What Animals Are Most Commonly Encountered On Whale Watching Trips In The Bay Of Fundy

Monterey Bay Wildlife

When is whale watching season in Monterey Bay? Every month of the year! It's over a ninety% chance you'll run across a whale on whatsoever given month because our two main seasons, the feeding flavour and the migrating flavour overlap. Try going different times of the yr to experience the variety of wildlife that flourishes in the nutrient-rich waters of the Monterey Bay.

Read on to learn which whales you lot can expect to run across during your visit.

Whales

Dolphins & Porpoises

Other Creatures

Birds

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WHALES IN MONTEREY BAY Expanse

HUMPBACK WHALES

Humpback whales migrate from their warm, wintertime breeding grounds off the coast of Central America to feed in the nutrient-rich waters of the Monterey Bay throughout the jump, summer and fall. Depending on food distribution, some humpbacks remain in the bay and feed during the winter as well.

Regarded as the near acrobatic of the whales, humpbacks are often seen breaching, tail-throwing, tail-lobbing and pec-slapping. Surface lunge-feeding is also observed here, where whales trap krill or schooling fish at the surface and lunge out of the water with their mouths open up.

While oftentimes spotted alone or in pairs, if food is abundant feeding groups of 40-fifty can be encountered.

BEST time to meet humpback whales in Monterey Bay: March through Nov, with elevation sightings mostly during July and Baronial (though every flavour is different).

Grey WHALES

Gray whales are spotted migrating through the Monterey Bay December through mid-May. In the summertime, grays are in the Bering and Chukchi seas of Alaska plowing the body of water floor with open mouths to feed on creatures that live in bottom sediments. Gray whales besides opportunistically feed on mid-water prey during their migration (nosotros've observed them skim-feeding on krill in the Monterey Bay).

We start find the greyness whales heading south on their way to their breeding grounds in the protected lagoons of Baja California and then again on their journey northward to the Bering and Chukchi seas in Alaska; a round trip of virtually 10,000-14,000 miles. Mothers and calves are typically the last to go out the convenance grounds and are spotted here in April and May.

BEST time to meet gray whales in Monterey Bay: December-May, with peaks in January and over again in March.

KILLER WHALES

Three genetically unlike killer whale ecotypes can be seen in the Monterey Bay: the mammal-eating transient killer whales, the fish and shark-eating offshore killer whales, and the salmon-eating Southern Resident killer whales.

The near common blazon spotted in the Monterey Bay is the transient killer whales who will hunt seals, bounding main lions, dolphins, porpoises and whales (typically grayness whale calves and minke whales). Transients are ofttimes found in dame pods consisting of a female person and her offspring (and even her offspring'south offspring). Though nosotros oftentimes encounter lone adult males who are about probable orphans.

Best fourth dimension to run into killer whales in Monterey Bay: mid-Apr through mid-May, and tardily August through October. Though killer whale sightings may occur any time of the yr.

Blue WHALES

Blue whales are the near massive animals on earth, ever. More massive than whatsoever dinosaur that e'er existed. And they feed almost exclusively on krill, a tiny shrimp-like animal no bigger than your pinky smash. Here in the Northern Hemisphere blueish whales tin reach lengths of 80-90ft, whereas blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere get a bit larger at 90-100ft.

Blue whales are grey-blueish in color with a subtle mottling design that helps with identifying individuals. Incredibly streamlined, these whales can achieve burst speeds of over 30mph.

BEST time to see blue whales in Monterey Bay: May through October, with peaks more often than not in July and August depending on krill abundance.

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DOLPHINS & PORPOISES IN THE MONTEREY BAY Surface area

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS

Northern right whale dolphins are the simply species of dolphin plant in the North Pacific Bounding main that lacks a dorsal fin. Averaging vi-10 feet, these incredibly sleek-looking dolphins often travel in herds of over a hundred.

In the Monterey Bay, Northern right whale dolphins are usually seen mixed with Pacific white-sided dolphins and Risso's dolphins. While not often encountered, the Monterey Bay has been determined the best place in the globe to observe them.

RISSO'South DOLPHINS

Risso'south dolphins are a very large species averaging 12-13ft. They lack the common "beak" well-nigh dolphins exhibit and instead have a blunt-shaped head much like pilot whales or simulated killer whales. Their bodies are covered in conspicuous scars mostly inflicted past squid, their preferred prey.

Often found in groups of around 30 individuals, they're also seen in herds of hundreds or even thousands. Unlike most other dolphin species, Risso's are not avid bow-riders merely they do exhibit impressive aerial displays.

LONG-BEAKED AND SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHINS

Mutual dolphins got their proper name because they are the most abundant species of dolphin on the planet. Larger populations are encountered off Southern California still these dolphins frequent Monterey Bay waters in the wintertime.

Long-beaked common dolphins are encountered more often due to their preference for well-nigh-shore waters whereas short-beaked are seen further offshore. Both species are incredibly gunkhole friendly and enjoy bow-riding.

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS

Pacific white-sided dolphins have cute markings; a stocky, robust body and a proportionately big, two-toned hooked dorsal fin.

These very social dolphins can exist spotted all year circular in groups of 10 to hundreds. Pacific white-sided dolphins often mix with Risso's dolphins and Northern right whale dolphins.

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

Bottlenose dolphins are another very large species capable of reaching 12.5ft. They ofttimes travel in small groups of 2-15 very close to shore (fifty-fifty in the surf line). They are the species most often observed from land.

Bottlenose dolphins can be encountered all year especially if they happen to be passing by the harbor oral cavity or even inside the harbor searching for food!

DALL'S PORPOISE

Dall's porpoise are stocky and robust with a striking blackness and white pattern. They might be the fastest of all cetaceans capable of reaching speeds of over 30mph.

Their fast movements through the water produce a "rooster-tail", or a bow wave off their head and trunk that creates a hollow cone to breathe through while nevertheless under the surface.

OTHER WILDLIFE IN MONTEREY BAY

CALIFORNIA Body of water King of beasts

California ocean lions are typically the first animal nosotros spot on tours since they love to haul out on docks in Moss Landing Harbor. Most of the sea lions encountered hither are males that can weigh over 800lbs when full grown.

They're famous for their intelligence, playfulness and loud barking. They range in color from dark brown to blonde and accept a canis familiaris-like face.

SOUTHERN SEA OTTER

Southern bounding main otters are the smallest marine mammal in North America and the just exclusively marine member of the weasel family. Sea otters are abundant in Moss Landing Harbor and the adjoining Elkhorn Slough.

While nigh marine mammals employ blubber to keep warm, body of water otters use a double layer of the densest fur of whatever mammal.

PACIFIC HARBOR SEAL

Pacific harbor seals oft booty out on a sandbar in Moss Landing'due south north harbor. They range in colour from white or gray to blackness or dark brown and have a spotted coat. Pups are weaned and on their ain at simply 4 weeks old.

Dissimilar body of water lions, harbor seals cannot rotate their hind flippers underneath them so when they haul out, they scoot across the ground on their bellies.

PACIFIC LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE

Spotting a leatherback sea turtle is a rare and delightful occasion. They primarily migrate from Republic of indonesia to the Pacific coast to feed on jellies. Sightings of leatherback bounding main turtles in the Monterey Bay occur virtually often in the fall, or when sea nettle jellies (their favorite) are abundant.

Leatherbacks can attain 8ft in length and weigh over 2000lbs. They are extremely endangered due to pollution, egg harvesting, and accidental bycatch.

Possible sightings too include:

Harbor porpoise, sperm whales, fin whales, sei whales, Bryde's whales, minke whales, unlike species of beaked whales, short-finned pilot whales, jellies, Steller body of water lions, Northern fur seals, Guadalupe fur seals, elephant seals, several species of sharks, and local and migratory birds.

MOLA MOLAS (Sea SUNFISH)

The heaviest of the bony fish, Mola molas can attain 10ft long, 14ft high and weigh over five,000lbs. They have a saucer-like trunk with large dorsal and ventral fins.

They're usually sighted in Monterey Bay lying on their sides at the surface – supposedly to attract the attention of birds who will eat the parasites off their bodies or to possibly to warm up in the dominicus.

BIRDS IN MONTEREY BAY

SOOTY SHEARWATERS

Sooty shearwaters breed on islands near New Zealand, Australia and Chile during September and October earlier following a figure-8 migration design through the Northern Hemisphere and and then southward again – passing through Monterey Bay in summer and early fall to feed.

COMMON MURRES

While not related to penguins, common murres share a lot of the aforementioned habits. They employ their wings to propel themselves underwater, females tuck their single egg on height of their feet to incubate it, and mating pairs are monogamous. After the chick leaves the nest, the begetter murre volition accompany it for most a year, teach it how to fish.

Blackness-FOOTED ALBATROSS

Black-footed albatross are impressive birds with a wingspan of nigh 7 feet. They lock their wings in place and glide from their convenance grounds on the islands of Hawaii to California's primal declension to feed. They're oft found scavenging almost hunting killer whales.

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Source: https://www.blueoceanwhalewatch.com/monterey-bay-wildlife/

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