Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
October 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.
Visit our Facebook
page for more photos and descriptions.
 |
|
| Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project |
| Date |
# |
Type of Animal(s) |
|
| 10/31 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales (active) |
|
| 10/31 10 a.m. |
13 |
Humpback Whales |
|
45 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
400 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
20 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 10/30 9 a.m. |
64 |
Humpback Whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/29 9 a.m. |
36 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/28 2:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 10/28 9 a.m. |
40 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, tail throwing) |
|
| 10/26 2:30 p.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/26 10 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
|
125 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/26 9 a.m. |
31 |
Humpback Whales |
|
8 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/26 7:30 a.m. |
41 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
40 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/25 2:30 p.m. |
25 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/25 10 a.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
200 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
300 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/25 9 a.m. |
26 |
Humpback Whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/24 2:30 p.m. |
31 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/24 9 a.m. |
31 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51A Aurora, CA51A3 Dipper,
CA51A3A Nova, and CA51A5 ) |
|
| 10/23 2:30 p.m. |
25 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, breaching) |
|
| 10/23 9 a.m. |
71 |
Humpback Whales |
|
50 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
5 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 10/22 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/22 9 a.m. |
17 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, chin slapping) |
|
| 10/21 2:30 p.m. |
35 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/21 9 a.m. |
40 |
Humpback Whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/20 4 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/20 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/20 10 a.m. |
50 |
Humpback Whales (feeding) |
|
| 10/20 9 a.m. |
82 |
Humpback Whales (feeding) |
|
| 10/19 4 p.m. |
22 |
Humpback Whales (friendly, breaching) |
|
| 10/19 2:30 p.m. |
21 |
Humpback Whales (tail throwing, feeding) |
|
| 10/19 10 a.m. |
36 |
Humpback Whales (pec slapping, breaching) |
|
| 10/19 9 a.m. |
35 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, feeding) |
|
| 10/19 8 a.m. |
42 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
15 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
1 |
Blue Shark |
|
| 10/18 2:30 p.m. |
25 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/18 9 a.m. |
70 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 10/17 9 a.m. |
65 |
Humpback Whales (feeding frenzy) |
|
| 10/16 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
2 |
Blue Whales |
|
| 10/16 9 a.m. |
44 |
Humpback Whales (feeding, pec slapping, friendly) |
|
| 10/14 10 a.m. |
28 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
| 10/14 9 a.m. |
25 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
| 10/14 8 a.m. |
42 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
| All Day |
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
| 10/13 2:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (2 friendlies, breaching, pec slapping) |
|
| 10/13 10 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/13 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
10/12 4 p.m.
Sunset |
14 |
Humpback Whales (kelping, breaching, chin slapping,
pec slapping) |
|
| 10/12 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
10 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 10/12 10 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
50 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
| 10/12 9 a.m. |
35 |
Humpback Whales (several attempting to chase off the Orcas) |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – very special and playful) |
|
50 |
Long-beaked Common Dolphins |
|
| 10/12 8 a.m. |
36 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
20 |
Mola Mola |
|
| 10/11 2:30 p.m. |
40 |
Humpback Whales (friendly) |
|
| 10/11 10 a.m. |
17 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
20 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 10/11 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
25 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/10 2:30 p.m. |
32 |
Humpback Whales (forcing the Orcas out of the bay!) |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
| 10/10 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
| Pt Sur Clipper |
8 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
5 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
1 |
Blue Shark |
|
| 10/10 9 a.m. |
18 |
Humpback Whales |
| Sea Wolf II |
8 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/9 2:30 p.m. |
14 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, breaching) |
|
| 10/9 9 a.m. |
41 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding) |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – breaching) |
|
4 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 10/8 2:30 p.m. |
26 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping,
feeding with Sea Lions) |
|
| 10/8 9 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As) |
|
| 10/7 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/7 10 a.m. |
28 |
Humpback Whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/7 9 a.m. |
32 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge feeding, tail lobbing) |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
10/7 8 a.m.
All Day |
43 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding) |
|
| 10/6 4 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
| Sunset |
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
| 10/6 2:30 p.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/6 10 a.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/6 9 a.m. |
64 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
| 10/5 2:30 p.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, breaching) |
|
| 10/5 10 a.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
| 10/5 8 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA51As and CA50B) |
|
10 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
| 10/4 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 10/4 10 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 10/4 9 a.m. |
28 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/3 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 10/3 9 a.m. |
26 |
Humpback Whales |
|
2 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 10/2 2:30 p.m. |
35 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding frenzy, breaching,
tail lobbing, pec slapping) |
|
| 10/2 9 a.m. |
66 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding frenzy) |
|
| 10/1 2:30 p.m. |
28 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding) |
|
| 10/1 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales (lunge feeding and a friendly whale) |
|
|
|
Photos © 2024 by Daniel Bianchetta
 Humpback Whale (October 31, 2024)  Risso’s Dolphin (October 31, 2024)  Breaching Humpback Whale (October 28, 2024)  Humpback Whale at sunset (October 26, 2024)  Humpback Whale kelping (playing with kelp – October 26, 2024)  Baby Orca (Killer Whale – October 24, 2024)  Lunge feeding Humpback Whale (Note anchovies}
(October 23, 2024)  Humpback Whale surfacing toward the boat (October 22, 2024)  Humpback Whale with rainblow (October 21, 2024)  Humpback Whale ID shot (October 19, 2024)  Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola – October 19, 2024)  Humpback Whale and Sea Lions (October 18, 2024)  Orca (Killer Whale) CA50B Jimmy flukes (October 18, 2024)  Humpback Whale fluke (October 17, 2024)  Blue Whale (October 16, 2024)  Killer Whales (Orcas – October 14, 2024)  Killer Whales (Orcas – October 13, 2024)  Humpback Whale attempting to chase Killer Whales
out of the area (October 12, 2024)  Female Killer Whale breaching (Orca – October 12, 2024)  Killer Whale calf showing teeth (Orca – October 12, 2024)  Risso’s Dolphin with calf (October 11, 2024)  Friendly Humpback Whale (October 11, 2024)  Humpback Whales (October 11, 2024)  Humpback Whale pectoral fin (October 10, 2024)  Orca mother and calf – Note fetal folds and orange eye patch
(October 10, 2024)  Leaping Sea Lion (October 7, 2024)  Brown Pelicans (October 6, 2024)  Killer Whale (Orca – October 5, 2024)  Humpback Whales lunge feeding – Note baleen and anchovies
(October 5, 2024)  Great Blue Heron hunting (October 2, 2024)  Anchovies (October 1, 2024)
Photos © 2024 by Daniel Bianchetta
|
|
Copyright © 2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
