 Glacier, CA54, CA177) |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 9/22 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding) |
|
3 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA20 Glacier, CA54, CA177) |
|
| 9/21 3:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/21 11 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (including Fallon!) |
|
| 9/21 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales (2 friendly) |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA39As) |
|
| 9/20 2:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/20 9 a.m. |
14 |
Humpback Whales (including one friendly for almost an hour!) |
|
| 9/19 2:30 p.m. |
32 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding) |
|
| 9/19 9 a.m. |
26 |
Humpback Whales (friendly) |
|
| 9/18 1:30 p.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As) |
|
| 9/18 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales (2 friendly) |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As) |
|
| 9/17 2:30 p.m. |
29 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/17 9 a.m. |
13 |
Humpback Whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 9/16 9 a.m. |
36 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, tail slapping, and friendly!) |
|
| 9/15 10 a.m. |
22 |
Humpback Whales (friendly, lunge feeding, breaching) |
|
| 9/15 9 a.m. |
41 |
Humpback Whales (friendly) |
|
| 9/14 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) |
|
| 9/14 10 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
10 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 9/14 9 a.m. |
25 |
Humpback Whales |
|
10 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 9/14 8 a.m. |
59 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Mako Shark |
|
| 9/13 2:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/13 10 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/13 9 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
10 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 9/12 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales (friendly) |
|
7-9 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA216C, CA216C1 Frosty, CA35,
CA35A, CA35B, CA26, CA36, and likely the CA216Ds) |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 9/11 9 a.m. |
23 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/10 2:30 p.m. |
21 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/10 9 a.m. |
54 |
Humpback Whales |
|
150 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
| 9/9 2:30 p.m. |
42 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/9 9 a.m. |
56 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
9 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 9/8 2:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/8 10 a.m. |
25 |
Humpback Whales |
|
12 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 9/8 9 a.m. |
25 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA39s) |
|
| 9/7 2:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales (double breach, chin slapping) |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/7 10 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/7 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales (friendly) |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/7 8 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/5 2:30 p.m. |
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/5 9 a.m. |
13 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/4 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/4 9 a.m. |
28 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/3 2:30 p.m. |
16 |
Humpback Whales (including Aria!,
lunge-feeding frenzy with sea lions) |
|
| 9/3 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/1 5:30 p.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 9/1 2:30 p.m. |
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/1 1:30 p.m. |
16 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 9/1 10 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales (including 4 interfering with orcas hunting sea lion!) |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – Sea Lion hunt, breaching) |
|
| 9/1 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – Sea Lion hunt, breaching) |
|
|
|
Photos © 2024 by Daniel Bianchetta
unless otherwise noted
 Brown Pelican (September 30, 2024)
 Humpback Whales lunge feeding (September 29, 2024)
 Killer Whale (Orca – September 27, 2024)
 Killer Whale near Sea Wolf II (Orca – September 27, 2024)
 Humpback Whale fluke slapping (September 25, 2024)
 Humpback Whales feeding (September 24, 2024)
 Humpback Whale pectoral fin (September 23, 2024)
 Dall’s Porpoise (September 23, 2024)
 Killer Whales (Orcas – September 22, 2024)
 Harbor Seal (September 22, 2024)
 Humpback Whale kelping (playing with kelp)
(September 22, 2024)
 Mother and calf Killer Whales (Orcas – September 18, 2024)
 Southern Sea Otter mom and pup (September 16, 2024)
 Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (Note baleen)
(September 16, 2024)
 Brown Pelican taking off (September 16, 2024)
 Egg Yolk Jelly (September 13, 2024)
 Breaching Humpback Whale (September 11, 2024)
 Killer Whale ‘Frosty’ (September 12, 2024)
 Black-footed Albatross (September 10, 2024)
 Playful leaping Sea Lion (September 10, 2024)
 Humpback Whale tail throwing (September 10, 2024)
 Killer Whale punting Common Murre into the air
(September 7, 2024)
 Baby Killer Whale (September 5, 2024)
 Killer Whale spyhopping (September 5, 2024)
 Sea Otter (September 3, 2024)
 Fish Flash at surface as they try to escape the
hungry Humpback Whales below (September 3, 2024)
 Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (September 3, 2024)
Photos © 2024 by Daniel Bianchetta |
|
Copyright © 2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
