DANA POINT WHALE WATCHING SIGHTINGS AT A GLANCE
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
FREQUENTLY SEEN WHALES, DOLPHINS, & WILDLIFE:
Common Dolphin XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX
Bottlenose Dolphin XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX
Pacific White-sided Dolphin XXX XXX XXX XX XX X     X XXX XXX XXX
Risso's XXX XXX XXX X XX XX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX
Gray Whales XXX XXX XXX XXX XX       X     XXX
Gray Whales & Calves X X X XXX XXX X           X
Blue Whales   X   XX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX X
Minke Whales   X X X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Fin Whales X XXX XXX XXX XXX XX XXX  XXX  X XXX XX XX
Mola Mola/Sunfish X X X XX XX XXX XXX XXX XXX X X X
California Sea Lions XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX
Elephant Seals         XX   XX XXX XXX XX    
INFREQUENTLY SEEN WHALES & DOLPHINS:
Killer Whale (Orcas) XX X X     X           X
Humpback Whales   X XX XX XX   X X X XX X  
  X=1 Sighting X X= 2-6 Sightings X X X= 7+ Sightings
 
2012-2013 Whale Watching Sightings Log
Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari
For more info call (949) 488-2828

Previous Dana Point whale watch logs: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

 

2012-2013 Whale Watching Sightings Log
Date # of
Trips		 Bottlenose
Dolphin		 Common
Dolphin		 Pacific
White-sided
Dolphin		 Risso's
Dolphin		 Whales Other
               
May 19 2 31 Bottlenose 400 Common       1 Mola Mola
May 18 3   550 Common       1 Mako Shark, 1 Mola Mola
May 17 4 5 Bottlenose 400 Common     1 Humpback Whale "Stinky" 1 Mola Mola
May 16 1 4 Bottlenose       1 Fin Whale, 2 Gray Whales 1 Harbor Seal
May 15 1 50 Bottlenose 120 Common   13 Risso's 1 Blue Whale, 2 Fin Whales (Cow/Calf)  
May 14 4   200 Common     4 Fin Whales (Cow/Calf)  
May 13 4   1,00 Common     2 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
May 12 7 6 Bottlenose 376 Common     1 Blue Whale "Kinko", 5 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola
May 11 4 115 Bottlenose 51 Common     3 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales (Cow/Calf), 3 Minke Whales  
May 10 2 30 Bottlenose 1,000 Common     1 Blue Whale, 1 Gray Whale  
May 9 1 6 Bottlenose 50 Common        
May 8 1   50 Common     1 Gray Whale  
May 7 2   500 Common     3 Gray Whales (Including cow/calf)  
May 6 3 25 Bottlenose       2 Gray Whales (cow/calf) 1 Mola Mola
May 5 2 10 Bottlenose 350 Common        
May 4 3 3 Bottlenose 200 Common       3 Mola Mola
May 3 2 15 Bottlenose 410 Common     3 Gray Whales  
May 2 2 3 Bottlenose 1,500 Common     4 Gray Whales (2 cow/calf pairs)  
May 1 2   140 Common       1 Mola Mola
April 30 2   350 Common     5 Gray Whales (Including 2 cow/calf pairs)  
April 29 2   310 Common     4 Gray Whales (cow/calf pairs) 1 Mola Mola
April 28 3 14 Bottlenose 700 Common   20 Risso's 1 Minke Whale  
April 27 5 6 Bottlenose 920 Common     1 Fin Whale, 11 Gray Whales (Including 8 cow/calf pairs) 3 Mola Mola
April 26 4 80 Bottlenose 650 Common     7 Gray Whales  
April 25 1   375 Common     6 Gray Whales (Unusual: 3 cow/calf pairs traveling together)  
April 24 1   500 Common     4 Gray Whales  
April 23 3   1,150 Common 6 Pacific White-sided   1 Gray Whale  
April 22 2   525 Common     5 Gray Whales  
April 21     570 Common     10 Gray Whales (Including rarely seen 2 cow/calf pairs traveling together) 1 Mola Mola
April 20 5 2 Bottlenose 2,610 Common     8 Gray Whales 1 Mola Mola
April 19 4   3,550 Common     4 Fin Whales (Cow/Calf), 2 Gray Whales  
April 18 3 2 Bottlenose 400 Common     6 Fin Whales (Including Cow/Calf)  
April 17 3   750 Common     5 Fin Whales 2 Mola Mola
April 16 2   1,200 Common     1 Blue Whale, 3 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola
April 15 2   300 Common     2 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale  
April 14 3   325 Common     2 Fin Whales  
April 13 6 6 Bottlenose 390 Common     4 Blue Whales, 9 Fin Whales, 2 Humpback Whales, 4 Gray Whales (Cow/Calf)  
April 12 5   710 Common     13 Gray Whales (Including 1 Cow/Calf)  
April 11 2   1,800 Common     2 Gray Whales (Cow/Calf)  
April 10 2 100 Bottlenose 1,100 Common     2 Gray Whales  
April 9 2   62 Common     6 Gray Whales 1 Mola Mola
April 8 0           Inclement Weather
April 7 5   2,930 Common 4 Pacific White-sided   7 Gray Whales  
April 6 5 1 Bottlenose 1,500 Common 6 Pacific White-sided   6 Gray Whales (Including Cow/Calf) 2 Mola Mola
April 5 4 15 Bottlenose 1,375 Common     9 Gray Whales  
April 4 5 1 Bottlenose 1,050 Common     3 Gray Whales 3 Mola Mola
April 3 5 6 Bottlenose 900 Common     10 Gray Whales 1 Mola Mola
April 2 4   1,470 Common     1 Humpback Whale, 4 Gray Whales (Including Cow/Calf) 1 Mola Mola
April 1 5 6 Bottlenose 6,412 Common     1 Humpback Whale, 21 Gray Whales  
March 31 0 Happy Easter          
March 30 7 6 Bottlenose 200 Common 2 Pacific White-sided   1 Fin Whales, 25 Gray Whales  
March 29 7   1,605 Common     4 Fin Whales, 16 Gray Whales  
March 28 4   650 Common     2 Fin Whales, 6 Gray Whales  
March 27 3 6 Bottlenose 50 Common 8 Pacific White-sided   2 Fin Whales, 13 Gray Whales  
March 26 6 25 Bottlenose 785 Common 1 Pacific White-sided   1 Fin Whale, 15 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
March 25 6 14 Bottlenose 3,630 Common 28 Pacific White-sided   2 Fin Whales, 9 Gray Whales 4 Mola Mola
March 24 7 2 Bottlenose 900 Common     20 Gray Whales  
March 23 7 12 Bottlenose 306 Common     23 Gray Whales (Including Cow/Calf pairs)  
March 22 4   2,400 Common     15 Gray Whales  
March 21 5   2,455 Common     4 Fin Whales, 11 Gray Whales  
March 20     580 Common     7 Gray Whales  
March 19 3   1,350 Common 25 Pacific White-sided   9 Fin Whales, 5 Gray Whales  
March 18 3 24 Bottlenose 160 Common     8 Fin Whales, 3 Gray Whales  
March 17 5 4 Bottlenose 1,290 Common     1 Fin Whale, 10 Gray Whales  
March 16 8 6 Bottlenose 2,300 Common 6 Pacific White-sided   17 Fin Whales, 2 Humpback Whales, 10 Gray Whales  
March 15 3   750 Common     1 Possible Blue Whale, 11 Fin Whales  
March 14 4 2 Bottlenose 81 Common 3 Pacific White-sided   3 Gray Whales  
March 13 4   297 Common     3 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola
March 12 3   420 Common     3 Gray Whales  
March 11 5   1,300 Common     1 Fin Whale, 5 Gray Whales  
March 10 6 6 Bottlenose 3,100 Common 12 Pacific White-sided   4 Fin Whales, 7 Gray Whales  
March 9 3   190 Common     15 Orca Whales, 3 Gray Whales, 2 Fin Whales
Confirmed IDs (courtesy Alisa Shulman-Janiger) of the mammal-eating transient (Bigg's) killer whales:

Female CA216A. Female CA40, with son CA163 & probable son CA137. Female CA140, with daughters CA140B & CA140C. Female CA216, with daughters CA216A, CA216B, & CA216C. Also, 1 very young calf!

We last saw the CA140s (with the CA51s) on January 3, 2012.
2 matrilines never seen before!
March 8 1         3 Fin Whales  
March 7 2   275 Common     1 Fin Whale  
March 6 5 6 Bottlenose 2,654 Common 12 Pacific White-sided   6 Gray Whales (1 Breached!)  
March 5 2   200 Common 6 Pacific White-sided   8 Fin Whales, 2 Minke Whales  
March 4 2   3,000 Common     1 Fin Whale  
March 3 5   1,130 Common 6 Pacific White-sided   2 Northbound Gray Whales  
March 2 9 102 Bottlenose 4,348 Common     2 Fin Whales  
March 1 5   2,900 Common     4 Fin Whales, 3 Gray Whales  
Feb. 28 2   475 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 27 2   150 Common   6 Rissos 1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 26 2 100 Bottlenose 300 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 25 4   552 Common 24 Pacific White-sided   3 Blue Whales  
Feb. 24 3 25 Bottlenose 270 Common 6 Pacific White-sided   6 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale  
Feb. 23 3   450 Common 30 Pacific White-sided   1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 22 2   240 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 21 2 15 Bottlenose 150 Common 12 Pacific White-sided   2 Fin Whales (Cow/Calf), 1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 20 3 15 Bottlenose 35 Common        
Feb. 19 3   2,000 Common        
Feb. 18 5 11 Bottlenose 250 Common 20 Pacific White-sided   5 Fin Whales, 6 Gray Whales  
Feb. 17 7 12 Bottlenose 444 Common     10 Fin Whales, 5 Gray Whales  
Feb. 16 6   1,876 Common     11 Fin Whales, 3 Gray Whales 1 Basking Shark
Feb. 15 3 38 Bottlenose 30 Common     4 Fin Whales, 8 Gray Whales  
Feb. 14 2 3 Bottlenose 1,500 Common     2 Fin Whales, 1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 13 2 80 Bottlenose 300 Common     2 Gray Whales (1 Breached!)  
Feb. 12 1   125 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 11 1   200 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 10 3 55 Bottlenose 50 Common 6 Pacific White-sided   4 Gray Whales (2 Mating!)  
Feb. 9 4 36 Bottlenose 1,350 Common 12 Pacific White-sided   4 Gray Whales  
Feb. 8 1           No Sightings
Feb. 7 1 50 Bottlenose       2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 6 1 6 Bottlenose 20 Common     7 Gray Whales (2 Mating!)  
Feb. 5 1 2 Bottlenose 100 Common 30 Pacific White-sided   1 Fin Whale, 5 Gray Whales (1 Breached!)  
Feb. 4 1   70 Common        
Feb. 3 2 12 Bottlenose 24 Common     2 Humpback Whales, 5 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale 2 of the Gray Whales displayed mating behavior!
Feb. 2 3 3 Bottlenose 49 Common   3 Risso's 1 Fin Whale, 8 Gray Whales  
Feb. 1 2   200 Common     2 Fin Whales, 5 Gray Whales  
Jan. 31 1   76 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Jan. 30 2   1,149 Common     3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 29 1   200 Common     1 Fin Whale, 2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 28 1   100 Common        
Jan. 27 3 5 Bottlenose 120 Common 12 Pacific White-sided   2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 26 2 23 Bottlenose 105 Common 12 Pacific White-sided   2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 25 1 15 Bottlenose 100 Common 4 Pacific White-sided   1 Gray Whale  
Jan. 24 1 50 Bottlenose 200 Common     3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 23 2   347 Common     4 Gray Whales  
Jan. 22 2   200 Common 12 Pacific White-sided   5 Gray Whales  
Jan. 21 5 20 Bottlenose 4,550 Common 32 Pacific White-sided   10 Gray Whales  
Jan. 20 6 7 Bottlenose 1,000 Common   20 Risso's 13 Gray Whales (Including 2 northbound - first of the season)  
Jan. 19 3 32 Bottlenose 2,600 Common   25 Risso's 4 Gray Whales  
Jan. 18 2 5 Bottlenose 1,700 Common     5 Gray Whales  
Jan. 17 1   600 Common 20 Pacific White-Sided   3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 16 1   300 Common 6 Pacific White-Sided   3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 15 1 30 Bottlenose       1 Gray Whale  
Jan. 14 1     30 Pacific White-Sided   1 Gray Whale  
Jan. 13 2   120 Common     1 Fin Whale  
Jan. 12 2 150 Bottlenose 30 Common 35 Pacific White-Sided   4 Gray Whales (Including 1 Cow/Calf Pair)  
Jan. 11 1         1 Fin Whale  
Jan. 10 1           No Sightings
Jan. 9 1   200 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Jan. 8 1   150 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 7 1 12 Bottlenose 500 Common   40 Risso's    
Jan. 6 1   1,000 Common     4 Gray Whales Dolphin Stampede!
Jan. 5 3   2,300 Common   30 Risso's 7 Gray Whales Dolphin Stampede!
Jan. 4 2   1,150 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 3 2 7 Bottlenose 100 Common   20 Risso's 2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 2 2   1,000 Common     2 Gray Whales (Cow/Calf),
1 Fin Whale ("Farley")		  
Jan. 1, 2013 2 50 Bottlenose 500 Common     1 Fin Whale ("Farley"),
1 Gray Whale		  
Dec. 31 4 9 Bottlenose 550 Common     4 Fin Whales (Including "Farley")  
Dec. 30 2 62 Bottlenose 100 Common   240 Risso's 2 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales Mugged by "Farley"!
Dec. 29 3   200 Common     4 Fin Whale, 1 Gray Whale Mugged by "Farley"!
Dec. 28 6 15 Bottlenose 1,000 Common     4 Fin Whales, 3 Gray Whales Mugged by "Farley"!
Dec. 27 2   500 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Dec. 26 1   1,000 Common        
Dec. 25 0           Merry Christmas!
Dec. 24 2 41 Bottlenose 250 Common   10 Risso's 2 SB Gray Whales  
Dec. 23 1 50 Bottlenose     24 Risso's 1 SB Gray Whale  
Dec. 22 2 17 Bottlenose 450 Common   3 Risso's 2 SB Gray Whales  
Dec. 21 1   700 Common        
Dec. 20 1 15 Bottlenose 100 Common     1 SB Gray Whale  
Dec. 19 1   300 Common     1 SB Gray Whale  
Dec. 18 0            
Dec. 17 1   12 Common     3 SB Gray Whales 1 Brown Booby Seabird
Dec. 16 1   40 Common     2 Southbound Gray Whales  
Dec. 15 2 8 Bottlenose 1,000 Common   10 Risso's 1 Southbound Gray Whale Our 1st Gray of the Season!
Dec. 14 1 6 Bottlenose     20 Risso's    
Dec. 13 1 15 Bottlenose 1,000 Common     4 Fin Whales (including cow & calf)  
Dec. 12 1   50 Common     3 Fin Whales  
Dec. 11 1   256 Common     7 Fin Whales (Lunge Feeding)  
Dec. 10 1   200 Common 20 Risso's   8 Fin Whales (Lunge Feeding & Chasing/Fighting)  
Dec 9 1 50 Bottlenose       7 Fin Whales (Lunge Feeding)  
Dec. 8     75 Common     2 Fin Whales (Lunge Feeding), 2 Minke Whales  
Dec. 7 1   250 Common     2 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
Dec. 6 1   300 Common     3 Fin Whales  
Dec. 5 1         2 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
Dec. 4 1   500 Common        
Dec. 3 No Trips          
Dec. 2 1   50 Common       1 Mola Mola
Dec. 1 1   100 Common     2 Fin Whales (Lunge Feeding)  
Nov. 30 1 30 Bottlenose     5 Risso's    
Nov. 29 No Trips          
Nov. 28 1         1 Fin Whale, 1 Minke Whale 1 6-foot Mola Mola
Nov. 27 1 50 Bottlenose 100 Common     3 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale 2 Mola Mola
Nov. 26 1 50 Bottlenose 1,000 Common       1 Mola Mola
Nov. 25 1 25 Bottlenose     15 Risso's   1 Large Mola Mola
Nov. 24 2       15 Risso's    
Nov. 23 2 100 Bottlenose 150 Common   15 Risso's    
Nov. 22 Happy Thanksgiving!          
Nov. 21 2 80 Bottlenose     6 Risso's    
Nov. 20 1 10 Bottlenose 256 Common   15 Risso's   1 Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Nov. 19 1       25 Risso's    
Nov. 18 2 100 Bottlenose 200 Common   25 Risso's    
Nov. 17 1   1,000 Common        
Nov. 16 2   1,000 Common        
Nov. 15 No Trips          
Nov. 14 1   2,000 Common        
Nov. 13 4 70 Bottlenose 1,150 Common   36 Risso's    
Nov. 12 1 15 Bottlenose 400 Common        
Nov. 11 1 300 Bottlenose          
Nov. 10 1 No Sightings          
Nov. 9 Inclement Weather          
Nov. 8 2 85 Bottlenose 500 Common       Saw "Patches" the piebald bottlenose
Nov. 7 1   200 Common     1 Fin Whale  
Nov. 6 2 100 Bottlenose 550 Common     2 Fin Whales  
Nov. 5 1 5 Bottlenose 1,000 Common     1 Fin Whale  
Nov. 4 2 3 Bottlenose 2,000 Common   8 Risso's    
Nov. 3 1   200 Common        
Nov. 2 2 100 Bottlenose 250 Common        
Nov. 1 2 4 Bottlenose 1,010 Common        
Oct. 31 1   10 Common        
Oct. 30 1   250 Common        
Oct. 29 1   1,000 Common        
Oct. 28 1 50 Bottlenose 500 Common        
Oct. 27 1   12 Common        
Oct. 26 1   1,500 Common        
Oct. 25 1 5 Bottlenose 40 Common   20 Risso's    
Oct. 24 2 60 Bottelnose 200 Common        
Oct. 23 1 100 Bottlenose 4 Common        
Oct. 22 1   1,000 Common       1 Elephant Seal, 2 Mola Mola
Oct. 21 2   1,300 Common        
Oct. 20 3   900 Common        
Oct. 19 3   725 Common       6 Mola Mola
Oct. 18 1         1 Blue Whale, Breaching Repeatedly  
Oct. 17 2 30 Bottlenose 160 Common     1 Blue Whale, 1 Fin Whale, 1 Minke Whale  
Oct. 16 2 7 Bottlenose     45 Risso's    
Oct. 15 2 15 Bottlenose 1,100 Common 12 Pacific White-Sided     1 Mola Mola
Oct. 14 1   1,100 Common     1 Minke Whale  
Oct. 13 3 200 Bottlenose 1,400 Common        
Oct. 12 1   750 Common        
Oct. 11 Inclement Weather          
Oct. 10 2   90 Common       1 Mako Shark, 1 Mola Mola
Oct. 9 2 167 Bottenose 460 Common        
Oct. 8 2 12 Bottlenose 2,050 Common       2 Mola Mola
Oct. 7 3   1,000 Common     2 Minke Whales  
Oct. 6 3   1,300 Common       1 Very Large Mola Mola
Oct. 5 3   550 Common        
Oct. 4 1 24 Bottlenose          
Oct. 3 1 2 Bottlenose 8 Common        
Oct. 2 1 40 Bottlenose 2 Common        
Oct. 1, 2012 2 50 Bottlenose 400 Common       5 Mola Mola
Sept. 30 2 50 Bottlenose 1 Common   60 Risso's 1 Minke Whale  
Sept. 29 2   400 Common     2 Blue Whales 1 Elephant Seal
Sept. 28 2   300 Common     1 Blue Whale 5 Mola Mola
Sept. 27 1 25 Bottlenose 200 Common   15 Risso's 2 Blue Whales  
Sept. 26 2 100 Bottlenose 1,350 Common     1 Blue Whale  
Sept. 25 3 100 Bottlenose 1,400 Common       1 Great White Shark
Sept. 24 1   200 Common     1 Blue Whale  
Sept. 23 2   550 Common     1 Blue Whale 1 Striped Dolphin, 5 Mola Mola
Sept. 22 3   720 Common       1 Elephant Seal
Sept. 21 3 45 Bottlenose 300 Common        
Sept. 20 4 25 Bottlenose 250 Common        
Sept. 19 1   200 Common        
Sept. 18 2 25 Bottlenose 100 Common       2 Mola Mola, 1 Elephant Seal
Sept. 17 1   200 Common        
Sept. 16 3   500 Common        
Sept. 15 2 15 Bottlensoe 400 Common   6 Risso's    
Sept. 14 2 30 Bottlenose 400 Common        
Sept. 13 2 28 Bottlenose         6 Mola Mola
Sept. 12 2 50 Bottlenose 500 Common        
Sept. 11 2   250 Common        
Sept. 10 4 52 Bottlenose 1,200 Common        
Sept. 9 2 28 Bottlenose 500 Common   12 Risso's 2 Blue Whales  
Sept. 8 4   210 Common     4 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale 12 Mola Mola
Sept. 7 3 100 Bottlenose 230 Common   6 Risso's   2 Mola Mola, 1 Elephant Seal
Sept. 6 2 16 Bottlenose 400 Common   35 Risso's 3 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale  
Sept. 5 2 50 Bottlenose 125 Common     2 Blue Whales  
Sept. 4 2   172 Common   10 Risso's 7 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
Sept. 3 7 2 Bottlenose 400 Common     25 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale 6 Mola Mola
Sept. 2 8 24 Bottlenose 80 Common     37 Blue Whales 1 Hammerhead Shark
50th Day in a Row of Blue Whales!
Sept. 1, 2012 7 2 Bottlenose 200 Common     39 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 3 Minke Whales 1 Mola Mola
Aug. 31 4   60 Common     25 Blue Whales  
Aug. 30 3   450 Common     20 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales, 1 Mink Whale  
Aug. 29 4   237 Common     22 Blue Whales  
Aug. 28 4   164 Common     27 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale 1 Hammerhead Shark
Aug. 27 4 50 Bottlenose 62 Common     27 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 1 Humpback Whale, 1 Minke Whale  
Aug. 26 5   850 Common     37 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale 43rd Day In a Row Of Blue Whales!
Aug. 25 5 200 Bottlenose 1,150 Common     34 Blue Whales, 3 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale 14 Mola Mola
Aug. 24 3   300 Common     8 Blue Whales, 10 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola
Aug. 23 4 5 Bottlenose 25 Common   15 Risso's 24 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales 4 Mola Mola
Aug. 22 3   800 Common     14 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale  
Aug. 21 4 60 Bottlenose 350 Common     11 Blue Whales 1 Mola Mola
Aug. 20 3   150 Common     17 Blue Whales, 18 Fin Whales  
Aug. 19 6   280 Common     45 Blue Whales, 3 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale 1 Mola Mola
Aug. 18 6   536 Common     30 Blue Whales (Including Spike & Bubbles)
Aug. 17 5 12 Bottlenose 800 Common     9 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales 6 Mola Mola
Aug. 16 5   470 Common     8 Blue Whales 1 Elepahant Seal
Aug. 15 5 100 Bottlenose 890 Common     11 Blue Whales 1 Mola Mola
Aug. 14 6   1,800 Common     20 Blue Whales  
Aug. 13 5 7 Bottlenose 950 Common     3 Blue Whales 9 Mola Mola
Aug. 12 7   610 Common     12 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale 37 Mola Mola (Lots of baby Mola!)
Aug. 11 7 68 Bottlenose 805 Common   12 Risso's 8 Blue Whales, 3 Minke Whale 5 Mola Mola, 1 Harbor Seal
Aug. 10 5   750 Common     6 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale 2 Mola Mola
Aug. 9 6 100 Bottlenose 1,230 Common     8 Blue Whales 2 Mola Mola, 1 Elephant Seal
Aug. 8 5   950 Common     4 Blue Whales 2 Mola Mola
Aug. 7 4   375 Common     7 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale Mola Mola
Aug. 6 3 100 Bottlenose 100 Common   20 Risso's 5 Blue Whales 3 Mola Mola
Aug. 5 4 25 Bottlenose 300 Common     4 Blue Whales 3 Mola Mola
Aug. 4 7 60 Bottlenose 130 Common     10 Blue Whales 12 Mola Mola
Aug. 3 5   1,200 Common     10 Blue Whales  
August 2 3 6 Bottlenose 600 Common     1 Blue Whale  
Aug. 1, 2012 6 55 Bottlenose 500 Common     12 Blue Whales  
July 31 4 325 Bottlenose 200 Common     8 Blue Whales  
July 30 3 81 Bottlenose 450 Common     2 Blue Whales 2 Mola Mola
July 29 6 37 Bottlenose 1,375 Common     6 Blue Whales 5 Mola Mola
July 28 7 40 Bottlenose 195 Common     13 Blue Whales 17 Mola Mola
July 27 5   22 Common     17 Blue Whales 1 Mola Moa
July 26 5   207 Common     8 Blue Whales 1 Mola Mola
July 25 6   650 Common     12 Blue Whales 2 Mola Mola
July 24 6 25 Bottlenose 1,100 Common   15 Risso's 25 Blue Whales 1 Mola Mola
July 23 3   250 Common     9 Blue Whales  
July 22 4 30 Bottlenose 150 Common   20 Risso's 7 Blue Whales 2 Mola Mola
July 21 6 2 Bottlenose 440 Comon   30 Risso's 32 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales (Cow/Calf) 7 Mola Mola
July 20 5 50 Bottlenose 500 Common   10 Risso's 8 Blue whales, 1 Fin Whale, 1 Minke Whale Including "Notcho" the Blue Whale
July 19     345 Common     10 Blue Whales 9 Mola Mola
July 18 3   400 Common     7 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 2 Minke Whales  
July 17 3   110 Common Dolphins     22 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 6 Humpback Whales, 1 Minke whale 3 Mola Mola
July 16 3 80 Bottlenose 200 Common   20 Risso's 13 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale Including "Spike" & "Bubbles"
July 15 3   800 Common     8 Blue whales, 2 Fin Whales Including "Spike" & Bubbles"
July 14 5 42 Bottlenose 460 Common       1 Mola Mola
July 13 3 30 Bottlenose 500 Common     1 Fin Whale, 1 Minke Whale  
July 12 4 115 Bottlenose 3 Common     4 Blue Whales, 8 Fin Whales 1 Fin/Blue Hybrid Whale?
July 11 3   275 Common        
July 10 3   400 Common        
July 9 2   550 Common        
July 8 2 50 Bottlenose          
July 7 4 26 Bottlenose 6,700 Common   21 Risso's   1 Mola Mola
July 6 3   200 Common     4 Blue Whales (2 Cow/Calf Pairs)
July 5 4   760 Common        
July 4 4 6 Bottlenose 600 Common        
July 3 3 56 Bottlenose 2,250 Common        
July 2 2   50 Common       1 Mola Mola
July 1, 2012 3   3,750 Common     1 Minke Whale 2 Mola Mola
June 30 3   3,150 Common        
June 29 2 120 Bottlenose 700 Common        
June 28 4 56 Bottlenose 900 Common     2 Minke Whales  
June 27 2 40 Bottlenose 500 Common       3 Mola Mola, 1 Lion's Mane Jellyfish
June 26 3 50 Bottlenose 120 Common     3 Blue Whales, 3 Fin Whales 2 Mola Mola
June 25 3 90 Bottlenose 501 Common     1 Fin Whale, 1 minke Whale 5 Mola Mola
June 24 4 6 Bottlenose 1,900 Common       7 Mola Mola
June 23 3 70 Bottlenose 250 Commmon   27 Risso's    
June 22 3 40 Bottlenose 270 Common 12 Pacific White-Sided 30 Risso's    
June 21 4 100 Bottlenose 400 Common     5 Blue Whales, 3 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola
June 20 2 2 Bottlenose 300 Common   20 Risso's 8 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola
June 19 3 20 Bottlenose 1,000 Common   5 Risso's 2 Blue Whales, 4 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale 1 Mola Mola
June 18 2 50 Bottlenose 1,500 Common   15 Risso's 3 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
June 17 4 36 Bottlenose 150 Common   87 Risso's    
June 16 4 20 Bottlenose 325 Common   30 Risso's 3 Blue Whales  
June 15 3   600 Common   170 Risso's    
June 14 2   400 Common     2 Minke Whales  
June 13 1   500 Common        
June 12 2   1,000 Common        
June 11 1   200 Common        
June 10 2 50 Bottlenose 100 Common   33 Risso's   4 Mola Mola
June 9 4 100 Bottlenose 1,020 Common   120 Risso's    
June 8 2   300 Common       1 Mola Mola
June 7 3 50 Bottlenose 1,000 Common        
June 6 2 40 Bottlenose 225 Common     3 Blue Whales, 6 Minke Whales 1st Blue Whales of 2012!
June 5 2   800 Common     4 minke Whales 1 Mola Mola
June 4 2   300 Common     1 Fin Whale, 5 Minke Whales  
June 3 3   150 Common       1 Mola Mola
June 2 4   950 Common     1 Minke Whale  
June 1, 2012 2   300 Common     2 Minke Whales  
May 31 2   1,150 Common     3 Fin Whales, 3 Mnike Whales 3 Mola Mola
May 30 1   600 Common     2 Minke Whales 1 Mola Mola
May 29 1   250 Common       1 Mola Mola
May 28 2 25 Bottlenose 600 Common       1 Elephant Seal, 1 Mola Mola
May 27 4 2 Bottlenose 700 Common     1 Minke Whale  
May 26 3   1,050 Common     1 Minke Whale  
May 25 2 12 Bottlenose 2,000 Common       1 Mola mola
May 24 1   300 Common        
May 23 1 12 Bottlenose 150 Common     2 Gray Whales  
May 22 2   20 Common   15 Risso's    
May 21 1 5 Bottlenose 150 Common        
May 20 3   625 Common     6 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
May 19 3 6 Bottlenose 850 Common     1 Minke Whale  
May 18 2 1 Bottlenose 300 Common     2 Gray Whales  
May 17 3 85 Bottlenose 1,000 Common       4 Mola Mola
May 16 1   300 Common     1 Humpback Whale  
May 15 2 20 Bottlenose 1,000 Common   42 Risso's 1 Minke Whale 1 Mola Mola
May 14 1 No Sightings          
May 13 4 5 Bottlenose 500 Common     2 Humpback Whales  
May 12 3   730 Common     6 Gray Whales  
May 11 2 11 Bottlenose 400 Common     3 Gray Whales  
May 10 1         3 Gray Whales  
May 9 1 15 Bottlenose 50 Common     2 Gray Whales  
May 8 3 10 Bottlenose 1,650 Common     1 Humpback Whale  
May 7 1   1,000 Common     2 Gray Whales  
May 6 2   24 Common     2 Gray Whales  
May 5 4 30 Bottlenose 1,300 Common     5 Gray Whales 1 Basking Shark,
1 Elephant Seal,
2 Mola Mola
May 4 2   420 Common     2 Gray Whales (Cow/Calf) 1 Mola Mola
May 3              
May 2 1   50 Common     2 Gray Whales  
May 1, 2012 1 5 Bottlenose       2 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
April 30 3 9 Bottlenose 390 Common     4 Gray whales  
April 29 5   116 Common     14 Gray Whales  
April 28 6 6 Bottlenose 2,900 Common     21 Gray Whales 4 Mola Mola
April 27 3   2,000 Common     4 Gray Whales (Cow/Calf Pairs)  
April 26 1 5 Bottlenose 200 Common        
April 25 2 10 Bottlenose 20 Common     7 Gray Whales  
April 24 3   230 Common     1 Fin Whales, 7 Gray Whales 1 Mola Mola
April 23 1   1,500 Common     1 Gray Whale  
April 22 2 100 Bottlenose     20 Risso's 2 Fin Whales, 4 Gray Whales  
April 21 3 3 Bottlenose 825 Common     10 Gray Whales  
April 20 2   50 Common     9 Gray Whales  
April 19 3   1,150 Common     3 Fin Whales, 7 Gray Whales  
April 18 4   1,600 Common     12 Gray Whales  
April 17 3 4 Bottlenose 1,100 Common     2 Fin Whales, 4 Gray Whales 1 Gray, later named "June", was entangled in fishing line
April 16 2 25 Bottlenose 200 Common     3 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
April 15 2 25 Bottlenose 200 Common     2 Fin Whales, 5 Gray Whales  
April 14 Inclement Weather          
April 13 Inclement Weather          
April 12 2   250 Common     5 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale  
April 11 1   50 Common        
April 10 4 10 Bottlenose 75 Common     7 Fin Whales 1 Mola Mola
April 9 3   100 Common 16 Pacific White-Sided      
April 8 Happy Easter!          
April 7 4   550 Common     1 Gray Whale  
April 6 4   950 Common     11 Gray Whales  
April 5 3   600 Common     4 Gray Whales  
April 4 3   300 Common     3 Fin Whales  
April 3 4 100 Bottlenose 130 Common     1 Humpback Whale, 5 Gray Whales  
April 2 3   112 Common     1 Fin Whale, 3 Gray Whales  
April 1, 2012 5 6 Bottlenose       9 Fin Whales, 1 Gray Whale  
March 31 2   100 Common       1 Mola Mola
March 30 4   650 Common     2 Fin Whales, 4 Gray Whales  
March 29 2   400 Common     3 Gray Whales  
March 28 2 25 Bottlenose       4 Gray Whales  
March 27 2   50 Common     1 Fin Whale, 1 Gray Whale  
March 26 2 2 Bottlenose 12 Common     6 Gray Whales  
March 25 2   100 Common     6 Gray Whales  
March 24 3   1,050 Common     2 Gray Whales "Bart" successfully disentangled.
March 23 3 40 Bottlenose   20 Pacific White-Sided   3 Gray Whales 1 Gray, later named "Bart", found entangled in fishing line.
March 22 2   350 Common     1 Gray Whale  
March 21 2   900 Common     2 Gray Whales  
March 20 2 25 Bottlenose 530 Common     8 Gray Whales  
March 19 2   1,300 Common     4 Gray Whales  
March 18 Inclement Weather          
March 17 1   20 Common        
March 16 3   520 Common     5 Gray Whales  
March 15 5   1,185 Common     1 Fin Whales, 9 Gray Whales  
March 14 2 25 Bottlenose 500 Common     2 Gray Whales  
March 13 3 25 Bottlenose 720 Common     2 Gray Whales  
March 12 4 56 Bottlenose 475 Common 50 Pacific White-Sided   2 Gray Whales  
March 11 5   295 Common     7 Gray Whales  
March 10 7   1,462 Common     1 Gray Whale  
March 9 3 51 Bottlenose 1,800 Common     1 Gray Whale  
March 8 3   950 Common     3 Gray Whlaes  
March 7 2   150 Common     5 Gray Whales  
March 6 1   500 Common     2 Gray Whales  
March 5 2 40 Bottlenose       1 Gray Whale  
March 4 5 22 Bottlenose 450 Common     4 Gray Whales  
March 3 5 240 Bottlenose 850 Common     4 Humpback Whales  
March 2 2   250 Common     5 Gray Whales  
Mar. 1, 2012 3 60 Bottlenose       1 Fin Whale, 2 Gray Whales 5 Mola Mola
Feb. 29 1 6 Bottlenose       1 Gray whale  
Feb. 28 3 2 Bottlenose 200 Common     5 Gray Whales  
Feb. 27 Inclement Weather          
Feb. 26 2   200 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 25 4   150 Common     5 Gray Whales, 1 Fin Whale 1 Mola Moa
Feb. 24 3   100 Common     4 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 23 3 21 Bottlenose 600 Common     5 Gray Whales, 3 Fin Whales  
Feb. 22 3 100 Bottlenose 1,400 Common     2 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 21 3 15 Bottlenose 1,200 Common     2 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 20 4   420 Common     3 Fin Whales  
Feb. 19 3   550 Common     3 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 18 4 425 Bottlenose       5 Gray Whales, 1 Fin Whale  
Feb. 17 2   400 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 16 2 62 Bottlenose 150 Common     2 Gray Whales, 1 Fin Whale  
Feb. 15 Inclement Weather          
Feb. 14 2 75 Bottlenose 1,200 Common     1 Fin Whale, 1 Humpback Whale, 1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 13 1   200 Common        
Feb. 12 3 50 Bottlenose 100 Common 15 Pacific White-Sided   2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 11 4 75 Bottlenose 800 Common     2 Humpback Whales, 2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 10 2 75 Bottlenose 300 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 9 1   200 Common 20 Pacific White-Sided   1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 8 3 15 Bottlenose 225 Common     5 Gray Whales  
Feb. 7 2   50 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Feb. 6 1 12 Bottlenose       5 Gray Whales  
Feb. 5 2 150 Bottlenose 200 Common     3 Gray Whales  
Feb. 4 2 25 Bottlenose   35 Pacific White-Sided   1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 3 1   100 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Feb. 2 1   50 Common     6 Gray Whales  
Feb. 1, 2012 2 25 Bottlenose 200 Common     3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 31 2 125 Bottlenose 500 Common     4 Gray Whales  
Jan. 30 2 15 Bottlenose 500 Common   1 Risso    
Jan. 29 4 127 Bottlenose 790 Common   48 Risso's 2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 28 3 100 Bottlenose 12 Common   5 Risso's 6 Gray Whales  
Jan. 27 2 60 Bottlenose 300 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Jan. 26 2 75 Bottlenose 200 Common   50 Risso's    
Jan. 25 1   300 Common     3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 24 1     12 Pacific White-Sided   2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 23 Inclement Weather          
Jan. 22 1   300 Common        
Jan. 21 2   300 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 20 1 10 Bottlenose       2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 19 1         40 Orca Whales  
Jan. 18 1 20 Bottlenose 50 Common     1 Gray Whale  
Jan. 17 2 10 Bottlenose 250 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 16 2   400 Common     7 Gray Whales 5 Mola Mola
Jan. 15 3   500 Common     4 Gray Whales  
Jan. 14 4 370 Bottlenose 300 Common   50 Risso's 3 Gray Whales, 2 Fin Whales  
Jan. 13 2 45 Bottlenose 1,300 Common     4 Gray Whales  
Jan. 12 2 75 Bottlenose 12 Common 25 Pacific White-Sided   3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 11 2 15 Bottlenose 75 Common   15 Risso's 8 Gray Whales  
Jan. 10 1   750 Common   20 Risso's 2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 9 2 150 Bottlenose 536 Common   12 Risso's 4 Gray Whales  
Jan. 8 3 25 Bottlenose 1,500 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 7 2 80 Bottlenose 1,100 Common   15 Risso's 2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 6 2 30 Bottlenose 300 Common   3 Risso's 2 Gray Whales Saw "Patches" the piebald bottlenose
Jan. 5 2 26 Bottlenose     10 Risso's 5 Gray Whales  
Jan. 4 2   2,000 Common     2 Gray Whales  
Jan. 3 2 25 Bottlenose 50 Common   15 Risso's 7 Orca Whales, 5 Gray Whales  
Jan. 2 3 20 Bottlenose 250 Common 95 Pacific White-Sided   3 Gray Whales  
Jan. 1, 2012 3 32 Bottlenose 1,500 Common 40 Pacific White-Sided 20 Risso's 2 Gray Whales  
   

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Note: All sightings on the pages listed above and elsewhere on this site are copyright protected and may not be used without written permission from David Anderson. 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.

Whether you are new to Orange County whale watching, or have already experienced the best whale watching in Dana Point already, we welcome you to experience all that Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari has to offer. We see Blue Whales May through October, Gray Whales between December and May, Fin Whales and Minke Whales year round, as well as Killer Whales (Orca), Humpback Whales and other whales throughout the year. We see more wild dolphins off Orange County than anywhere in the world! We see five species of wild dolphins off Laguna Beach, San Clemente and Dana Point, sometime in megapods as large as 10,000, all year round. Southern California hosts the greatest population of blue whales on earth. Blue whales are the largest known animal to have ever lived. Blue whales were almost hunted to extinction but are now protected worldwide by international law.

Visit Capt Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari for:
Southern California Whale Watching | Orange County Whale Watching Trips | School Groups Field Trip | Dana Point Area Activities | Gray Whale Cruises
Gray Whale Excursions | Los Angeles and Long Beach Coastal Tour | Youth Educational Marine Experience | Whale Watching Sighitngs

Visit Dana Point for Southern California Whale Watching and Orange County Whale Watching. We offer trips for School Groups, Field Trips to the Dana Point Area and Corporate Activities.