Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
January 2021

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.
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) |
|
1/31 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/31 10 a.m. |
20 |
Gray Whales (skim feeding, friendly) |
|
1 |
Elephant Seal |
|
1/30 2:30 p.m. |
22 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/30 10 a.m. |
11 |
Gray Whales (skim feeding, friendly) |
|
3 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA171B Fatfin, CA169, CA21) |
|
1/29 10 a.m. |
14 |
Gray Whales (cow/calf pair) |
|
1/24 10 a.m. |
47 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/23 10 a.m. |
40 |
Gray Whales |
|
40 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/23 9:30 a.m. |
47 |
Gray Whales |
Private Charter |
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/21 10 a.m. |
24 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/20 10 a.m. |
26 |
Gray Whales |
|
300 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/18 10 a.m. |
44 |
Gray Whales |
|
120 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/17 3 p.m. |
17 |
Gray Whales |
|
350 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/17 2:30 p.m. |
35 |
Gray Whales |
|
350 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/17 11 a.m. |
40 |
Gray Whales |
Private Charter |
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/17 10:30 a.m. |
54 |
Gray Whales |
Private Charter |
10 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/17 10 a.m. |
104 |
Gray Whales |
|
560 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/16 11 a.m. |
17 |
Gray Whales |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/16 10 a.m. |
17 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/15 10 a.m. |
33 |
Gray Whales |
|
16 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/13 10 a.m. |
14 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/10 10 a.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
350 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Laysan Albatross |
|
1/9 2:30 p.m. |
3 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/9 10 a.m. |
8 |
Gray Whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/8 10 a.m. |
14 |
Gray Whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/7 10 a.m. |
13 |
Gray Whales |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Elephant Seal |
|
1/3 2:30 p.m. |
8 |
Gray Whales |
|
200 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/3 10 a.m. |
11 |
Gray Whales |
|
370 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/2 2:30 p.m. |
3 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA171B, CA169, CA21) |
|
40 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
60 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1/2 10 a.m. |
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod) |
|
1/1 2:30 p.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
|
1/1 10 a.m. |
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
60 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
|
|
All photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta

Killer Whales (January 30, 2021)

Skim feeding Gray Whale – Note baleen and barnacles
(January 30, 2021)

California Sea Lions (January 24, 2021)

Gray Whale and Risso’s Dolphin (January 20, 2021)

Risso’s Dolphins (January 17, 2021)

Raft of Sea Otters (January 17, 2021)

Gray Whale (January 15, 2021)

Risso’s Dolphin Spyhopping (January 10, 2021)

Laysan Albatross (January 10, 2021)

Breaching Gray Whale (January 9, 2021)

Risso’s Dolphins (January 7, 2021)

Great Egret (January 2, 2021)
All photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta |
|
Copyright © 2021 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
