Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
January 2025
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) |
|
| 1/28 |
25 |
Gray Whales |
| Scouting |
210 |
Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| Vessel |
|
|
|
| 1/24 |
33 |
Gray Whales |
| Scouting |
1500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
| Vessel |
3 |
Northern Right Whale Dolphins |
|
| 1/19 |
1 |
Humpback Whale |
| Scouting |
24 |
Gray Whales |
| Vessel |
50 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 1/8 9 a.m. |
1 |
Humpback Whale (breaching, chin slapping) |
|
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 1/7 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
6 |
Gray Whales |
|
10 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
2 |
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) |
|
| 1/5 1:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
5 |
Killer Whales (Orcas – CA140Bs & CA23A2
hunting sea lions and breaching) |
|
| 1/5 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
4 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 1/4 1:30 p.m. |
7 |
Humpback Whales |
|
150 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 1/4 9 a.m. |
11 |
Humpback Whales |
|
500 |
Risso’s Dolphins |
|
| 1/3 9 a.m. |
4 |
Humpback Whales |
|
2 |
Gray Whales |
|
| 1/2 1:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Fin Whale |
|
1 |
Minke Whale |
|
| 1/2 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Fin Whale |
|
30 |
Risso’s Dolphins (breaching) |
|
2 |
Harbor Porpoise |
|
| 1/1 1:30 p.m. |
6 |
Humpback Whales (breaching, double breach, tail lobbing) |
|
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
| 1/1 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback Whales |
|
1 |
Gray Whale |
|
|
|
Photos © 2025 by Daniel Bianchetta
 Pacific White-sided Dolphin (January 28, 2025)  Southern Sea Otter (January 28, 2025)  Humpback Whale ID photo (January 8, 2025)  Killer Whale (Orca – January 5, 2025)  Breaching Risso’s Dolphin (January 2, 2025)  Fin Whale surfacing (January 2, 2025)  Belted Kingfisher (January 2, 2025)  Breaching Humpback Whale (January 1, 2025) Photos © 2025 by Daniel Bianchetta |
|
Copyright © 2025 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
