Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
May 2022

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 and descriptions. Date # Type of Animal(s) 5/31 10 a.m. 41 Humpback Whales   6 Killer Whales (Orcas) 5/31 9 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales   6 Killer Whales (Orcas) 5/30 10 a.m. 41 Humpback Whales   10 Risso's Dolphins 5/30 9 a.m. 33 Humpback Whales   8 Risso's Dolphins   2 Harbor Porpoise 5/29 10 a.m. 46 Humpback Whales (breaching) 5/29 9 a.m. 48 Humpback Whales (breaching, feeding)   10 Risso's Dolphins 5/28 1:30 p.m. 30 Humpback Whales (friendly, feeding, tail throwing) 5/28 10 a.m. 40 Humpback Whales   3 Harbor Porpoise 5/28 9 a.m. 35 Humpback Whales (cow/calf, friendly, breaching)   10 Harbor Porpoise 5/27 1:30 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) 5/27 9 a.m. 21 Humpback Whales   55 Risso's Dolphins 5/26 9 a.m. 29 Humpback Whales   4 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   65 Risso's Dolphins   6 Harbor Porpoise   1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 5/25 9 a.m. 66 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)   40 Risso's Dolphins 5/24 10 a.m. 60 Humpback Whales 5/24 9 a.m. 54 Humpback Whales   30 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   50 Risso's Dolphins 5/23 9 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding) 5/23 8 a.m. 64 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding, pec slapping) All Day 100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   200 Risso's Dolphins 5/22 9 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales   6 Blue Whales   10 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   100 Risso's Dolphins   3 Harbor Porpoise 5/22 8 a.m. 52 Humpback Whales All Day 12 Blue Whales   40 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   5 Risso's Dolphins 5/21 1:30 p.m. 30 Humpback Whales 5/21 10 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales   300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   500 Risso's Dolphins   100 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 5/21 9 a.m. 29 Humpback Whales 5/21 8 a.m. 29 Humpback Whales All Day 8 Blue Whale   5 Risso's Dolphins 5/20 9 a.m. 21 Humpback Whales   55 Risso's Dolphins 5/19 9 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales   15 Risso's Dolphins   6 Harbor Porpoise   1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) 5/18 9 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales (including 2 friendly whales)   25 Risso's Dolphins   9 Harbor Porpoise 5/17 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales   300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   10 Risso's Dolphins   200 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 5/16 9 a.m. 26 Humpback Whales   100 Risso's Dolphins 5/15 9 a.m. 26 Humpback Whales   2 Fin Whales 5/15 8 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales All Day 3 Blue Whale   2 Fin Whales   9 Risso's Dolphins 5/14 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales   8 Blue Whale   2 Fin Whales   40 Risso's Dolphins 5/14 8 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales All Day 9 Blue Whale   4 Fin Whales   5 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   140 Risso's Dolphins 5/12 9 a.m. 26 Humpback Whales   8 Blue Whale   26 Risso's Dolphins 5/11 9 a.m. 51 Humpback Whales   8-10 Killer Whales (Orcas)   25 Risso's Dolphins 5/10 9 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales   1 Blue Whale   50 Risso's Dolphins 5/9 9 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales 5/9 8 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales All Day 300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   800 Risso's Dolphins   15 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 5/7 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales   12 Killer Whales (Orcas)   90 Risso's Dolphins 5/7 8 a.m. 21 Humpback Whales All Day 12 Killer Whales (Orcas)   50 Risso's Dolphins 5/5 9 a.m. 2 Humpback Whales (breaching)   4 Fin Whales (friendly) 5/5 8 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales (friendly) All Day 5 Fin Whales (friendly)   50 Risso's Dolphins 5/3 9 a.m. 43 Humpback Whales   8 Blue Whales   55 Risso's Dolphins 5/2 9 a.m. 120 Humpback Whales 5/1 9 a.m. 32 Humpback Whales   50 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   150 Risso's Dolphins   15 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 5/1 8 a.m. 75 Humpback Whales All Day 200 Pacific White-sided Dolphins   400 Risso's Dolphins   40 Northern Right Whale Dolphins

Photos © 2022 Daniel Bianchetta Killer Whales by Sea Wolf II (May 31, 2022) Humpback Whale and California Sea Lions (May 30, 2022) Pelican diving (May 30, 2022) Humpback Whale kelping (playing with kelp) (May 27, 2022) Harbor Seal (May 27, 2022) Tail-slapping Humpback Whale (May 25, 2022) Mother and calf Risso's Dolphins (note fetal folds on calf) (May 24, 2022) Back-flipping Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 24, 2022) Sea Lions (May 20, 2022) Harbor Porpoise (May 18, 2022) Friendly Humpback Whale showing off pectoral fin (May 18, 2022) Northern Right Whale Dolphins porpoising (May 17, 2022) Fluke of Humpback Whale "Checkmarks" (May 16, 2022) Fin Whale (May 15, 2022) Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (May 15, 2022) Southern Sea Otter (May 15, 2022) Breaching Humpback Whale (May 10, 2022) Blue Whale (May 10, 2022) Leaping Pacific White-sided Dolphin (May 9, 2022) Killer Whales (May 7, 2022) Killer Whales (May 7, 2022) Red-necked Phalarope (May 5, 2022) Blue Whale starting to dive (May 3, 2022) Photos © 2022 Daniel Bianchetta

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Sightings List 5/1-5/31/22

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Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC 84 Fisherman's Wharf Monterey, CA 93940   Phone 831-375-4658   E-mail whaletrips@gowhales.com

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Photos © Daniel Bianchetta
Last updated June 16, 2022