MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS LIST DECEMBER 2016

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
December 1-31, 2016

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.

Visit our Facebook page for more photos. Date # Type of Animal(s) 12/31 1:30 p.m. 11 Gray Whales 6-8 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 1 Black-footed Albatross 12/31 11:30 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 9 Gray Whales 1 Fin Whale 12/31 10 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales 2 Gray Whales 1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 12/31 8 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales 5 Gray Whales 500 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 12/30 1:30 p.m. 17 Gray Whales 1 Blue Whale 50 Risso’s Dolphins 12/30 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 3 Gray Whales 300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 40 Risso’s Dolphins 12/30 7 a.m. 1 Humpback Whale 6 Gray Whales 80 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 40 Risso’s Dolphins 25 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 12/29 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales 6 Gray Whales 450 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 20 Risso’s Dolphins 12/29 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 6 Killer Whales 1000 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 12/29 7 a.m. 7 Gray Whales 300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 12/28 1:30 p.m. 13 Gray Whales 12/28 10 a.m. 11 Gray Whales 12/27 1:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales 1 Gray Whale 1 Fin Whale 300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 100 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 1 Black-footed Albatross 12/27 10 a.m. 6 Gray Whales 12/22 1:30 pm. 6 Humpback Whales 3 Gray Whales 100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 12/22 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (2 breaching) 2 Gray Whales 150 Risso’s Dolphins 12/21 1:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales 150 Risso’s Dolphins 12/21 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 12/20 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales 100 Risso’s Dolphins 12/20 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales 60 Risso’s Dolphins 12/18 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 3 Killer Whales 12/17 1:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales 12/17 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales 12/14 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (lots of surface lunge-feeding!) 30 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 12/13 9 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales 25+ Offshore Killer Whales 2 Gray Whales 150 Risso’s Dolphins 12/12 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales 12/11 9 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales 10 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 80 Risso’s Dolphins 12/10 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 7 Dall’s Porpoise 12/9 9 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales Southern Sea Otter eating a Dungeness crab 12/7 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales 2 Gray Whales 2 Fin Whales 145 Risso’s Dolphins 7 Black-footed Albatross 1 Laysan Albatross 12/6 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (“friendly” encounter!) 12/4 2 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales 600 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 12/4 9 a.m. 24 Humpback Whales 750 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 12/3 2 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales A surreal sunset! 12/3 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales 2 Gray Whales 800 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 12/2 9 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales 450 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 12/1 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales 3 Gray Whales 3 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 200 Long-beaked Common Dolphins 300 Risso’s Dolphins Fin Whale (Dec. 31, 2016) Great Egret standing on kelp (Dec. 31, 2016) Blue Whale (Dec. 30, 2016) Gray Whale near Pt. Pinos Lighthouse (Dec. 29, 2016) Risso’s Dolphins (Dec. 29, 2016) Killer Whale (Dec. 18, 2016) Rainbow by breakwater (Dec. 10, 2016) Great Egret in flight (Dec. 9, 2016) Southern Sea Otter eating Dungeness Crab (Dec. 9, 2016) Harbor Seals (Dec. 4, 2016) Festival of Lights (Dec. 4, 2016) Gray Whales (Dec. 3, 2016) Great Egret (Dec. 2, 2016) Long-beaked Common Dolphins (Dec. 2, 2016)  Humpback Whale tail (Dec. 3, 2016)All photos © 2016 Daniel Bianchetta