Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
March 2024
This list, updated every few days, 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. Each month the sightings from the previous month are moved to a monthly summary 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.
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| Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project |
| Date |
# |
Type of Animal(s) |
|
| 3/31 2:30 p.m. |
3 |
Gray Whales |
|
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
20 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/31 10 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whalse |
|
25 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 3/31 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whalse |
|
25 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
6 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 3/30 9 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
3/30 8 a.m.
All Day |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/29 9 a.m. |
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
1 |
Giant Bluefin Tuna |
|
| 3/28 10 a.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale |
|
400 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
25 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
40 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/28 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
400 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
25 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 3/27 2:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 3/27 10 a.m. |
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 3/27 9 a.m. |
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA140Bs “Louise’s pod”) |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 3/26 2:30 p.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/26 10 a.m. |
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/26 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/25 10 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) |
|
| 3/25 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales (lots of lunge-feeding) |
|
4 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 3/23 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/23 8 a.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
| All Day |
19 |
Humpback Whales (breaching – Snowy Owl, Checkmarks) |
|
27 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
| 3/22 10 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/22 9 a.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/21 9 a.m. |
6 |
Gray Whales |
|
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/20 9 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback Whales |
|
300 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
100 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/18 10 a.m. |
3 |
Gray Whales |
|
19 |
Humpback Whales |
|
3000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
3000 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/18 9 a.m. |
9 |
Gray Whales |
|
19 |
Humpback Whales |
|
3000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
3000 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/17 2:30 p.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA26, CA36, CA35s) |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
2 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/17 9 a.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA140Bs) |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2 |
Blue Sharks |
|
| 3/16 2:30 p.m. |
23 |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
60 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 3/16 10 a.m. |
34 |
Humpback Whales |
|
2000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1000 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/16 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 3/15 2:30 p.m. |
9 |
Gray Whales |
|
3 |
Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) |
|
| 3/15 10 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales (Checkmarks and a friend) |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 3/14 9 a.m. |
5 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 3/13 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
12 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
| 3/12 10 a.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
500 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
80 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
4 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
| 3/12 9 a.m. |
7 |
Gray Whales |
|
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
500 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
80 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 3/11 9 a.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
20 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Elephant Seal |
|
| 3/10 2:30 p.m. |
12 |
Gray Whales |
|
13 |
Humpback Whales (2 friendly, double breach) |
|
11 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
| 3/10 9 a.m. |
7 |
Gray Whales |
|
14 |
Humpback Whales |
|
170 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
| 3/9 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Gray Whales (socializing/mating) |
|
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/9 10 a.m. |
16 |
Gray Whales |
|
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
200 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Blue Shark |
|
2 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
| 3/9 9 a.m. |
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA202s “Smileys”) |
|
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 3/8 9 a.m. |
10 |
Gray Whales |
|
2 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
50 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
1 |
Blue Shark |
|
3 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
5 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
250 |
Sooty Shearwaters |
|
1 |
Pink-footed Shearwater (first of the year) |
|
| 3/5 9 a.m. |
10 |
Gray Whales |
|
20 |
Humpback Whales |
|
400 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
80 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
1 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
4 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
| 3/4 9 a.m. |
16 |
Gray Whales |
|
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
5 |
Dall’s Porpoise |
|
| 3/3 9 a.m. |
14 |
Gray Whales |
|
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
|
|
Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta
 Humpback Whale flukes (March 31, 2024)
 Pacific White-sided Dolphin and Risso’s Dolphin (March 31, 2024)
 Killer Whales (Orcas – March 27, 2024)
 Killer Whale (Orca – March 27, 2024)
 Harbor Seal (March 26, 2024)
 Southern Sea Otters (March 26, 2024)
 Common Murres (March 23, 2024)
 Humpback Whale ‘Checkmarks’ (March 21, 2024)
 Humpback Whale ‘Checkmarks’ close-up
(March 21, 2024)
 Gray Whale heart-shaped blow (March 21, 2024)
 Humpback Whale tail (March 20, 2024)
 Orcas (Killer Whales) – CA140B Louise and CA140B4 (March 17, 2024)
 Northern RIght Whale Dolphin (March 18, 2024)
 Velella Velella (By-the-Wind Sailor – March 17, 2024)
 Humpback Whale tail throw (March 16, 2024)
 Pigeon Guillemot (March 15, 2024)
 Risso’s Dolphin mother and calf (March 15, 2024)
 Group of Black-footed Albatross (March 15, 2024)
 Humpback Whale breaching (March 12, 2024)
 California Sea Lions on buoy (March 10, 2024)
 Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale (March 10, 2024)
 Risso’s Dolphins (March 9, 2024)
 Gray Whale and Risso’s Dolphin (March 9, 2024)
 Black-footed Albatross (March 5, 2024)
 Pacific White-sided Dolphin (March 5, 2024)
 Southern Sea Otters (March 5, 2024)
Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta
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Copyright © 2024 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
