Month: November 2012

11-22-12 Happy Thanksgiving! Plenty of space this weekend.

This week we continue to see our faithful pair of humpback whales feeding right outside of Moss Landing Harbor. Also we are spotting Orcas 2-3 times each week, which is always a thrill. The weather is absolutely beautiful here on the Monterey Bay right now, so come on out and enjoy the water with us. Thanksgiving weekend special 10% discount!

11-18-2012 Slap-happy Humpbacks and Frolicking Dolphins

Leaping Risso’s Dolphin
Today was a perfect example of why we LOVE what we do. We had great whale and dolphin experiences and really calm seas plus sunshine. We knew things were off to a great start when were greeted by a waving Humpback as soon as we turned the corner to exit the harbor. This humpback is distinctively marked, so we have named her “Speckles”. She has been hanging around Moss Landing for weeks now. Today she was just plain having fun and with each surfacing she would roll over and repeatedly slap the water’s surface with her huge pectoral flipper. This went on for over an hour which was quite a sight to behold.

When things settled down with the humpbacks we headed out to find dolphins. Success! We came upon a mixed species pod with hundreds of Risso’s dolphins, over a hundred Northern Right Whale Dolphins and several dozen Pacific White-sided Dolphins. Their activity level was awesome with constant breaching, head-slaps, porpoising and tail lobbing. We love days like today!

 

 

11-13-2012 Stellar Conditions – Orcas, Humpbacks, Rissos Dolphins and Dalls Porpoise

It’s been a variety show this week for sure. Highlights have been a nice pod of orcas today with a huge bull, a speedy pod of Dall’s porpoise yesterday, incredible Risso’s dolphin activity a few days back and our local humpbacks hanging out near the harbor mouth at Moss. We love the fall, because the air is so clear, the seas can be so very calm and everyday it is a different surprise out there. We certainly don’t have the biomass of whales that we see in the summertime, nor the consistency of the gray whale “parade” in the winter. But the surprises are what keeps it fresh. Well, the regular sightings of orcas are helping out, too!

Rissos Dolphin calf riding atop his Mom. Photo by Katelyn Sprofera

11-10-2012 Orcas Rule in Monterey Bay!

We just spent several hours with a pod of eight Orcas out in the middle of the bay. The distinctive male we call “Choptop” due to his cut off dorsal fin was hunting with his pod of mostly females and young orcas. We zig-zagged back and forth with them as they hunted. Finally they made a kill below the surface so we never saw the actual prey item. It was likely the lone sea lion I had spotted minutes before. The seabirds, including a majestic lone black footed albatross, swooped in immediately to scoop up the scraps. We were treated to a series of really high spy hops by one of the Orca youngsters and some nice tail slaps. Another great day on the bay with killer whales!

On our way back in a nice pod of about a dozen Rissos dolphins came right up to our boat and gave all good views. To top this off, right before we got back to the harbor mouth, a humpback whale surfaced!

11-09-2012 Rare Pinnipeds, Late Humpbacks, Occasional Orcas and Abundant Rissos Dolphins

Juvenile Steller Sea Lion hanging on the MLA Buoy at Moss

This past week has been a mixed bag out here on Monterey Bay. First mention goes to our unusual sightings of rare Otariids (fur seals and sea lions).We had a most adorable and tiny northern fur seal pup doing somersaults right outside the harbor a few days ago.We only sight these rarely and this is the smallest we’ve seen, but it appeared perfectly healthy with a nice pelage and plump enough. Seeing such a tiny little seal pup all on its own out there causes one to ponder, though. The next day we spotted a juvenile Northern (Steller) Sea Lion on the MLA buoy hanging out with the considerably smaller California sea lions.This picture shows its more tawny pelage and softer nose profile.A full size Steller is three times the size of our huge California Sea Lions, at 2,000 pounds!

There are still a few humpbacks stopping by for some last minute munching prior to their long journey south to Costa Rica for calving and breeding next month. Every three days or there have been Orcas out in the bay. This past month has been particularly good for Orca sightings.

We have plenty of room for the Veteran’s Day weekend and are offering a special discount to our Veterans who have served our country. The conditions look good and the bay is full of surprises this time of year.

10-31-2012: Offshore Orca’s Come into The Bay

A rare encounter with a variety of orcas known to scientists as “Offshores” come into The Monterey Bay. Photo Sack, 10-31-2012.

What an excellent week we’ve had. The weather has been perfect. Calm, glassy conditions all day long. Humpbacks, orcas and dolphins. Doesn’t get much better.