Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Sightings

For reservations and information about our daily, year-round, dolphin and whale watching trips call (949) 488-2828

For more whale watching sightings logs, click on the year you’d like to see:
Current Whale Watching Sightings
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

2011 Whale Watching Sightings

Date	# of Trips	Bottlenose Dolphin	Common Dolphin	Pacific White-sided Dolphin	Risso’s Dolphin	Whales	Other
Dec. 31	4		1,000 Common		65 Risso’s	7 Gray Whales	1 Blue Shark
Dec. 30	5	74 Bottlenose	3,200 Common			2 Gray Whales
Dec. 29	5	28 Bottlenose	2,525 Common			5 Gray Whales
Dec. 28	4		7,000 Common			2 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales
Dec. 27	4	92 Bottlenose	300 Common	12 Pacific White-Sided	57 Risso’s	7 Gray Whales
Dec. 26	2	13 Bottlenose	706 Common		20 Risso’s	1 Gray Whale
Dec. 25	Merry Christmas!
Dec. 24	2	10 Bottlenose	300 Common			1 Gray Whale
Dec. 23	3	62 Bottlenose	762 Common	50 Pacific White-Sided	27 Risso’s	11 Gray Whales
Dec. 22	1	10 Bottlenose	300 Common			2 Gray Whales
Dec. 21	2		200 Common			1 Fin Whale
Dec. 20	1					1 Gray Whale
Dec. 18	1		1,000 Common			1 Gray Whale
Dec. 17	1		600 Common
Dec. 16	1		300 Common			1 Gray Whale
Dec. 15	1		500 Common
Dec. 14	1		500 Common
Dec. 13	1		750 Common			2 Gray Whales
Dec. 11	1		200 Common
Dec. 10	1	1 Bottlenose	500 Common
Dec. 9	1		360 Common
Dec. 8	1	50 Bottlenose	300 Common
Dec. 7	1	25 Bottlenose	200 Common
Dec. 6	1	3 Bottlenose	750 Common		100 Risso’s
Dec. 5	0
Dec. 4	1	12 Bottlenose	500 Common
Dec. 3	1		1,000 Common
Dec. 2	1		300 Common		40 Risso’s
Dec. 1	1		500 Common		12 Risso’s
Nov. 30	1	10 Bottlenose			20 Risso’s
Nov. 29	1		500 Common		15 Risso’s
Nov. 28	1				15 Risso’s	1 Fin Whale, 1 Minke Whale	2 Mola Mola
Nov. 27	3	35 Bottlenose	700 Common		35 Risso’s	2 Fin Whales
Nov. 26	3		700 Common			1 Gray Whale	Our 1st Gray of the season!
Nov. 25	3		1,800 Common			3 Fin Whales
Nov. 24	Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov. 23		50 Bottlenose	1,500 Common			3 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale
Nov. 22	2	25 Bottlenose	1,008 Common		10 Risso’s
Nov. 21	1	75 Bottlenose
Nov. 20	1				12 Risso’s
Nov. 19	2	80 Bottlenose				4 Fin Whales
Nov. 18	2	50 Bottlenose	500 Common		12 Risso’s
Nov. 17	1				40 Risso’s	2 Sei Whales
Nov. 16	2	100 Bottlenose
Nov. 15	2	18 Bottlenose			30 Risso’s
Nov. 14	1		1,000 Common
Nov. 13	2	21 Bottlenose	1,100 Common
Nov. 12	2	3 Bottlenose	700 Common		10 Risso’s
Nov. 11	2	200 Bottlenose			7 Risso’s	2 Blue Whales	8 Mola Mola
Nov. 10	2	50 Bottlenose	500 Common		10 Risso’s	3 Sei Whales
Nov. 9	2		2,000 Common			1 Fin Whale
Nov. 8	1		1,000 Common			1 Blue Whale, 1 Fin Whale
Nov. 7	2	200 Bottlenose	1,100 Common		15 Risso’s
Nov. 6	2		1,000 Common			3 Fin Whales
Nov. 5	2		2,000 Common		36 Risso’s	2 Fin Whales
Nov. 4	Inclement Weather
Nov. 3	2	10 Bottlenose	2,000 Common			9 Fin Whales, 1 Humpback Whale
Nov. 2	1	50 Bottlenose				13 Fin Whales, 1 Blue Whale, 1 Humpback Whale, 1 Minke Whale
Nov. 1	3		900 Common			16 Fin Whales, 4 Humpback Whales, 1 Minke Whale
October 31	2	12 Bottlenose				2 Fin Whales
October 30	3	20 Bottlenose	300 Common			7 Fin Whales, 2 Humpback Whales, 1 Minke Whales
October 29	3		1,400 Common			20 Fin Whales, 2 Minke Whales, 1 Blue Whale, 2 Humpback Whales
October 28	3	100 Bottlenose	500 Common		20 Risso’s	4 Fin Whales, 1 Humpback Whale	Saw “Patches” the piebald bottlenose
October 27			640 Common			18 Fin Whales, 2 Blue Whales, 2 Minke Whales
October 26	2					29 Fin Whales, 6 Blue Whales
October 25	2		100 Common			5 Blue Whales, 1 Humpback Whale, 1 Fin Whale
October 24	1	6 Bottlenose				15 Fin Whales, 12 Blue Whales, 8 Humpback Whales
October 23	2	2 Bottlenose	90 Common			40 Blue Whales, 18 Fin Whales
October 22	5	66 Bottlenose	50 Common			3 Blue Whales
October 21	2	70 Bottlenose	20 Common			10 Blue Whales
October 20	2		3,000 Common			1 Fin Whale, 1 Minke Whale
October 19	2	160 Bottlenose	500 Common	20 Pacific White-Sided	45 Risso’s
October 18	2	100 Bottlenose	50 Copmmon			1 Fin Whale	60 Mola Mola
October 17	2	80 Bottlenose					5 Moal Mola
October 16	2	8 Bottlenose	700 Common			1 Humpback Whale
October 15	3	180 Bottlenose	1,700 Common		20 Risso’s
October 14	2	100 Bottlenose			20 Risso’s
October 13	1	15 Bottlenose	250 Common		10 Risso’s	8 Blue Whales
October 12	2	106 Bottlenose	100 Common		8 Risso’s	2 Blue Whales
October 11	2	50 Bottlenose				3 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale
October 10	2		4 Common			8 Blue Whales
October 9	3	2 Bottlenose	37 Common		12 Risso’s	30 Blue Whales, 8 Fin Whales
October 8	3	12 Bottlenose	60 Common			60 Blue Whales, 30 Fin Whales	More whales than we could count!
October 7	2					50 Blue Whales, 16 Fin Whales	More whales than we could count!
October 6	1	6 Bottlenose				13 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales
October 5	INCLEMENT WEATHER
October 4	1		100 Common			7 Blue Whales
October 3	2		400 Common
October 2	2		700 Common			1 Minke Whale	4 Mola Mola
October 1	2		200 Common			1 Blue Whale
Sept. 30	2		200 Common
Sept. 29	1		600 Common			1 Blue Whale
Sept. 28	2	50 Bottlenose	150 Common			2 Blue Whales
Sept. 27	3	50 Bottlenose	540 Common		10 Risso’s	1 Blue Whale, 1 Minke Whale	1 Mola Mola
Sept. 26	1		200 Common			1 Blue Whale
Sept. 25	3		600 Common			3 Blue Whales
Sept. 24	3	44 Bottlenose	525 Common			3 Blue Whales
Sept. 23	2		700 Common			2 Blue Whales	1 Humboldt Squid
Sept. 22	3	45 Bottlenose	700 Common
Sept. 21	2		900 Common			6 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale
Sept. 20	3		900 Common			19 Blue Whales
Sept. 19	1		25 Common			14 Blue Whales
Sept. 18	2	20 Bottlenose	200 Common			7 Orca Whales, 13 Blue Whales,2 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale
Sept. 17	3	20 Bottlenose	500 Common			12 Blue Whales
Sept. 16	2		450 Common			5 Blue Whales
Sept. 15	2		800 Common		20 Risso’s	5 Blue Whales
Sept. 14	1		350 Common			1 Blue Whale
Sept. 13	2		550 Common			6 Blue Whales	1 Mola Mola
Sept. 12	1		100 Common
Sept. 11	2	40 Bottlenose	400 Common		35 Risso’s	1 Blue Whale
Sept. 10	2	50 Bottlenose				4 Blue Whales
Sept. 9	2	40 Bottlenose	80 Common
Sept. 8	2		500 Common			2 Blue Whales	2 Mola Mola
Sept. 7	2		300 Common			3 Blue Whales	6 Mola Mola
Sept. 6	2		420 Common			4 Blue Whales
Sept. 5	2					2 Blue Whales
Sept. 4	4		280 Common			9 Blue Whales
Sept. 3	3		42 Common			5 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale
Sept. 2	2		300 Common			4 Blue Whales
Sept. 1	2		100 Common			2 Blue Whales	1 Mola Mola
August 31			200 Common			7 Blue Whales
August 30			200 Common			8 Blue Whales
August 29			275 Common			8 Blue Whales	3 Mola Mola
August 28			180 Common			12 Blue Whales
August 27			380 Common			7 Blue Whales
August 26			770 Common			11 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales	1 Mola Mola
August 25		20 Bottlenose	50 Common			11 Blue Whales
August 24			137 Common			4 Blue Whales	3 Mola Mola
August 23			650 Common			8 Blue Whales
August 22			95 Common			6 Blue Whales
August 21		25 Bottlenose	281 Common		12 Risso’s	1 Blue Whale
August 20			1,260 Common			4 Blue Whales, 3 Minke Whales	1 Mola Mola
August 19		2 Bottlenose	600 Common			22 Blues Whales	3 Mola Mola
August 18		22 Bottlenose	450 Common			9 Blue Whales	8 Mola Mola
August 17		20 Bottlenose	650 Common			11 Blue Whales
August 16		70 Bottlenose	375 Common			6 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale	3 Mola Mola
August 15			850 Common		50 Risso’s	13 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whales
August 14			753 Common			27 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale
August 13		13 Bottlenose	350 Common			26 Blue Whales
August 12		1 Bottlenose	1,475 Common			10 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale	1 Mola Mola
August 11		25 Bottlenose	3,050 Common			5 Blue Whales
August 10		3 Bottlenose	525 Common			7 Blue Whales
August 9		20 Bottlenose	600 Common			8 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale
August 8			175 Common			2 Blue Whales
August 7			925 Common			12 Blue Whales
August 6			500 Common			9 Blue Whales	1 Mola Mola
August 5		35 Bottlenose	725 Common
August 4		135 Bottlenose	330 Common		15 Risso’s
August 3			350 Common			8 Blue Whales	1 Mola Mola
August 2		162 Bottlenose	100 Common			7 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales
August 1			50 Common			19 Blue Whales, 3 Fin Whales, 1 Humpback Whale
July 31			110 Common			9 Blue Whales
July 30			200 Common			47 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales
July 29			190 Common			15 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale	1 Mola Mola
July 28			1,050 Common			16 Blue Whales	1 Mako Shark
July 27			225 Common			15 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales	1 Mola Mola
July 26			200 Common			7 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whales
July 25			550 Common			3 Blue Whales
July 24			850 Common			1 Minke Whale
July 23			1,230 Common		30 Risso’s	8 Blue Whales
July 22			1,000 Common			2 Blue Whales	1 Mola Mola
July 21			1,000 Common			1 Blue Whale, 1 Minke Whale	2 Mola Mola
July 20			550 Common			2 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale
July 19		6 Bottlenose	200 Common			6 Blue Whales
July 18		100 Bottlenose	210 Common			2 Blue Whales
July 17			600 Common			12 Blue Whales
July 16		30 Bottlenose	320 common			9 Blue Whales	3 Mola Mola
July 15			400 Common			6 Blue Whales
July 14			700 Common			4 Blue Whales
July 13		50 Bottlenose	500 Common			3 Fin Whales, 2 Blue Whales
July 12		75 Bottlenose	200 Common			1 Blue Whale
July 11			175 Common			7 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale
July 10		2 Bottlenose	125 Common			19 Blue Whales, 4 Fin Whales
July 9			1,800 Common			13 Blue Whales, 1 Minke Whale
July 8			2,020 Common			1 Fin Whale, 1 Minke Whale
July 7		145 Bottlenose
July 6		1,950 Common				1 Blue Whale
July 5		750 Common				1 Blue Whale, 1 Fin Whale
July 4		1,300 Common				1 Blue Whale, 1 Fin Whale
July 3		24 Bottlenose	1,050 Common			2 Blue Whales
July 2		100 Bottlenose	2,000 Common			10 Blue Whales
July 1			1,300 Common			1 Blue Whale
June 30			1,300 Common
June 29		60 Bottlenose			20 Risso’s	2 Blue Whales, 2 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale
June 28		6 Bottlenose				1 Blue Whale
June 27		40 Bottlenose	450 Common			1 Blue Whale	3 Mola Mola
June 26		50 Bottlenose	400 Common				1 Mola Mola
June 25		105 Bottlenose	2,100 Common		12 Risso’s
June 24		165 Bottlenose	1,400 Common		55 Risso’s
June 23		50 Bottlenose	300 Common		50 Risso’s
June 22			1,120 Common			1 Fin Whale	5 Mola Mola
June 21		15 Bottlenose	1,200 Common		30 Risso’s	2 Minke Whales
June 20		20 Bottlenose	2,000 Common		20 Risso’s
June 19		56 Bottlenose	650 Common		6 Risso’s
June 18		10 Bottlenose	40 Common
June 17			2,650 Common
June 16			2,300 Common
June 15			1,500 Common			1 Blue Whale
June 14			6,000 Common
June 13			1,012 Common			9 Blue Whales
June 12			2,500 Common			2 Blue Whales	1 Mola Mola
June 11			1,900 Common			1 Blue Whale
June 10		50 Bottlenose	500 Common		20 Risso’s	2 Blue Whales
June 9		50 Bottlenose	1,200 Common			5 Blue Whales
June 8			800 Common
June 7		30 Bottlenose	1,200 Common
June 6			500 Common			2 Blue Whales
June 5			2,400 Common			2 Blue Whales
June 4			1,300 Common			3 Blue Whales
June 3		No Sightings
June 2			1,000 Common
June 1		8 Bottlenose	100 Common
May 31		No Trips
May 30			200 Common			5 Blue Whales
May 29		No Sightings
May 28		2 Bottlenose	1,000 Common			1 Blue Whale
May 27			1,300 Common			1 Fin Whale
May 26			1,000 Common				1 Mola Mola
May 25			800 Common
May 24		20 Bottlenose	20 Common
May 23		18 Bottlenose	2,000 Common		30 Risso’s
May 22		16 Bottlenose			30 Risso’s		1 Mola Mola
May 21			450 Common
May 20			300 Common
May 19		50 Bottlenose			50 Risso’s
May 18
May 17			100 Common
May 16			500 Common		12 Risso’s
May 15			106 Common
May 14			1,000 Common			1 Blue Whale
May 13			2,500 Common			2 Blue Whales
May 12			150 Common			2 Blue Whales
May 11			700 Common			3 Blue Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 1 Sei Whale, 1 Humpback Whale
May 10		2 Bottlenose	500 Common			2 Gray Whales
May 9		No Trip
May 8			1,500 Common			2 Humpback Whales
May 7			200 Common			2 Gray Whales
May 6		30 Bottlenose	500 Common			2 Gray Whales (Mother & Calf)
May 5			1,500 Common			1 Gray Whale
May 4		12 Bottlenose	1,150 Common		60 Risso’s
May 3			1,100 Common
May 2			1,850 Common
May 1			1,800 Common			6 Gray Whales
April 30			2,460 Common
April 29						6 Gray Whales (Mother & Calf Pairs)
April 28			200 Common
April 27		6 Bottlenose	210 Common			2 Gray Whales (Mother & CalF)
April 26			200 Common
April 25			200 Common			2 Gray Whales (Mother & Calf), 1 Blue Whale
April 24		Happy Easter!
April 23			1,400 Common			4 Gray Whales, 2 Blue Whales
April 22			700 Common			5 Gray Whales
April 21		12 Bottlenose	490 Common			17 Gray Whales
April 20			150 Common
April 19			1,200 Common			1 Gray Whale,1 Minke Whale
April 18		25 Bottlenose	100 Common			2 Gray Whales
April 17			300 Common			4 Gray Whales
April 16		8 Bottlenose	300 Common
April 15		6 Bottlenose	950 Common				1 Mola Mola
April 14			100 Common			1 Gray WHale
April 13			200 Common			1 Humpback Whale, 1 Gray Whale
April 12			550 Common			3 Gray Whales
April 11		12 Bottlenose	1,600 Common			2 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales
April 10			1,350 Common			4 Gray Whales
April 9			700 Common			1 Gray Whale
April 8			400 Common
April 7		2 Bottlenose				1 Gray Whale
April 6			200 Common
April 5			520 Common
April 4			560 Common			2 Gray Whales, 1 Humpback Whale
April 3			1,000 Common			4 Gray Whales
April 2			400 Common
April 1			800 Common			2 Gray Whales
March 31			1,700 Common			5 Gray Whales
March 30			450 Common			1 Gray Whale
March 29			50 Common
March 28						4 Gray Whales
March 27		40 Bottlenose	12 Common			5 Gray Whales
March 26			600 Common	50 Pacific White-Sided		8 Gray Whales
March 25			600 Common			1 Gray Whale
March 24		50 Bottlenose	300 Common			3 Gray Whales
March 23			200 Common
March 22			500 Common			3 Gray Whales
March 21			100 Common			4 GRAY WHALES
March 20			100 Common
March 19			500 Common			3 Gray Whales
March 18		6 Bottlenose	400 Common
March 17		10 Bottlenose	100 Common			2 Gray Whales
March 16		12 Bottlenose	430 Common
March 15		25 Bottlenose	140 Common
March 14			900 Common			3 Gray Whales
March 13		2 Bottlenose	2,000 Common			2 Gray Whales
March 12			950 Common	12 Pacific White-Sided		3 Gray Whales
March 11			400 Common
March 10			200 Common	20 Pacific White-Sided
March 9			200 Common
March 8		6 Bottlenose				2 Gray Whales
March 7		No Trip
March 6			700 Common
March 5		50 Bottlenose	450 Common	12 Pacific White-Sided	12 Risso’s	5 Gray whales
March 4			800 Common	80 Pacific White-Sided
March 3			130 Common
March 2			750 Common
March 1			100 Common	10 Pacific White-Sided
February 28			1,100 Common			2 Gray whales	1 Rare Striped Dolphin
February 27		50 Bottlenose		25 Pacific White-Sided
February 26			2,000 Common
February 25			50 Common			1 Gray Whale
February 24			400 Common	20 Pacific White-Sided		1 Gray Whale
February 23			150 Common	20 Pacific White-Sided		4 Gray Whales
February 22			650 Common			4 Gray Whales
February 21			900 Common
February 20			800 Common			3 Gray Whales
February 19						1 Gray Whale
February 18	Inclement Weather
February 17			300 Common
February 16	Inclement Weather
February 15			300 Common
February 14			1,700 Common			3 Gray Whales	Casper the Albino Dolphin
February 13			800 Common			3 Gray Whales
February 12			2,400 Common			8 Gray Whales
February 11		25 Bottlenose	400 Common			5 Gray Whales
February 10						2 Gray Whales
February 9			1,000 Common
February 8		No Trip
February 7			500 Common			1 Gray Whale
February 6			200 Common
February 5		10 Bottlenose	600 Common	20 Pacific White-Sided
February 4				40 Pacific White-Sided
February 3		24 Bottlenose			18 Risso’s
February 2						2 Gray Whales
February 1			1,000 Common			2 Gray Whales
January 31			300 Common			5 Gray Whales
January 30		2 Bottlenose	500 Common			1 Gray Whale
January 29		200 Bottlenose	2,200 Common			4 Gray Whales
January 28		200 Bottlenose	200 Common		20 Risso’s
January 27		50 Bottlenose				1 Gray Whale
January 26		No Trip
January 25				12 Pacific White-Sided		1 Gray Whale w/ Calf
January 24			500 Common
January 23			65 Common			2 Gray Whales
January 22			1,100 Common		28 Risso’s	5 Gray Whales
January 21			600 Common			1 Gray Whale w/ Calf
January 20		50 Bottlnose	1,000 Common			2 Gray Whales
January 19		No Sightings
January 18			250 Common
January 17			6,050 Common			1 Gray Whale w/Calf	1 Blue Shark
January 16		11 Bottlenose			32 Risso’s
January 15		9 Bottlenose				1 Gray Whale
January 14			2,050 Common		20 Risso’s	3 Gray Whales
January 13		50 Bottlenose				2 Gray Whales
January 12			400 Common
January 11		22 Bottlenose				1 Gray Whale
January 10		8 Bottlenose	250 Common
January 9					15 Risso’s	2 Gray Whales
January 8		12 Bottlenose	1,400 Common			4 Gray Whales
January 7			5,000 Common			2 Gray Whales
January 6		12 Bottlenose				1 Gray Whale
January 5			3,000 Common
January 4		6 Bottlenose	1,000 Common
January 3		No Trip
January 2						1 Gray Whale
Jan. 1, 2011		6 Bottlenose			12 Risso’s	3 Gray Whales

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 Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari offers. We see Blue Whales all summer, Gray Whales between December and May, Fin Whales and Minke whales year round, as well as Killer Whales (Orca), Sperm whales and other whales throughout the year. We see more wild dolphins off Orange County than anywhere in the world! We see herds of wild dolphin off Laguna Beach, San Clemente and Dana Point as large as 10,000 all year round.

Whale Watching Sightings Log 2011

Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Sightings

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