Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
February 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) |
|
2/28 2:30 p.m. |
10 |
Gray Whales |
|
140 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/28 10 a.m. |
11 |
Gray Whales |
|
300 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/27 10 a.m. |
6 |
Gray Whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod) |
|
1 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
2/25 10 a.m. |
17 |
Gray Whales (northbound) |
|
10 |
Risso’s Dolphins (mating) |
|
1 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
1 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
2/23 10 a.m. |
10 |
Gray Whales |
|
250 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/22 10 a.m. |
6 |
Gray Whales (mostly northbound) |
|
75 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/21 2:30 p.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
60 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/21 10 a.m. |
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
1000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
500 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
2/21 9 a.m. |
7 |
Gray Whales |
Cheeseman’s |
1000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
170 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
500 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
2/19 10 a.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
|
2/18 10 a.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
|
4 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/17 10 a.m. |
10 |
Gray Whales |
|
25 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
120 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/16 10 a.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
|
200 |
Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
30 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
1 |
Bottlenose Dolphin |
|
2/15 2:30 p.m. |
6 |
Gray Whales |
|
2/15 10 a.m. |
15 |
Gray Whales |
|
2/14 3 p.m. |
6 |
Gray Whales |
|
2/14 1:30 p.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
|
1 |
Bottlenose Dolphin |
|
2/14 10 a.m. |
20 |
Gray Whales |
|
800 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
2/14 9 a.m. |
10 |
Gray Whales |
|
50 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
2/12 10 a.m. |
22 |
Gray Whales |
|
250 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/11 10 a.m. |
3 |
Gray Whales |
|
1500 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
700 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
1 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
2/10 10 a.m. |
25 |
Gray Whales |
|
20 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/9 10 a.m. |
31 |
Gray Whales |
|
400 |
Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
2/8 10 a.m. |
13 |
Gray Whales |
|
80 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/7 2:30 p.m. |
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
550 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
10 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
100 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
2/7 10 a.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA140s) |
|
2/6 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Gray Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
2/6 10 a.m. |
12 |
Gray Whales |
|
2/6 8 a.m. |
10 |
Gray Whales |
All Day |
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA202s) |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
2/5 10 a.m. |
18 |
Gray Whales |
|
70 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
450 |
Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) |
|
2/4 10 a.m. |
24 |
Gray Whales |
|
40 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2/3 10 a.m. |
26 |
Gray Whales |
|
|
|
Photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta and Tory Kallman

Snowy Egret, Brandt’s Cormorants and Heermann’s Gull
(February 28, 2021)

Risso’s Dolphin calf (February 27, 2021)

Gray Whales (Note heart-shaped blow)
(February 22, 2021)

GreatEgret (February 18, 2021)

Southern Sea Otter (February 18, 2021)

Leaping Risso’s Dolphin (February 16, 2021)

Bottlenose Dolphin (February 16, 2021)

Gray Whale tail (February 10, 2021)

Brown Pelican (February 10, 2021)

Gray Whales (February 9, 2021)

Pacific White-sided Dolphins (February 7, 2021)

Killer Whales (Orcas – CA140C Ben and CA140E calf)
(February 7, 2021)

Killer Whale (Orca – CA140 Emma) (February 7, 2021)

Killer Whale with Sea Nettle (February 6, 2021)
Photo by Tory Kallman

White Risso’s Dolphin Casper (February 5, 2021)
Photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta and Tory Kallman
All photos by Daniel Bianchetta unless otherwise noted. |
|
Copyright © 2021 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
