Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Most Recent Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region
Since August 1, 2025
compiled by Monterey Bay Whale Watch
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) |
|
| 8/20 1:30 p.m. |
11 |
Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping) |
|
| 8/20 10 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
1 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 8/19 2:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/19 10 a.m. |
32 |
Humpback whales |
|
12 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
| 8/19 9 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback whales |
|
15 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/18 1:30 p.m. |
18 |
Humpback whales |
|
8 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/18 9 a.m. |
24 |
Humpback whales (feeding) |
|
20 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/17 5:30 p.m. |
20 |
Humpback whales (feeding with sea lions, tail lobbing, pec slapping) |
|
| 8/17 2:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales (feeding with sea lions, and tail lobbing) |
|
| 8/17 10 a.m. |
35 |
Humpback whales (feeding with sea lions) |
|
17 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/17 9 a.m. |
25 |
Humpback whales |
|
70 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/16 5:30 p.m. |
5 |
Humpback whales (friendly!) |
|
| 8/16 2:30 p.m. |
26 |
Humpback whales |
|
6 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/16 1:30 p.m. |
19 |
Humpback whales (tail slapping) |
|
10 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/16 10 a.m. |
26 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/16 9 a.m. |
27 |
Humpback whales (feeding) |
|
15 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/15 9 a.m. |
22 |
Humpback whales |
|
15 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/14 9 a.m. |
50 |
Humpback whales (breaching) |
|
| 8/13 1:30 p.m. |
12 |
Humpback whales (tail lobbing and lunge feeding) |
|
| 8/13 10 a.m. |
28 |
Humpback whales |
|
13 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/13 9 a.m. |
20 |
Humpback whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
3 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 8/12 2:30 p.m. |
20 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/12 10 a.m. |
40 |
Humpback whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/12 9 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/11 2:30 p.m. |
7 |
Humpback whales (tail slapping, breach, pec slapping) |
|
| 8/11 9 a.m. |
17 |
Humpback whales (pec slapping, breach, feeding) |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
2 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 8/10 5:30 p.m. Sunset |
10 |
Humpback whales (friendly) |
|
75 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
20 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
15 |
Dall’s porpoise |
|
1 |
Guadalupe fur seal |
|
6 |
Black-f00ted albatross |
|
| 8/10 2:30 p.m. |
13 |
Humpback whales (friendly, breaching) |
|
175 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
30 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
| 8/10 1:30 p.m. |
12 |
Humpback whales (friendly, pec slapping, breach) |
|
50 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/10 10 a.m. |
18 |
Humpback whales |
|
15 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
3 |
Dall’s porpoise |
|
5 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 8/10 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback whales (3 friendlies including Boomerang, lunge feeding, pec slapping) |
|
1 |
Fin whale |
|
5 |
Dall’s porpoise |
|
20 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/9 2:30 p.m. |
11 |
Humpback whales (tail lobbing) |
|
| 8/9 1:30 p.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales (tail slapping, pec slapping) |
|
| 8/9 10 a.m. Private Charter |
12 |
Humpback whales |
|
1 |
Minke whale |
|
10 |
Long-beaked common dolphin |
|
| 8/9 9 a.m. |
9 |
Humpback whales (2 friendlies) |
|
12 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
6 |
Dall’s porpoise |
|
| 8/9 8 a.m. All Day |
15 |
Humpback whales |
|
45 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
20 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
1 |
Northern right whale dolphin |
|
1 |
Mola mola |
|
20 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 8/8 5:30 p.m. |
8 |
Humpback whales |
|
20 |
Dall’s porpoise |
|
6 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/8 2:30 p.m. |
12 |
Humpback whales |
|
1 |
Blue whale |
|
| 8/8 10 a.m. |
10 |
Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping) |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/8 9 a.m. |
18 |
Humpback whales (breaching, tail slapping, pec slapping) |
|
| 8/7 10 a.m. |
6 |
Humpback whales |
|
2 |
Black-footed albatross |
|
| 8/7 9 a.m. |
12 |
Humpback whales (lunge feeding and friendly) |
|
| 8/6 2:30 p.m. |
16 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/6 10 a.m. |
18 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/6 9 a.m. |
40 |
Humpback whales (breaching and pec slapping) |
|
| 8/5 2:30 p.m. |
25 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/5 10 am. |
35 |
Humpback whales |
|
150 |
Risso’s dolphin (Casper!) |
|
10 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
| 8/5 9:30 a.m. private charter |
35 |
Humpback whales |
|
80 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/5 9 a.m. |
32 |
Humpback whales |
|
175 |
Risso’s dolphin (Casper!) |
|
| 8/4 10 a.m. |
25 |
Humpback whales (feeding) |
|
| 8/4 9 a.m. |
15 |
Humpback whales (pec slapping, feeding) |
|
| 8/3 9 a.m. |
8 |
Humpback whales (kelping, breach, tail slap) |
|
100 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/2 2:30 p.m. |
1 |
Humpback whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/2 1:30 p.m. |
7 |
Humpback whales |
|
30 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
5 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
| 8/2 10 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/2 9 a.m. |
7 |
Humpback whales |
|
13 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
| 8/2 8 a.m. All Day |
2 |
Blue whales |
|
2 |
Fin whales |
|
13 |
Humpback whales |
|
8 |
Risso’s dolphin |
|
3 |
Pacific white-sided dolphin |
|
| 8/1 1:30 p.m. |
11 |
Humpback whales |
|
| 8/1 9 a.m. |
30 |
Humpback whales |
|
|
|
Photos © 2025 Daniel Bianchetta and Morgan Quimby
 Humpback whale breaching backwards (August 11, 2025)
 Young Humpback whale pec slapping and playing with a sea lion (August 11, 2025)
 Casper the Risso’s dolphin (August 11, 2025)
 “Boomerang” the Humpback whale lunge feeding (August 10, 2025)
 Anchovy escaping from “Boomerang” the Humpback whale lunge feeding (August 10, 2025)
 “Boomerang” the Humpback whale lunge feeding (August 10, 2025)
 “Boomerang” the Humpback whale pec slapping (August 10, 2025)
 Open eye of “Boomerang” the friendly Humpback whale looking at our passengers (August 10, 2025)
 Rostrum of “Boomerang” the friendly Humpback whale checking out our passengers (August 10, 2025)
 3 Humpback whales rolling around and spyhopping with each other (August 10, 2025)
 Dall’s porpoise speeding by (August 10, 2025)
 Risso’s dolphin breaching (August 10, 2025)
 Velella velella (by the wind sailor) drifting by on the water (August 9, 2025)
 Pair of curious sea lions checking out our passengers (August 9, 2025)
 Close up of Humpback whale tubercles, barnacles, and whale lice during a friendly whale encounter! (August 9, 2025)
 Giant Mola mola (August 9, 2025)
 Humpback whale lunge feeding (August 9, 2025)
 Humpback whale pair lunge feeding (August 9, 2025)
 Porpoising Risso’s dolphin (August 8, 2025)
 Blue whale surfacing (August 8, 2025)
 Casper the Risso’s dolphin (August 5, 2025)
 Humpback whale pec slapping (August 4, 2025)
 Humpback whale pec slapping (August 4, 2025)
 Brown pelican with a freshly caught anchovy in its open bill (August 4, 2025)
 Humpback whale kelping (August 3, 2025)
 Humpback whale breaching (August 2, 2025)
 Fin whale surfacing showing off their characteristic white lower right jaw (August 1, 2025)
 Blue whale surfacing (August 1, 2025) |
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Copyright © 2025 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.
