A Kelping Humpback Whale and Long-Beaked Common Dolphins

Sanctuary guests were treated to our Moss Landing harbor's diverse ecosystem this morning. Before the boat left the slip, passengers viewed Birdadette, an otter with an appetite for common murres. Her adorable, fuzzy countenance belied her earlier murre massacre.

Passing several otters, California sea lions, great egrets, great blue herons, Brandt's cormorants, brown pelicans, western grebes and common loons, Sanctuary entered the Monterey Sub-marine Canyon headed for deeper waters. Guests settled in, understanding that since the Eastern Pacific Group of humpbacks were migrating weeks earlier this year we'd likely need to travel an hour or more to encounter whales.

As we headed west along the canyon's northern side, common dolphins streamed towards us. As usual, these small, charismatic dolphins were enchanting to all aboard. Porpoising dolphins surrounded the boat with some jumping very steeply while others went for height and distance. Even the youngest of the group porpoised beside their mothers or with other nursery group babies.

Leaving the energetic pod behind, we continued to look for spouts with the swell growing. Finally, upon turning southward, we saw a single spout. This little humpback was incredibly curious, surfacing on all sides of the boat. Preferring the right (starboard) side most, this brief-diving whale spent quite a while near the boat until finally taking a longer dive and leaving us.

Right as Captain Joey was preparing to head east along the southern side of the canyon, a short, puffy blow at our one o'clock offered one more encounter with a humpback whale. This whale was lounging amongst the giant kelp fronds. The behavior, known as kelping, is often likened to a spa treatment. It is exfoliating and whales are able to slough off old, dead skin.

And that wasn't our last cetacean sighting either. We were met by a small pod of coastal bottlenose dolphins who escorted us in to the harbor mouth. With fewer humpbacks in the bay, it gave us an opportunity to savor each one and notice other wildlife. A northern fulmar landed at our stern and rested there. Evan also identified some Cassin's auklets, reminding us that even with fewer humpbacks, Monterey Bay is still the Serengeti of the Sea.