DECEMBER 2021 MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS LIST

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
December 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.    Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project Date # Type of Animal(s) 12/31 10 a.m. 15 Gray Whales 1 Humpback Whale (breaching) 12/31 9 a.m. 15 Gray Whales 80 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 300 Risso’s Dolphins 6 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 12/30 2:30 p.m. 10 Gray Whales 12/30 10 a.m. 11 Gray Whales 6 Humpback Whales 100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 12/30 9 a.m. 17 Gray Whales 2 Humpback Whales 12/28 2:30 p.m. 6 Gray Whales 12/28 10 a.m. 12 Gray Whales 2 Humpback Whales 150 Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) 12/28 9 a.m. 10 Gray Whales 3 Humpback Whales 150 Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) 12/26 2:30 p.m. 1 Humpback Whale 12/26 10 a.m. 4 Gray Whales 2 Humpback Whales 12/26 9 a.m. 2 Gray Whales 1 Humpback Whale 12/21 10 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales 12/19 10 a.m. 3 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail lobbing, pec slapping) 100 Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) 12/19 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 100 Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) 12/18 2:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales (friendly) 12/18 10 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (competitive group, friendly behavior) 12/17 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales 12/15 10 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching, mom and calf pair) 12/11 2:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales 50 Risso’s Dolphins 12/11 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (friendly) 25 Risso’s Dolphins 12/10 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales 5 Killer Whales (CA140Bs & CA23A2, breaching + predation) 1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 5 Buller’s shearwaters 10 Ancient Murrelets 10 Black-footed Albatross 20 Cassin’s Auklets 12/9 2:30 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales 40 Risso’s Dolphins 5 Dall’s Porpoise 12/9 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 12/8 10 a.m. 50 Common Dolphins 100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 50 Risso’s Dolphins 1500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 12/7 10 a.m. 5 Humpback Whales 30 Risso’s Dolphins 12/6 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (breaching) 12/5 2:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing) 12/5 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (breaching) 1 Fur Seal 12/4 2:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching 50x) 12/4 10 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales 200 Risso’s Dolphins 10 Dall’s Porpoise 12/4 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (cow/calf) 40 Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod) 12/3 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales 50 Risso’s Dolphins 12/2 2:30 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales 40 Risso’s Dolphins 5 Dall’s Porpoise 12/2 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 12/1 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) Photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta Gray Whales (December 30, 2021) Humpback Whale flukes (December 28, 2021) Humpback Whale heart-shaped blow (December 21, 2021) Merganser (December 19, 2021) Sea Otter and Sea Lions (December 19, 2021) Casper & other Risso’s Dolphins (December 19, 2021) Humpback Whale close-up (December 18, 2021) Pelican in flight (December 15, 2021) Pelicans (December 11, 2021) Killer Whale (Orca) tail (December 10, 2021) Northern Right Whale Dolphin (December 8, 2021) Risso’s Dolphin calf (December 4, 2021) Dall’s Porpoise (December 4, 2021) Humpback Whales (December 3, 2021) Tail-throwing Humpback Whale (December 2, 2021) Humpback Whale breaching (December 1, 2021) Photos © 2021 Daniel Bianchetta