January 2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch Marine Mammal Sightings List

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
January 2024

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

1/30 9 a.m.	29	Gray Whales (breaching)

1/29 9 a.m.	20	Gray Whales
	25	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	4	Risso’s Dolphins (with calf)
	1	Steller Sea Lion (predating on a Bat Ray)

1/27 1:30 p.m.	6	Gray Whales
	100	Risso’s Dolphins

1/27 9 a.m.	13	Gray Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	400	Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper)

1/26 9 a.m.	17	Gray Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	1	Black-footed Albatross

1/25 9 a.m.	18	Gray Whales

1/24 9 a.m.	3	Gray Whales

1/23 9 a.m.	10	Gray Whales
	4	Killer Whales (Orcas – CA39As)
	2	Humpback Whales (breaching, friendly behavior)
	100	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

1/21 9 a.m.	21	Gray Whales
	30	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	350	Risso’s Dolphins
	40	Northern Right Whale Dolphins

1/20 10 a.m.	15	Gray Whales
	40	Risso’s Dolphins

1/20 9 a.m.	16	Gray Whales
	40	Risso’s Dolphins

1/18 9 a.m.	48	Gray Whales
	12	Risso’s Dolphins
	15	Bottlenose Dolphins
	1	Black-footed Albatross

1/16 9 a.m.	24	Gray Whales
	200	Risso’s Dolphins

1/15 10 a.m.	36	Gray Whales (breach!)
	300	Risso’s Dolphins

1/15 9 a.m.	35	Gray Whales
	20	Pacific White-sided Dolphins
	300	Risso’s Dolphins

1/14 1:30 p.m.	11	Gray Whales
	20	Risso’s Dolphins

1/14 10 a.m.	12	Gray Whales

1/14 9 a.m.	20	Gray Whales

1/13 9 a.m.	31	Gray Whales

1/12 9 a.m.	27	Gray Whales

1/11 9 a.m.	10	Gray Whales

1/9 9 a.m.	8	Gray Whales
	100	Risso’s Dolphins

1/7 9 a.m.	7	Gray Whales
	100	Risso’s Dolphins

1/6 9 a.m.	14	Gray Whales

1/5 1:30 p.m.	4	Gray Whales
	1	Humpback Whale

1/5 9 a.m.	3	Gray Whales
	350	Risso’s Dolphins
	7	Bottlenose Dolphins

1/4 1:30 p.m.	1	Gray Whale
	5	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
	many	Sea Otters

1/4 9 a.m.	4	Gray Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
	many	Sea Otters

1/2 9 a.m.	4	Gray Whales
	30	Risso’s Dolphins
	5	Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
		Raft of Sea Otters

1/1 9 a.m.	2	Gray Whales