May 2018 Monterey Bay Whale Watch Marine Mammal Sightings List

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
May 1-31, 2018

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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5/31 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales

5/30 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	3	Bottlenose Dolphins
	3	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Black-footed Albatross

5/30 8 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales (cow/calf pair)

5/29 2 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales

5/29 1 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales

5/29 9 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales
	10	Harbor Porpoise

5/28 5:30 p.m.	1	Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale
	10	Harbor Porpoise

5/28 2 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales

5/28 1 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales

5/28 11 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	10	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)
	2	Black-footed Albatross

5/28 9 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	1	Black-footed Albatross

5/28 8 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	100	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Blue Sharks

5/27 4:30 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	3	Blue Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Black-footed Albatross

5/27 2 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	3	Blue Whales

5/27 1 p.m.	9	Humpback Whales
	3	Blue Whales
	3	Pacific White-sided Dolphins

5/27 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	250	Risso’s Dolphins
	11	Harbor Porpoise
	3	Black-footed Albatross

5/27 8 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	65	Risso’s Dolphins
	14	Harbor Porpoise

5/27 8 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day		Blue Whales
	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	500	Risso’s Dolphins
	40	Harbor Porpoise

5/26 9 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	45	Risso’s Dolphins

5/26 8 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	10	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	45	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Black-footed Albatross

5/26 8 a.m.	17	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	30	Risso’s Dolphins

5/25 4:30 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	2	Harbor Porpoise

5/25 2 p.m.	14	Humpback Whales
	2	Harbor Porpoise

5/25 1 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	1	Northern Fur Seal

5/25 9 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	8	Harbor Porpoise (1 cow/calf pair)

5/25 8 a.m.	20	Humpback Whales

5/24 2 p.m.	10	Humpback Whales
	3	Harbor Porpoise

5/24 1 p.m.	10	Humpback Whales
	6	Harbor Porpoise

5/24 9 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales
	150	Risso’s Dolphins

5/24 8 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
	8	Harbor Porpoise

5/24 8 a.m. 8 hour All Day	25	Humpback Whales

5/23 2 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	8	Harbor Porpoise

5/23 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	18	Risso’s Dolphins
	8	Harbor Porpoise

5/22 2 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	10	Harbor Porpoise

5/22 9 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	15	Harbor Porpoise
	5	Black-footed Albatross

5/21 9 a.m.	12	Humpback Whales
	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins
	15	Harbor Porpoise
	17	Black-footed Albatross

5/21 8 a.m.	16	Humpback Whales
	150	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	6	Black-footed Albatross

5/21 8 a.m.	16	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	250	Risso’s Dolphins

5/20 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	6	Harbor Porpoise

5/20 8 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	50	Risso’s Dolphins

5/20 8 a.m.	12	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	140	Risso’s Dolphins
	8	Harbor Porpoise

5/19 2 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales

5/19 1 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	4	Gray Whales

5/19 9 a.m.	19	Humpback Whales
	4	Gray Whales
	60	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	80	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Black-footed Albatross

5/19 8 a.m.	13	Humpback Whales (cow/calf breaching)
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins

5/19 8 a.m.	18	Humpback Whales (cow/calf breaching)
8 hour All Day	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	250	Risso’s Dolphins

5/18 9 a.m.	16	Humpback Whales
	150	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	75	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	7	Black-footed Albatross
	1	Northern Fur Seal

5/18 8 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	250	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	300	Risso’s Dolphins
	100	Northern Right-whale Dolphins

5/17 9 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	10	Harbor Porpoise

5/17 8 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (1 breached for 40 minutes!)
	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

5/16 2 p.m.	11	Humpback Whales
	10	Risso’s Dolphins
	20	Harbor Porpoise

5/16 9 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales
	300	Risso’s Dolphins
	50	Harbor Porpoise

5/15 2 p.m.	11	Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

5/15 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	2	Fin Whales
	500	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	15	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Blue Sharks

5/15 8 a.m.	13	Humpback Whales
	35	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins
	13	Blue Sharks
	1	Mola-Mola (ocean sunfish)

5/14 1 p.m.	24	Humpback Whales
	800	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	300	Northern Right-whale Dolphins
	2	Black-footed Albatross
	1	Mola-Mola (ocean sunfish)

5/14 9 a.m.	27	Humpback Whales
	1,800	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	400	Northern Right-whale Dolphins
	25	Risso’s Dolphins
	40	Harbor Porpoise

5/14 8 a.m.	40	Humpback Whales
	350	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Northern Right-whale Dolphins
	40	Risso’s Dolphins
	100	Harbor Porpoise
	2	Black-footed Albatross

5/14 8 a.m.	30	Humpback Whales (cow/calf pair)
8 hour All Day	2	Fin Whales
	2	Gray Whales (cow/calf pair)
	2,500	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	800	Northern Right-whale Dolphins
	250	Risso’s Dolphins

5/13 2 p.m.	28	Feeding Humpback Whales
	15	Risso’s Dolphins

5/13 1 p.m.	27	Humpback Whales

5/13 9 a.m.	20	Humpback Whales
	5	Killer Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	80	Risso’s Dolphins

5/13 8 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	7	Killer Whales
	40	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	60	Risso’s Dolphins
	40	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Blue Shark

5/13 8 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	7	Killer Whales
	5	Fin Whales
	120	Risso’s Dolphins
	6	Harbor Porpoise

5/12 2 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales

5/12 1 p.m.	13	Humpback Whales

5/12 9 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	1	Gray Whale
	16	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Harbor Porpoise

5/12 8 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales
	220	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	2	Black-footed Albatross

5/12 8 a.m.	42	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	150	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	300	Risso’s Dolphins
	6	Harbor Porpoise

5/11 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	12	Fin Whales
	120	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Harbor Porpoise
	8	Black-footed Albatross

5/11 8 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	10	Fin Whales
	40	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	120	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	10	Black-footed Albatross

5/11 8 a.m.	24	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	20	Fin Whales
	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	600	Risso’s Dolphins

5/10 9 a.m.	12	Humpback Whales
	4	Fin Whales
	35	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Harbor Porpoise
	5	Black-footed Albatross

5/10 8 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales
	8	Harbor Porpoise

5/10 8 a.m.	16	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	4	Fin whales
	150	Risso’s Dolphins

5/9 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	50	Risso’s Dolphins
	10	Harbor Porpoise

5/9 8 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	2	Gray Whales
	90	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Black-footed Albatross

5/8 2 p.m.	39	Killer Whales
	5	Humpback Whales
	5	Black-footed Albatross

5/8 9 a.m.	39	Killer Whales
	8	Humpback Whales
	1	Black-footed Albatross

5/7 9 a.m.	25+	Killer Whales
	9	Humpback Whales
	140	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Blue Sharks

5/7 8 a.m.	25+	Killer Whales
	6	Humpback Whales
	150	Risso’s Dolphins
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	2	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Black-footed Albatross

5/7 8 a.m.	27	Killer Whales (feeding on a Gray Whale)
8 hour All Day	8	Humpback Whales

5/6 9 a.m.	11	Killer Whales
	12	Humpback Whales
	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins
	12	Black-footed Albatross

5/6 8 a.m.	11	Killer Whales
	18	Humpback Whales
	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	1	Long-beaked Common Dolphin
	400	Risso’s Dolphins
	60	Black-footed Albatross

5/6 8 a.m.	11	Killer Whales
8 hour All Day	14	Humpback Whales
	250	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	400	Risso’s Dolphins

5/5 2 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	6	Harbor Porpoise

5/5 1 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	10	Risso’s Dolphins

5/5 9 a.m.	13	Killer Whales
	8	Humpback Whales
	40	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	150	Risso’s Dolphins
	15	Black-footed Albatross

5/5 8 a.m.	13	Killer Whales
	13	Humpback Whales
	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	315	Risso’s Dolphins
	15	Black-footed Albatross

5/5 8 a.m.	13	Killer Whales (predation event!)
8 hour All Day	10	Humpback Whales
	100	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins

5/4 2 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	5	Risso’s Dolphins

5/4 1 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	10	Risso’s Dolphins

5/4 9 a.m.	4	Killer Whales
	20	Humpback Whales
	5	Pacific White-sided Dolphins

5/4 8 a.m.	27	Humpback Whales
	175	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins

5/4 8 a.m.	4	Killer Whales
8 hour All Day	20	Humpback Whales
	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	150	Risso’s Dolphins

5/3 2 p.m.	12	Humpback Whales
	15	Risso’s Dolphins
	200	Harbor Porpoise

5/3 9 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales
	700	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	600	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Elephant Seal
	1	Blue Shark
	9	Black-footed Albatross

5/3 8 a.m.	38	Humpback Whales
8 hour All Day	500	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Northern Right Whale Dolphins
	250	Risso’s Dolphins

5/2 2 p.m.	33	Humpback Whales
	65	Risso’s Dolphins

5/2 9 a.m.	10	Killer Whales
	4	Humpback Whales
	50	Risso’s Dolphins
	4	Blue Sharks
	6	Black-footed Albatross

5/1 9 a.m.	32	Humpback Whales
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

Humpback Whale breaching, photo by Daniel Bianchetta

Humpback Whale breaching (May 29, 2018)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin and leaping Anchovie
(May 28, 2018)

Risso's Dolphin playing with kelp, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphin playing with kelp (May 27, 2018)

Shearwater, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Shearwater (May 26, 2018)

Southern Sea Otter, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Southern Sea Otter (May 26, 2018)

Biennial Great Pacific Race, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Rowers preparing for the Biennial Great Pacific Race
that begins on June 2nd (May 26, 2018)
2, and 4 (& one 3) person boats; 6 crews; 17 people;
row from Monterey to Hawaii; about 3,000 miles
and it takes 40-75 days

Humpback Whale Tail, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale Tail (May 21, 2018)

California Sea Lions, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
California Sea Lions (May 21, 2018)

California Sea Lion eating a Mola Mola (ocean sunfish), photo by Daniel Bianchetta
California Sea Lion
eating a Mola Mola (ocean sunfish)
(May 21, 2018)

Risso's Dolphin porpoising and Pacific White-sided Dolphin (below, in water), photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphin porpoising and
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (below, in water)
(May 18, 2018)

Breaching Humpback Whale, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale breaching (May 17, 2018)

Head slapping Humpback Whale, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Head slapping Humpback Whale
(May 17, 2018)

California Brown Pelican, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
California Brown Pelican (May 14, 2018)

Lunge Feeding Fin Whale, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Lunge Feeding Fin Whale (May 14, 2018)

Lunge Feeding Humpback Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Lunge Feeding Humpback Whales (May 14, 2018)

Pacific White-sided Dolphins, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphins (May 14, 2018)

Spy hopping Northern Right Whale Dolphin
(May 14, 2018)

Lunge feeding Humpback Whale with Anchovies flying
(May 14, 2018)

Humpback Whale tail and a Sooty Shearwater
(May 14, 2018)

Killer Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whales (May 13, 2018)

Risso's dolphin at end of breach right before re-entering water, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphin at end of breach,
right before re-entering the water
(May 11, 2018)

Humpback Whales cow and calf pair
(May 11, 2018)

Humpback Whales Lunge Feeding near shore
(May 11, 2018)

Fin Whale, note light right jaw, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Fin Whale, note light lower right jaw
(May 11, 2018)

Fin Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Fin Whales (May 11, 2018)

Northern Fur Seal , photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Northern Fur Seal (May 11, 2018)

Killer Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whales (May 7, 2018)

Killer Whale with Black-footed Albatrosses
(May 5, 2018)

Southern Sea Otter, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Southern Sea Otter (May 4, 2018)

Breaching Humpback Whale, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Humpback Whale (May 3, 2018)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 3, 2018)

Northern Right Whale Dolphin, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Northern Right Whale Dolphin (May 3, 2018)

Pod of Killer Whales, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pod of Killer Whales (May 2, 2018)

Killer Whale Matriarch, Emma, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whale Matriarch, Emma (May 2, 2018)

Black Turnstone, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Black Turnstone (May 2, 2018)

Humpback Whale Tails , photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale Tails (May 1, 2018)

Risso's Dolphins, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphins (May 1, 2018)

Black-footed Albatross, photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Black-footed Albatross (May 1, 2018)

MAY 2018 MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS LIST

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY REGION