July 2023 Monterey Bay Whale Watch Marine Mammal Sightings List

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
July 2023

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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Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project

7/31 10 a.m.	17	Humpback Whales
	1	Black-footed Albatross

7/31 9 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales
	1	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Black-footed Albatross

7/31 8 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
All Day	5	Harbor Porpoise
	15	Black-footed Albatross

7/30 1:30 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales (tail throwing, feeding)

7/30 10 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (tail throwing)

7/30 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)

7/28 1:30 p.m.	4	Humpback Whales

7/28 10 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)

7/28 9 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, tail throwing)
	1	Harbor Porpoise

7/27 2:30 p.m.	10	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)

7/27 10 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales

7/27 9 a.m.	20	Humpback Whales (breaching, lob tailing)
	1	Thresher Shark

7/26 2:30 p.m.	10	Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching)
	20	Risso’s Dolphins

7/26 10 a.m.	24	Humpback Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Thresher Shark

7/26 9 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales (including 2 calves!)
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	3	Harbor Porpoise

7/25 2:30 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales

7/25 10 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales

7/25 9 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales

7/24 2:30 p.m.	13	Humpback Whales (kelping, breaching)

7/24 10 a.m.	23	Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing, feeding)

7/24 9 a.m.	18	Humpback Whales

7/24 8 a.m.	29	Humpback Whales (non-stop breaching!)
All Day	10	Black-footed Albatross

7/23 1:30 p.m.	10	Humpback Whales (very friendly whale)
	6	Harbor Porpoise

7/23 10 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales (feeding group, a very friendly whale, and a breach)
	3	Harbor Porpoise

7/23 9 a.m.	12	Humpback Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins

7/22 2:30 p.m.	7	Humpback Whales

7/22 10 a.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Elephant Seal

7/22 9 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales (including Lefty, Angel Wing, Morton and Piper)
	12	Harbor Porpoise

7/22 8 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales (friendly, breaching, pec slapping)
All Day	125	Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)

7/21 1:30 p.m.	8	Humpback Whales (breaching)

7/21 10 a.m.	13	Humpback Whales (pec slapping)

7/21 9 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales (pec slapping)

7/20 1:30 p.m.	4	Humpback Whales (cow+calf Angelwing! pec slaps, tail throws, lunging)

7/20 10 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (cow+calf, vertical lunge feeding)

7/20 9 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	12	Harbor Porpoise

7/18 1:30 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales

7/18 10 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins

7/18 9 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales
	300	Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper)

7/17 1:30 p.m.	4	Humpback Whales (Angel Wing & Walter, lunge-feeding and breaching)

7/17 10 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Harbor Porpoise

7/17 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (pec slapping, breaching, feeding)

7/16 2:30 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	1	Harbor Porpoise

7/16 1:30 p.m.	10	Humpback Whales

7/16 10 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	750	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	3	Offshore Killer Whales (Orcas)
	2	Blue Whales
	35	Common Dolphins

7/16 9 a.m.	13	Humpback Whales
	3	Offshore Killer Whales (Orcas)
	30	Common Dolphins

7/15 1:30 p.m.	14	Humpback Whales (tail throws and lunge feeding)

7/15 9 a.m.	11	Humpback Whales
	2	Risso’s Dolphins

7/15 8 a.m.	18	Humpback Whales
All Day	10	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	60	Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper)

7/13 2:30 p.m.	6	Humpback Whales
	1	Thresher Shark

7/13 9 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale
	30	Risso’s Dolphins

7/12 2:30 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales (breaching)

7/12 10 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	60	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	1	Great White Shark

7/12 9 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	300	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	500	Risso’s Dolphins
	20	Northern Right Whale Dolphins
	3	Harbor Porpoise
	5	Black-footed Albatross

7/11 9 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	100	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

7/10 10 a.m.	10	Humpback Whales
	200	Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/10 9 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales
		Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/9 10 a.m.	14	Humpback Whales
	10	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	50	Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)

7/9 9 a.m.	1	Humpback Whale (friendly behavior)
	40	Risso’s Dolphins

7/7 10 a.m.	9	Humpback Whales (breaching and lunge-feeding)
	30	Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/7 9 a.m.	21	Humpback Whales (breaching)
	2000	Pacific White-sided Dolphins (nursery pod)
	50	Risso’s Dolphins
	80	Northern Right Whale Dolphins

7/6 1:30 p.m.	5	Humpback Whales
	2	Black-footed Albatross

7/6 10 a.m.	15	Humpback Whales
	25	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	50	Risso’s Dolphins
	2	Black-footed Albatross

7/6 9 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	25	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	50	Risso’s Dolphins
	6	Harbor Porpoise
	2	Black-footed Albatross
	1	Red-footed Booby

7/5 10 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	4-6	Cuvier’s Beaked Whales (Rare!)
	100	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod)
	1	Harbor Porpoise

7/5 9 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	100	Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod)
	4	Harbor Porpoise

7/4 2:30 p.m.	1	Humpback Whale

7/4 11 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales
	25	Pacific White-sided Dolphins

7/4 10 a.m.	4	Humpback Whales (mom/calf)
	50	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	40	Risso’s Dolphins
	10	Dall’s Porpoise
	1	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

7/4 9 a.m.	8	Humpback Whales
	12	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	12	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Blue Shark
	1	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

7/3 2:30 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales (Ratchet and Clubs lunge-feeding)

7/3 1:30 p.m.	4	Humpback Whales (Ratchet, Clubs and a mom/calf pair)
	1	Harbor Porpoise

7/3 10 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales (Ratchet and Clubs lunge-feeding)
	5	Killer Whales (Orcas)
	1	Minke Whale
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Dall’s Porpoise

7/3 9 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	5	Killer Whales (Orcas)
	1	Minke Whale
	5	Harbor Porpoise
	1	Dall’s Porpoise

7/3 8 a.m.	5	Killer Whales (Orcas)
	1	Minke Whale
	65	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Harbor Porpoise

7/2 5:30 p.m.	3	Humpback Whales (breaching)

7/2 2:30 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales (feeding and breaching)

7/2 1:30 p.m.	1	Humpback Whale

7/2 11 a.m.	2	Humpback Whales
	25	Risso’s Dolphins

7/2 10 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	25	Risso’s Dolphins

7/2 9 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales
	25	Risso’s Dolphins
	6	Harbor Porpoise

7/1 5:30 p.m.	2	Humpback Whales

7/1 2:30 p.m.	100	Risso’s Dolphins

7/1 10 a.m.	7	Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

7/1 9 a.m.	3	Humpback Whales (lunge feeding)
	30	Risso’s Dolphins

7/1 8 a.m.	5	Humpback Whales (lunge feeding, breaching)
All Day	250	Risso’s Dolphins
	1	Mako Shark
	1	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)

Humpback Whale fluke-slapping (July 30, 2023)

Southern Sea Otter eating breakfast (July 30, 2023)

Canada Goose and California Sea Lion
(July 30, 2023)

California Sea Lion close-up photo by daniel bianchetta
California Sea Lion close-up (July 28, 2023)

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale photo by daniel bianchetta
Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (July 27, 2023)

Pigeon Guillemots photo by daniel bianchetta
Pigeon Guillemots (July 26, 2023)

Risso's Dolphins and sailboat photo by daniel bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphins and sailboat (July 26, 2023)

Southern Sea Otters photo by daniel bianchetta
Southern Sea Otters (July 22, 2023)

Common Murre photo by daniel bianchetta
Common Murre (July 21, 2023)

Brown Pelican and Brandt's Cormorants photo by daniel bianchetta
Brown Pelican and Brandt’s Cormorants
(July 21, 2023)

Black Turnstones photo by daniel bianchetta
Black Turnstones (July 21, 2023)

Humpback Whale by Sea Wolf II (July 21, 2023)

Humpback Whale cow and calf photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale cow and calf (July 20, 2023)

Humpback Whale tail photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale tail (July 20, 2023)

Humpback Whale breaching photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale breaching (July 17, 2023)

Killer Whales (Orcas) photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whales (July 16, 2023)

Killer Whale photo by daniel bianchetta
Killer Whale (July 16, 2023)

White Risso's Dolphin 'Casper' and friends photo by daniel bianchetta
White Risso’s Dolphin ‘Casper’ and friends
(July 15, 2023)

Humpback Whale by Pt Sur Clipper (July 13, 2023)

Red-footed Booby photo by daniel bianchetta
Red-footed Booby (July 12, 2023)

Humpback Whale pectoral fin photo by daniel bianchetta
Humpback Whale pectoral fin (July12, 2023)

Breaching Risso's Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta
Breaching Risso’s Dolphin (July 9, 2023)

Risso's Dolphin blowhole photo by daniel bianchetta
Risso’s Dolphin blowhole (July 9, 2023)

Black-footed Albatross photo by daniel bianchetta
Black-footed Albatross (July 7, 2023)

Pacific White-sided Dolphins with calf (July 7, 2023)

Velella Velella (By-the-Wind Sailor) (July 6, 2023)

Southern Sea Otter eating a crab (July 5, 2023)

Pacific White-sided Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta
Pacific White-sided Dolphin (July 5, 2023)

Humpback whale fluke before it disappears under
the surface as the whale dives (July 4, 2023)

Brandt's cormorants resting on their nests watching over their growing chicks photo by daniel bianchetta
Brandt’s cormorants resting on their nests
watching over their growing chicks (July 4, 2023)