Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

AUGUST 2023 MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS LIST

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY REGION

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

 

Find us on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page for more photos and descriptions.
   Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project
Date # Type of Animal(s)
8/31 2:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales (mom and calf)
2000 Common Dolphins
1 Black-footed Albatross
8/31 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (multiple breaching)
1000 Common Dolphins
60 Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper)
8/30 2:30 p.m. 1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
Charter 1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
Flying Fish
8/30 10 a.m.
Charter		 1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/30 9 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
Flying Fish
8/29 9 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales
2000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/28 10 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales (two calves)
800 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/28 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
1 Red-footed Booby (Ruby!)
8/27 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales
3000 Common Dolphins
8/27 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (tail throwing)
3000 Common Dolphins
8/26 5:30 p.m. 1 Humpback Whale (breaching)
2000 Common Dolphins
8/26 2:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (feeding)
2000 Common Dolphins
8/26 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching)
2000 Common Dolphins
8/26 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (feeding)
2000 Common Dolphins
8/26 8 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales
All Day 2000 Common Dolphins
25 Risso’s Dolphins
8/25 2:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing, pec slapping)
8/25 10 a.m. 13 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing, feeding)
2000 Common Dolphins
8/25 9 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (breaching)
350 Common Dolphins
8/24 2:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
40+ Pacific White-sided Dolphins
300-400 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/24 10 a.m. 40 Humpback Whales (surface active)
1500 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/24 9 a.m. 48 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
30+ Pacific White-sided Dolphins
3000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/23 2:30 p.m. 3 Humpback Whales (Motitas + Pula, and Ratchet)
8/23 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (3 mom/calf pairs and lunge-feeding behavior)
200 Risso’s Dolphins
8/22 2:30 p.m. 23 Humpback Whales (2 calves tail throwing)
8/22 9 a.m. 16 Humpback Whales (cow/calf breaching and lunge-feeding)
5 Killer Whales (Orcas – CA49B Richie, CA50B Jimmy,
CA216B Jagged, CA216B1 Jaz, and CA216B2)
1 Red-footed Booby
8/21 9 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales (feeding and breaching)
8 Risso’s Dolphins
8/20 2:30 p.m. 9 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)
8/20 10 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (breaching)
300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
200 Short-beaked Common Dolphins
8/20 9 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)
300 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
200 Short-beaked Common Dolphins
8/19 1:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (breaching, feeding, friendly behavior)
500 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
8/19 10 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail throwing)
6 Harbor Porpoise
8/19 9 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail throwing)
8/18 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales
40 Risso’s Dolphins
10 Dall’s Porpoise
8/18 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (breaching, friendly)
8/17 2:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales (including Miracle and Marvel tail lobbing,
pec fin slapping, and lunge-feeding)
8/17 9 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (cow/calf pair Miracle and Marvel breaching)
8/16 2:30 p.m. 14 Humpback Whales (breaching and lunge-feeding)
8/16 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (including a calf breaching, chin slapping,
and tail lobbing, and several adults lunge-feeding)
8/16 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (2 cow/calf pairs)
1 Minke Whale
1 Black-footed Albatross
8/15 2:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding right by the boat)
8/15 10 a.m. 19 Humpback Whales (breaching, including
cow/calf pair Miracle and Marvel)
8/15 9 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales (friendly)
8/14 2:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding frenzy!)
20 Dall’s Porpoise
8/14 10 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (friendly, breaching)
2 Fin Whales
200 Risso’s Dolphins
8/14 9 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales (friendly, pec slapping, breaching)
2 Fin Whales
200 Risso’s Dolphins
8/14 8 a.m. 30 Humpback Whales (friendly, pec slapping, breaching, lunge-feeding)
All Day 2 Fin Whales
275 Risso’s Dolphins
8/13 2:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales
8/13 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales
8/13 10 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales
300 Risso’s Dolphins
25 Northern Right Whale Dolphins
8/13 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales (friendly)
100 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
300 Risso’s Dolphins
100 Northern Right Whale Dolphins
5 Dall’s Porpoise
8/12 5:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales
8/12 2:30 p.m. 9 Humpback Whales
1 Minke Whale
8/12 1:30 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding, breaching, pec slapping)
8/12 10 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding and breaching)
8/12 9 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
10 Dall’s Porpoise
8/12 8 a.m. 24 Humpback Whales (breaching)
All Day 1 Minke Whale
30 Risso’s Dolphins
8/11 5:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (friendly)
8/11 2:30 p.m. 15 Humpback Whales (feeding, breaching)
8/11 10 a.m. 36 Humpback Whales (feeding, breaching)
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/11 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (2 friendly)
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/10 2:30 p.m. 2 Humpback Whales (friendly)
8/10 10 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales (friendly)
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
12 Dall’s Porpoise
8/9 2:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales
1 Fin Whales
20 Dall’s Porpoise
1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
1 Black-footed Albatross
8/9 10 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales
1 Fin Whale
12 Dall’s Porpoise
1 Black-footed Albatross
1 Red-footed Booby
8/9 9 a.m. 8 Humpback Whales
2 Fin Whales
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
4 Harbor Porpoise
20 Dall’s Porpoise
1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
5 Black-footed Albatross
8/8 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales
2500 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/8 10 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales
3 Fin Whales
1 Northern Fur Seal
1 Red-footed Booby
8/8 9 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (breaching, tail throwing)
2 Fin Whales
20 Dall’s Porpoise
5 Black-footed Albatross
8/7 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales
8/7 10 a.m. 12 Humpback Whales
3 Fin Whales
8/7 9 a.m. 15 Humpback Whales
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/7 8 a.m. 47 Humpback Whales
All Day 5 Fin Whales
8/6 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback Whales
1000 Long-beaked Common Dolphins
8/6 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales
300 Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper)
8/6 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales
300 Risso’s Dolphins
8/5 2:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales (breaching)
8/5 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback Whales
30 Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)
2 Harbor Porpoise
8/5 10 a.m. 10 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding)
30 Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)
8/5 9 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
30 Risso’s Dolphins (socializing)
2 Harbor Porpoise
8/5 8 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales
All Day 1 Cuvier’s Beaked Whale
100 Risso’s Dolphins
1 Harbor Porpoise
2 Dall’s Porpoise
1 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
8/4 2:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales (breaching)
8/4 10 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding)
50 Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)
8/4 9 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales (breaching, lunge-feeding)
30 Risso’s Dolphins (nursery group)
8/3 2:30 p.m. 20 Humpback Whales (lots of lunge-feeding!)
8/3 10 a.m. 18 Humpback Whales (breaching, vertical lunge feeding, mom and calf)
20 Risso’s Dolphins
8/3 9 a.m. 38 Humpback Whales
50 Risso’s Dolphins
1 Black-footed Albatross
8/2 10 a.m. 20 Humpback Whales (2 cow/calf pairs including calf Cool Whip
breaching, tail throwing and close friendly approaches!)
1 Harbor Porpoise
2 Black-footed Albatross
1 Laysan Albatross
8/2 9 a.m. 25 Humpback Whales
4 Harbor Porpoise
2 Black-footed Albatross
1 Laysan Albatross
8/1 2:30 p.m. 7 Humpback Whales
8/1 10 a.m. 11 Humpback Whales
8/1 9 a.m. 9 Humpback Whales (mom+calf pair Motitas and Pula, breaching!)
1 Black-footed Albatross
1 Osprey
Photos © 2023 Daniel Bianchetta

Long-beaked Common Dolphins photo by daniel bianchetta

Common Dolphins (August 31, 2023)

 

White Risso's Dolphin Casper by daniel bianchetta

White Risso’s Dolphin Casper (August 31, 2023)

 

Southern Sea Otter in kelp by daniel bianchetta

Southern Sea Otter in kelp (August 29, 2023)

 

Humpback Whale lunge-feeding (Note baleen) photo by daniel bianchetta

Humpback Whale lunge-feeding (Note baleen) (August 28, 2023)

 

California Sea Lion photo by daniel bianchetta

California Sea Lion (August 27, 2023)

 

Humpback Whale tail throw photo by daniel bianchetta

Humpback Whale tail throw (August 27, 2023)

 

Jumping Common Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta

Jumping Common Dolphin (August 26, 2023)

 

Long-beaked Common Dolphins photo by daniel bianchetta

Long-beaked Common Dolphins (August 25, 2023)

 

Black-footed Albatross photo by daniel bianchetta

Black-footed Albatross (August 25, 2023)

 

Sea Otter eating a Crab photo by daniel bianchetta

Sea Otter eating a Crab (August 20, 2023)

 

Leaping Common Dolphins near Sea Wolf II photo by daniel bianchetta

Leaping Common Dolphins near Sea Wolf II (August 20, 2023)

 

Common Dolphins (foreground) and Pacific White-sided Dolphin (background) photo by daniel bianchetta

Pacific White-sided Dolphin (background) and Common Dolphins (foreground) (August 20, 2023)

 

Pacific White-sided Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta

Pacific White-sided Dolphin (August 19, 2023)

 

Humpback Whale and California Sea Lion photo by daniel bianchetta

Humpback Whale and California Sea Lion (August 19, 2023)

 

Breaching Humpback Whale photo by daniel bianchetta

Breaching Humpback Whale (August 16, 2023)

 

Osprey photo by daniel bianchetta

Osprey (August 15, 2023)

 

Fin whale surfacing - note that white coloration of the lower jaw is only on its right side photo by daniel bianchetta

Fin Whale surfacing – note that white coloration of the lower jaw is only on its right side (August 14, 2023)

 

Pacific White-sided Dolphin and Northern Right Whale Dolphin photo by daniel bianchetta

Pacific White-sided Dolphin and Northern Right Whale Dolphin (August 13, 2023)

 

Brandt's Cormorant and Great Blue Heron photo by daniel bianchetta

Brandt’s Cormorant and Great Blue Heron (August 12, 2023)

 

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales photo by daniel bianchetta

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whales (August 11, 2023)

 

Long-beaked Common Dolphin mother and calf photo by daniel bianchetta

Long-beaked Common Dolphin mother and calf (August 11, 2023)

 

Long-beaked Common Dolphins by Monterey Bay Aquarium photo by daniel bianchetta

Long-beaked Common Dolphins by Monterey Bay Aquarium (August 11, 2023)

 

Sea Otters photo by daniel bianchetta

Sea Otters (August 9, 2023)

 

Dall's Porpoise photo by daniel bianchetta

Dall’s Porpoise (August 9, 2023)

 

Harbor Seal photo by daniel bianchetta

Harbor Seal (August 9, 2023)

 

Humpback Whale arching its back to dive photo by daniel bianchetta

Humpback Whale arching its back to dive (August 9, 2023)

 

Northern Fur Seal photo by daniel bianchetta

Northern Fur Seal (August 8, 2023)

 

Red-footed Booby photo by daniel bianchetta

Red-footed Booby (August 8, 2023)

 

Breaching Humpback photo by daniel bianchetta

Breaching HumpbackWhale (August 7, 2023)

 

Fin Whale photo by daniel bianchetta

Fin Whale (August 7, 2023)

 

Sea Lions porpoising photo by daniel bianchetta

Sea Lions porpoising (August 6, 2023)

 

Long-beaked Common Dolphins photo by daniel bianchetta

Long-beaked Common Dolphins (August 6, 2023)

 

Long-beaked Common Dolphins mother and calf photo by daniel bianchetta

Long-beaked Common Dolphins mother and calf (August 6, 2023)

 

Chin slapping Humpback Whale photo by daniel bianchetta

Chin slapping Humpback Whale (August 5, 2023)

 

Humpback Whale fluke ID photo by daniel bianchetta

Humpback Whale fluke ID photo (August 5, 2023)

 

California Sea Lion photo by daniel bianchetta

California Sea Lion (August 5, 2023)

 

Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) photo by daniel bianchetta

Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) (August 5, 2023)

 

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale photo by daniel bianchetta

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (August 4, 2023)

 

Humpback Whale tail throw photo by daniel bianchetta

Humpback Whale tail throw (August 2, 2023)

 

Photos © 2023 Daniel Bianchetta

Copyright © 2023 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.

-----