LATEST SIGHTINGS

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Most Recent Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region

Since July 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.

Visit our Facebook page for more photos and descriptions.    Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project Date # Type of Animal(s) 7/30 1:30 p.m. 22 Humpback whales 100 Risso’s dolphin (including Casper!!) 7/30 10 a.m. 25 Humpback whales 1 Black-footed albatross 7/30 9 a.m. 26 Humpback whales 1 Black-footed albatross 7/29 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 7/29 10 a.m. 25 Humpback whales (lunge feeding, pec slapping) 15 Risso’s dolphin 7 Black-footed albatross 100+ California sea lion (breaching and flipping) 7/29 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales 15 Risso’s dolphin 7/28 2:30 p.m. 21 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 3 Black-footed albatross 7/28 10 a.m. 23 Humpback whales 40 Pacific white-sided dolphin 30 Northern right whale dolphin 7/28 9 a.m. 25 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 200 Risso’s dolphin 7/28 8 Hour All Day 37 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 1 Fin whale 500 Risso’s dolphin 50 Pacific white-sided dolphin 30 Northern right whale dolphin 7/27 10 a.m. 19 Humpback whales 7/27 9 a.m. 13 Humpback whales (chronic breaching) 100 Risso’s dolphin 7/26 5:30 p.m. 4 Humpback whales 7/26 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales 30 Risso’s dolphin 7/26 1:30 p.m. 13 Humpback whales 150 Risso’s dolphin 1 Salmon shark 1 Mola mola 7/26 10 a.m. 12 Humpback whales 20 Risso’s dolphin 7/26 9 a.m. 10 Humpback whales (tail lobbing) 40 Risso’s dolphin 2 Black-footed albatross 7/26 7:30 a.m. 12 Hour All Day 40 Humpback whales 6 Fin whales 30 Risso’s dolphin 2 Dall’s porpoise 3 Guadalupe fur seal 1 Northern fur seal 7/25 5:30 p.m. 2 Humpback whales 7 Risso’s dolphin 4 Bottlenose dolphin 7/25 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback whales (tail lobbing and pec slapping) 7/25 10 a.m. 15 Humpback whales 250 Risso’s dolphin 50 Pacific white-sided dolphin 7/25 9 a.m. 18 Humpback whales 300 Risso’s dolphin 50+ Bluefin tuna 3 Black-footed albatross 7/24 2:30 p.m. 12 Humpback whales (tail lobbing) 7/24 10 a.m. 27 Humpback whales (lunge feeding, breaching) 50 Risso’s dolphin 1 Mola mola 7/24 9 a.m. 15 Humpback whales 1 Salmon shark 100+ Bluefin tuna 7/23 1:30 p.m. 2 Orcas 2 Humpback whales 7/23 10 a.m. 2 Orcas 8 Humpback whales 100 Risso’s dolphin 7/23 9 a.m. 2 Orcas 4 Humpback whales 7/22 2:30 p.m. 4 Humpback whales 5 Risso’s dolphin 7/22 1:30 p.m. 7 Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing, pec slapping) 10 Risso’s dolphin 7/22 9 a.m. 10 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 50 Risso’s dolphin 7/21 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback whales 5 Risso’s dolphin 7/21 10 a.m. 14 Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping, tail lobbing) 2 Blue whales 100 Risso’s dolphin 7/21 9 a.m. 26 Humpback whales 2 Blue whales 75 Risso’s dolphin 7/20 5:30 p.m. Sunset 7 Humpback whales (tail throwing) 2 Blue whales 10 Risso’s dolphin 7/20 2:30 p.m. 5 Humpback Whales 2 Blue whales 50 Pacific white-sided dolphins 20 Risso’s dolphin 2 Salmon sharks 7/20 1:30 p.m. 4 Humpback whales 2 Blue whales 50 Pacific white-sided dolphin 7/20 10 a.m. with Ted Cheeseman 12 Humpback whales (breaching) 2 Blue whales 100 Risso’s dolphin 10 Pacific white-sided dolphin 1 Salmon shark 5 Black-footed albatross 7/20 9 a.m. 4 Humpback Whales 2 Blue whales 3 Fin whales 2 Bottlenose dolphin 40 Risso’s dolphin 7/19 5:30 p.m. Sunset 22 Humpback whales 6 Black-footed albatross 7/19 1:30 p.m. 12 Humpback whales 7/19 10 a.m. 27 Humpback whales 15 Risso’s dolphin 5 Harbor porpoise 7/19 9 a.m. 20 Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing, pec slapping, calf playing with sea lion!) 1 Black-footed albatross 7/19 8 a.m. All Day 2 Cuvier’s beaked whales (rare sighting!) 31 Humpback whales 1 Fin whale 200 Pacific white-sided dolphin 10 Northern right whale dolphin 10 Long-beaked common dolphin 1 Harbor porpoise 15 Black-footed albatross 7/18 5:30 p.m. Sunset 14 Humpback whales 30 Pacific white-sided dolphin 1 Salmon shark 7/18 2:30 p.m. 12 Humpback whales (breaching and pec slapping) 7 Risso’s dolphin 15 Pacific white-sided dolphin 7/18 10 a.m. 17 Humpback whales (breaching, lunge feeding, tail lobbing, pec slapping) 2 Blue whales (Mom and calf pair!) 15 Pacific white-sided dolphin 7/18 9 a.m. 25 Humpback whales 2 Blue whale 15 Pacific white-sided dolphin 10 Risso’s dolphin 7/17 1:30 p.m. 24 Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing, pec slapping, spy hopping, kelping) 7/17 9 a.m. 14 Humpback whales (breaching, pec slapping) 50 Risso’s dolphin 7/16 1:30 p.m. 1 Blue whale 16 Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing) 7/16 10 a.m. 22 Humpback whales 1 Blue whale 25 Risso’s dolphin 7/16 9 a.m. 23 Humpback whales (friendly, breaching, pec slapping, tail lobbing) 1 Blue whale 20 Risso’s dolphin 7/15 2:30 p.m. 17 Humpback whales (breaching calf) 15 Risso’s dolphins 7/15 9 a.m. 29 Humpback whales (2 calves breaching and tail lobbing) 1 Blue whale 2 Fin whales 5 Risso’s dolphins 7/14 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales (breaching, tail lobbing) 20 Risso’s dolphins 7/14 10 a.m. 52 Humpback whales (lunge feeding, breaching) 2 Harbor porpoise 7/14 9 a.m. 50 Humpback whales (breaching) 7/13 5:30 p.m. 11 Humpback whales 11 Risso’s dolphin 7/13 10 a.m. 15 Humpback whales 30 Risso’s dolphin 1 Mako shark 7/13 9 a.m. 19 Humpback whales 30 Risso’s dolphin 10 Harbor porpoise 7/12 1:30 p.m. 7 Humpback whales 12 Risso’s dolphin 7/12 9 a.m. 30 Humpback whales 1000 Pacific white-sided dolphin 75 Northern right whale dolphin 7/12 8 a.m. All Day 41 Humpback whales 35 Risso’s dolphin 300 Pacific white-sided dolphin 1 Blue whale 1 Northern right whale dolphin 7 Dall’s porpoise 7/11 2:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales 15 Risso’s dolphin 7/11 10 a.m. 10 Humpback whales 7/11 9 a.m. 15 Humpback whales (breaching) 7/10 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback whales 7/10 10 a.m. 14 Humpback whales 20 Risso’s dolphin 7/10 9 a.m. 8 Humpback whales 3 Harbor porpoise 7/9 2:30 p.m. 17 Humpback whales (lunge feeding, breaching, pec slapping, tail lobbing) 7/9 9 a.m. 1 Blue whale 39 Humpback whales 20 Risso’s dolphins 7/8 2:30 p.m. 15 Humpback whales 7 Risso’s dolphin (including Casper!) 7/8 9 a.m. 32 Humpback whales 120 Risso’s dolphin 20 Pacific white-sided dolphin 4 Long-beaked common dolphin 1 Harbor porpoise 1 Mola mola (ocean sunfish) 7/7 5:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 7/7 2:30 p.m. 15 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 12 Risso’s dolphin 7/7 9 a.m. 25 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 5 Risso’s dolphin 7/6 2:30 p.m. 20 Humpback whales 7/6 10 a.m. 42 Humpback whales 20 Risso’s dolphin (including Casper!!) 2 Harbor porpoise 7/6 9 a.m. 24 Humpback whales 5 Risso’s dolphins 7/5 1:30 p.m. 23 Humpback whales (lunge feeding) 7/5 11 a.m. 35 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding and pec slapping) 7/5 10 a.m. 24 Humpback whales 200 Risso’s dolphins 150 Pacific white-sided dolphins 3 Black-footed albatross 7/5 9 a.m. 2 Humpback whales 200 Risso’s dolphins 150 Pacific white-sided dolphins 3 Black-footed albatross 7/4 1:30 p.m. 19 Humpback Whales 7/4 11 a.m. 50 Humpback Whales (lunge feeding and pec slapping) 40 Risso’s Dolphins 7/4 10 a.m. 27 Humpback Whales 200 Risso’s Dolphins 7/4 9 a.m. 6 Humpback Whales (including friendly encounter with Fallon) 7/3 1:30 p.m. 8 Humpback Whales 7/3 10 a.m. 65 Humpback Whales 200 Risso’s Dolphins (nursery pod) 75 Risso’s Dolphins (including Casper) 100 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 7/3 9 a.m. 50 Humpback Whales 1 Fin Whale 500 Pacific White-sided Dolphins 200 Risso’s Dolphins 500 Northern Right Whale Dolphins 7/2 2:30 p.m. 4 Humpback Whales (1 chronic breacher for over 2 hours with at least 150 breaches) 7/2 10 a.m. 17 Humpback Whales 1 Fin Whale 1 Northern Fur Seal 7/2 9 a.m. 14 Humpback Whales 1 Fin Whale 7/1 1:30 p.m. 12 Humpback Whales 30 Risso’s Dolphins 7/1 10 a.m. 7 Humpback Whales 2 Blue Whales 7/1 9 a.m. 23 Humpback Whales 1 Blue Whale 17 Risso’s Dolphins Photos © 2025 Daniel Bianchetta Humpback Whale ‘Fallon’ spy-hopping by the boat (July 4, 2025)   Humpback Whales (July 3, 2025)   Fin Whale (July 3, 2025)   Humpback Whale kelping (playing with kelp – July 3, 2025)   Pacific White-sided Dolphin (July 3, 2025)   Humpback Whale tail slap (July 2, 2025)   Breaching Humpback Whale (July 2, 2025)   Risso’s Dolphin with calf (Note fetal folds – July 1, 2025)   Blue Whale (July 1, 2025) Photos © 2025 Daniel Bianchetta

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