Month: October 2016

10-29-2016: Humpback Feeding Frenzy at Moss with Dolphins & Sea Lions

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Though our trip today began with a light drizzle, before long the skies cleared up and we spotted our first humpback whales, only two miles outside Moss Landing Harbor. We hopscotched from those three whales out to a large group of Risso’s dolphins (probably more than 200) that were breaching and socializing around us, before moving on toward a flock of birds and a series of splashes. We discovered a huge group (500+) of feeding common dolphins, which haven’t spent much time around Moss for the past few months! Just beyond the dolphins was a growing group of humpbacks, lunging up out of the water to scoop up gigantic mouthfuls of anchovies. Photos: Vicky Stein

Risso’s Dolphin


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10-18-16 Cetacean Invasion! Humpbacks and Dolphins show up in big numbers.

At least 15 humpback whales and several hundred Pacific White-sided Dolphins showed up today being very active in the Pajaro Hole, a branch of the canyon about six miles NW of Moss Landing. We had a breach, tail lobbing and some vertical surface lunge feeds today and lots of surfacings and tail flukes. It was approaching a frenzy state with many sea lions, lots of birds, so many dolphins and whales all circling a wide area that was abundant with fish. The viewing was excellent, with sunny conditions and a long period swell.