August 2021 Monterey Bay Whale Watch Marine Mammal Sightings List

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
August 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.

Date	#	Type of Animal(s)
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8/31 2:30 p.m.	15	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)

8/31 10 a.m.	21	Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding, tail throwing)
	2	Killer Whales (Orcas)
	40	Risso’s Dolphins

8/31 9 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	2	Killer Whales (Orcas)

8/30 2:30 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	2	Killer Whales (Orcas – CA171B Fatfin and CA169)
	6	Harbor Porpoise

8/30 10 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	50	Risso’s Dolphins
	100	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

8/29 Charter	6	Humpback Whales
	2	Killer Whales (Orcas)
	10	Risso’s Dolphins

8/29 2:30 p.m.	12	Humpback Whales
	2	Killer Whales (Orcas)
	1	Minke Whale
	10	Dall’s Porpoise

8/29 10 a.m.	17	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	40	Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)
	10	Harbor Porpoise

8/29 9 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	20	Risso’s Dolphins

8/28 2:30 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	7	Harbor Porpoise

8/28 1:30 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales (double breach)
	6	Harbor Porpoise

8/28 10 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales
	15	Risso’s Dolphins
	12	Harbor Porpoise

8/28 9 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	280	Risso’s Dolphins

8/27 2:30 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales (breaching, cow & calf)
	1	Blue Whale
	1	Bottlenose Dolphin

8/27 10 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales (friendly behavior)

8/26 2:30 p.m.	4	Humpback Whales (Cow+calf = “Aurora” + “Fluke Skywalker”)

8/26 10 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec-slapping)
	3	Black-footed Albatross

8/25 10 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	7 or 8	Killer Whales (Orcas – Risso’s predation)
	5	Risso’s Dolphins

8/24 10 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (breaching)
	1	Blue Whale
	20	Risso’s Dolphins

8/24 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales (breaching)
	1	Blue Whale

8/23 10 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	400	Risso’s Dolphins (including calves)

8/23 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	50	Dall’s Porpoise

8/22 1:30 p.m.	7	Blue Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins

8/22 10 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	6	Blue Whales
	40	Risso’s Dolphins
	4	Bottlenose Dolphins

8/22 9 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale
	3	Blue Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	40	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Sabine’s Gull
	1	Black-footed Albatross

8/21 10 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales (feeding frenzy)

8/21 9 a.m.	12	Humpback Whales

8/20 10 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	3	Bottlenose Dolphins
	2	Elephant Seals
	1	Black-footed Albatross

8/19 10 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	5	Blue Whales
	70	Risso’s Dolphins
	7	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Elephant Seal

8/19 9 a.m.	4	Blue Whales
	1	Fin Whale
	60	Risso’s Dolphins

8/18 10 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales

8/17 10 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales (mom & calf, breaching)

8/16 10 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail slapping, lunge-feeding)
	10	Harbor Porpoise
	300	Sea Lions

8/15 1:30 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales (tail throwing)
	20	Risso’s Dolphins

8/15 10 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales
	9	Blue Whales
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	2	Black-footed Albatross

8/15 9 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales
	7	Blue Whales
	6	Harbor Porpoise
	3	Black-footed Albatross

8/14 1:30 p.m.	4	Blue Whales
	12	Risso’s Dolphins

8/14 10 a.m.	7	Blue Whales
	3	Black-footed Albatross

8/14 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	7	Blue Whales (2 mom and calf)

8/13 10 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	11	Blue Whales
	50	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Black-footed Albatross

8/12 2:30 p.m.	6	Blue Whales (cow and calf)

8/12 10 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	5	Blue Whales (fluking)

8/11 10 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	3	Blue Whales

8/11 9 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, mom & calf pair)
	2	Blue Whales
	1	Minke Whale

8/10 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	10	Blue Whales (2 mom & calf pairs)
	1	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Elephant Seal

8/9 2:30 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	1	Blue Whale
	2	Fin Whales
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

8/9 10 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	4	Blue Whales
	10	Dall’s Porpoise

8/9 9 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	3	Blue Whales

8/9 8 a.m.	4	Blue Whales
All Day	4	Killer Whales (Orcas)
	2	Fin Whales

8/8 1:30 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)

8/8 10 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (tail throwing)
	15	Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)

8/8 9 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)
	8	Risso’s Dolphins

8/8 8 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
All Day	3	Blue Whales
Charter	30	Risso’s Dolphins

8/7 10 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	2	Blue Whales
	65	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Elephant Seal

8/7 9 a.m.	3	Blue Whales
	60	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	180	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Elephant Seal
	2	Black-footed Albatross

8/7 8 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
All Day	6	Blue Whales
	10	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

8/6 2:30 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales (Fluke Skywalker, lunge-feeding)

8/6 10 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales (breaching, lunging, lob-tailing)
	45	Risso’s Dolphins

8/6 9 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding)
	10	Risso’s Dolphins (+4 baby Risso’s)

8/5 1:30 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	2	Harbor Porpoise

8/5 10 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
	80	Risso’s Dolphins

8/5 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	100	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Harbor Porpoise

8/4 10 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins

8/4 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (breaching)
	30	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	60	Risso’s Dolphins

8/3 10 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales (mom & calf, lunge-feeding)
	20	Risso’s Dolphins

8/2 10 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	6	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Elephant Seal

8/2 8 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales
All Day	2	Blue Whales
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	500	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Northern Right Whale Dolphin
	1	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

8/1 1:30 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	2	Harbor Porpoise

8/1 10 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	400	Risso’s Dolphins
	10	Dall’s Porpoise

8/1 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	5	Bottlenose Dolphins
	18	Dall’s Porpoise

Orcas (Killer Whales) CA169 and Fatfin
(August 30, 2021)

Harbor Porpoise engaging in porpoising behavior
(August 30, 2021)

Two Humpback Whales and rainblow (August 28, 2021)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin sequence - frame 3 photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Risso’s Dolphin sequence – frame 3
(August 28, 2021)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin sequence - frame 2 photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Risso’s Dolphin sequence – frame 2
(August 28, 2021)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin sequence - frame 1 photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Risso’s Dolphin sequence – frame 1
(August 28, 2021)

Acrobatic California Sea Lion (August 27, 2021)

Killer Whale (Orca) spyhopping (August 25, 2021)

Killer Whales (Orcas) photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whales (Orcas – August 25, 2021)

Risso's Dolphins photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphins (August 23, 2021)

Blue Whale tail photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale tail (August 22, 2021)

Southern Sea Otters resting and grooming their fur
(August 23, 2021)

Humpback Whales feeding frenzy (August 21, 2021)

Bottlenose Dolphins photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Bottlenose Dolphins (August 20, 2021)

Northern Fulmar photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Northern Fulmar (August 19, 2021)

Anchovies photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Anchovies driven to the surface by
lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (August 18, 2021)

Tail-throwing Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Tail-throwing Humpback Whale (August 15, 2021)

Blue Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale (August 14, 2021)

Black-footed Albatross photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Black-footed Albatross (August 14, 2021)

Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) (August 14, 2021)

Blue Whale diving photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale diving (August 11, 2021)

Pelican diving photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Pelican diving (August 11, 2021)

Breaching Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Killer Whales (Orcas) CA39A and
her daughter CA39A1 (August 9, 2021)

Spyhopping Killer Whale CA39A photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Spyhopping Killer Whale (Orca) CA39A
(August 9, 2021)

Breaching Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Breaching Humpback Whale (August 8, 2021)

Blue Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale (August 7, 2021)

Southern Sea Otter photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Southern Sea Otter (August 6, 2021)

Tail-throwing Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Tail-throwing Humpback Whale (August 4, 2021)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale with Sea Lion and Gulls
(Note anchovies – August 4, 2021)

Humpback Whale photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Humpback Whale (Note eye at lower right)
(August 3, 2021)

Young Risso's Dolphin with visible fetal folds photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Young Risso’s Dolphin with visible fetal folds
(August 2, 2021)

Running Pacific White-sided Dolphins (August 2, 2021)

Blue Whale with Pt Sur in background photo by Daniel Bianchetta
Blue Whale with Pt. Sur in background (August 2, 2021)

AUGUST 2021 MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS LIST

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY REGION