Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
April 2020

Note — This list includes reported sightings from Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips. 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 included in the list.
There were no regularly scheduled whale watching trips in April, due to sheltering in place. All sightings in April were on Survey Days – Our biologists monitor and count species. Sightings from Survey Days are highlighted in pale yellow. |
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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|
Date |
# |
Type of Animal(s) |
|
4/30 (4 hrs) |
46 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
Survey |
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
4/27 (6 hrs)
Research
Survey |
62 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4/26 (4 hrs)
Research
Survey
(poor weather) |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4/25 (4 hrs) |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
Research
Survey |
2 |
Gray Whales (cow/calf pair) |
(poor weather) |
7 |
Killer Whales |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
4/24 (6 hrs) |
13 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
4 |
Gray Whales (cow/calf pairs) |
Survey |
6 |
Killer Whales |
|
2 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
4/22 (8 hrs) |
48 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
600 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
Survey |
200 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
500 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
4/21 (4 hrs)
Research
Survey |
14 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4/20 (10 hrs) |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
7 |
Killer Whales |
Survey |
800 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
500 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
4/19 (12 hrs) |
71 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
2000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
Survey |
200 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
4/18 (12 hrs) |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
3 |
Killer Whales |
Survey |
1 |
Minke Whale |
|
4/17 (7 hrs)
Research
Survey |
34 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4/16 (12 hrs) |
14 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
21 |
Killer Whales |
Survey |
1000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
4/15 (12 hrs) |
27 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
2 |
Gray Whales |
Survey |
11 |
Killer Whales (predation on Gray whale calf) |
|
4/14 (12 hrs) |
13 |
Humpback Whales |
Research
Survey |
35 |
Killer Whales |
|
4/13 (12 hrs) |
58 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
2 |
Gray Whales |
Survey |
35 |
Killer Whales (predation on Gray whale calf) |
|
4/12 (6 hrs) |
26 |
Humpback Whales |
Research
Survey |
7 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
4/11 (10 hrs) |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
Research |
12 |
Killer Whales (feeding on Gray whale from April 10 predation event) |
Survey |
400 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
4/10 (10 hrs) |
13 |
Humpback Whales |
Research
Survey |
16 |
Killer Whales (predation on Gray Whale with one Humpback Whale
protecting the Gray Whales for a bit while the calf was alive
with the mom, then back again later during the feeding event) |
|
150 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
450 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
4/8 (6 hrs)
Research
Survey |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4/7 (6 hrs) |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
Research
Survey |
4 |
Killer Whales |
|
4/4 (6 hrs) |
6 |
Gray Whales |
Research |
19 |
Humpback Whales |
Survey |
2000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
600 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
400 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
Feeding aggregation of Humpbacks and Pacific White-sided Dolphins
spread over a few miles. |
Mixed species group of Risso’s, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, and
a few Pacific White-sided Dolphins. |
|
|
|
All photos © 2020 Daniel Bianchetta

Humpback Whales and California Sea Lions
(April 22, 2020)

Humpback Whale tail throw (April 22, 2020)

Spyhopping Killer Whale (April 20, 2020)

Northern Right Whale Dolphin (April 20, 2020)

Humpback Whales lunge-feeding (April 19, 2020)

Female (left) and male Killer Whales (April 15, 2020)

Black-footed Albatross and Laysan Albatross
(April 15, 2020)

Spyhopping young Killer Whale and mom
(April 15, 2020)

Breaching Risso’s Dolphin (April 11, 2020)

Breaching Pacific White-sided Dolphin (April 4, 2020)

Humpback Whale tail – good ID shot (April 4, 2020)
All photos © 2020 Daniel Bianchetta |
|
Copyright © 2020 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
