Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
April 2024
Our sightings are updated every few days, listing sightings from Whale Watch trips, with indications of the numbers of marine mammals seen frequently, including Humpback Whales, Gray Whales, Blue Whales, Killer Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, and others. 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 listed.
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) |
|
| 4/30 9 a.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/29 9 a.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
40 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
300 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/28 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
| 4/27 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
40 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/26 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 4/25 9 a.m. |
14 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 4/24 8 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
3 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA10, CA23, CA23A2) |
|
80 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/23 9 a.m. |
14 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 4/22 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/22 8 a.m. |
18 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/21 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
| 4/21 8 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
500 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
40 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 4/20 10 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 4/20 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (chronic breaching, tail lobbing and
chin slapping from Graybo
) |
|
4/20 8 a.m.
All Day |
14 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 4/19 2:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/19 10 a.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale |
|
8 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
1 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphin |
|
60 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/19 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
20 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/19 8 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
8 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 4/16 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (two very friendly!) |
|
| 4/15 9 a.m. |
23 |
Humpback Whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/15 8 a.m. |
44 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/14 10 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
60 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
10 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 4/14 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
|
100 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
250 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
50 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
1 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
| 4/14 8 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
300 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
200 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
2500 |
Sea Lions (large feeding group!) |
|
| 4/12 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 4/12 8 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
| All Day |
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA140Bs, CA40, CA137) |
|
15 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/10 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, tail lobbing, pec slapping) |
|
| 4/10 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
12 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/9 2:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 4/9 10 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
12 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
80 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/9 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 4/8 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, chin slapping, tail lobbing) |
|
2 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 4/8 8 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
3 |
Gray Whales |
|
25 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
80 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/7 10 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
100 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
6 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 4/7 9 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
250 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 4/7 8 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
| All Day |
3 |
Gray Whales |
|
1000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1200 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 4/6 1:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales (lunge-feeding) |
|
| 4/6 10 a.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
11 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 4/6 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales (mom/calf) |
|
11 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 4/6 8 a.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale |
| All Day |
11 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – Sea Lion predation) |
|
1000 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
1000 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
1 |
Elephant Seal |
|
1 |
Blue Shark |
|
1 |
Bluefin Tuna |
|
| 4/4 10 a.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale |
|
400 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
40 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
40 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 4/4 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
400 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
25 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 4/3 2:30 p.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales (non-stop breaching, tail lobbing
& pec slapping) |
|
| 4/3 9 a.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale |
|
200 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
50 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 4/2 2:30 p.m. |
30-40 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – feeding on Minke Whale,
active celebratory behaviors) |
|
| 4/2 10 a.m. |
30-40 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – feeding on Minke Whale,
active celebratory behaviors) |
|
1 |
Brown Booby (rare bird sighting) |
|
| 4/2 9 a.m. |
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
30-40 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – Minke Whale predation) |
|
| 4/1 9 a.m. |
3 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
300 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
|
|
Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta
 Gray Whale near Cannery Row (April 30, 2024)
 Pigeon Guillemots (April 29, 2024)
 Brown Pelicans (April 26, 2024)
 Tail lobbing Humpback Whale (April 23, 2024)
 Humpback Whale (April 22, 2024)
 Pacific White-sided Dolphins (April 21, 2024)
 Peregrine Falcon (April 21, 2024)
 Sea Otters (April 20, 2024)
 Killer Whales (Orcas – April 19, 2024)
 Laysan Albatross (April 19, 2024)
 Northern Right Whale Dolphins (April 14, 2024)
 Sea Lions (April 14, 2024)
 Orcas (Killer Whales – CA140B and calf CA140B4) (April 12, 2024)
 Southern Sea Otter (April 10, 2024)
 Pigeon Guillemot (April 10, 2024)
 Humpback Whale Graybo photo ID (April 9, 2024)
 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish – April 8, 2024)
 Bluefin Tuna (April 7, 2024)
 Elephant Seal (April 6, 2024)
 Northern Right Whale Dolphin (April 6, 2024)
 Killer Whales and Sea Wolf II (April 6, 2024)
 By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella – April 6, 2024)
 Breaching Humpback Whale (April 4, 2024)
 California Sea Lions (April 3, 2024)
 Killer Whale flukes (April 2, 2024)
 Brown Booby (April 2, 2024)
 Risso’s Dolphins (April 1, 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.
