Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
December 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.
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| Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project |
| Date |
# |
Type of Animal(s) |
|
| 12/31 1:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/31 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
200 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
|
50 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 12/30 1:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/30 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 12/29 9 a.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale (tail lobbing) |
|
| 12/28 1:30 p.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
hundreds |
Sea Lions |
|
| 12/28 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
hundreds |
Sea Nettles |
|
1 |
Black-footed Albatross |
|
| 12/27 1:30 p.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale (breaching) |
|
| 12/27 9 a.m. |
5 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/26 |
60+ |
Offshore Killer Whales (Orcas) reported by
the California Killer Whale Project |
|
| 12/26 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
15 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
1 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
| 12/25 9 a.m. |
2 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/23 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Fin Whale |
|
| 12/22 1:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/22 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/20 9 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA200s) |
|
| 12/19 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA39As) |
|
| 12/17 9 a.m. |
17 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/16 9 a.m. |
28 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
| 12/15 1:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 12/15 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA39As) |
|
| 12/13 1:30 p.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales |
|
| 12/13 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback Whales (feeding frenzy) |
|
| 12/8 9 a.m. |
17 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 12/7 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA39As) |
|
| 12/6 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA122Cs & CA122D) |
|
| 12/5 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
7 |
Killer Whales (Orcas) |
|
| 12/3 9 a.m. |
31 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
| 12/2 9 a.m. |
26 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
3 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA223s) hunting a Sea Lion |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod) |
|
| 12/1 1:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback Whales (breaching) |
|
75 |
Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod with calves) |
|
| 12/1 9 a.m. |
19 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA140s) |
|
|
|
Photos © 2024 Daniel Bianchetta
 Pacific White-sided Dolphins (with dorsal fins) and Northern Right Whale Dolphins (December 31, 2024)
 Northern Right Whale Dolphin calf (December 31, 2024)
 Southern Sea Otter eating a crab (December 30, 2024)
 Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish – December 26, 2024)
 Pod of Risso’s Dolphins (December 26, 2024)
 Juvenile Fin Whale (December 23, 2024)
 Brown Pelican (December 16, 2024)
 Gray Whale tail (December 15, 2024)
 Humpback Whales (December 13, 2024)
 Mother and pup Sea Otter (December 7, 2024)
 Loon catching breakfast in the harbor (December 2, 2024)
 Breaching Humpback Whale (December 2, 2024)
 Killer Whale CA140 Emma with one of her offspring (December 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.
