Captain's Log

A pod of dolphins This whale report documents the activities and successful sightings of whales, dolphins and sea lions on Hornblower Cruises & Events Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruises in partnership with the San Diego Natural History Museum.

See more information at
www.sandiegowhalewatching.com

Dates	AM Cruise Sightings	PM Cruise Sightings	Dolphins & Other Wild Life
3/24/08	No Whales Sighted	2 Gray Whales Great whale sightings! Saw two good blows and stayed with one big whale northbound for over an hour with tail flukes and very good viewing.	AM: About 20 Common Dolphins.
3/23/08	1 Finback Whale	2 Gray Whales	AM: Risso's and Common dolphins.
3/22/08	1 Gray Whale	3 Gray Whales	AM: 200-300 Common Dolphins. PM: 2,000+ common Dolphins.
3/21/08	No Whales Sighted	3 Gray Whales Went out about 10 miles and found three beautiful mature northbound whales. Guests all had a great look at these beauties.	AM: 50 or so Common Dolphins. PM: 12 Bottlenose Dolphins.
3/19/08	2 Gray Whales	No Whales Sighted	AM: Over 2000 common dolphins. It was a thrill of a lifetime! PM: Hundreds of dolphins
3/18/08	No Report	2 Gray Whales
3/16/08	Trip Cancelled Due to Weather	Trip Cancelled Due to Weather
3/15/08	Trip Cancelled Due to Weather	Trip Cancelled Due to Weather
3/14/08	Trip Cancelled Due to Weather	Trip Cancelled Due to Weather
3/13/08	2 Gray Whales	No Whales Sighted	PM: Two pods of Risso’s and a small pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
3/12/08	3 Gray Whales	5 Gray Whales Pods of two and three Grays.	AM: Over 1,000 Common Dolphins. PM: 12 Bottlenose Dolphins.
3/11/08	1 Fin Back Whale	6 Gray Whales Two pods of three Grays within one mile of kelp line, headed north.	PM: Raft of 20 sea lions.
3/10/08	2 Fin Back Whales	1 Fin Back Whale	AM: About 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins. PM: Hundreds of dolphins.
3/9/08	1 Gray Whale Good views and a lot of flukes.	2 Gray Whales
3/8/08	1 Gray Whale We found one wonderful northbound whale.	2 Fin Back Whales	AM: Over 1,000 Common and Bottle Nosed Dolphins, jumping and leaping. PM: About 25 Common Dolphins.
3/7/08	1 Gray Whale One big whale that stayed with us for over an hour giving great views.	3 Gray Whales Single whale to the south and a pod of two just behind.	AM: About 50 Common and Bottle Nosed Dolphins.
3/6/08	1 Gray Whale	1 Gray Whale Good spouts and tail flukes.	AM: Many Pacific White Sided and Common Dolphins.
3/5/08	No Whales Sighted	3 Gray Whales Excellent pod of three southbound Gray Whales, lots of flukes and close views.	AM: Over 1,000 Common Dolphins.
3/4/08	1 Gray Whale	4 Gray Whales Found the whales when we spotted two incredible breaches, almost all the way out of the water! W caught up to them and stayed close. A couple of times, three of them surfaced together and we were close enough to hear the spouts!	AM: Risso's, Pacific White Sided and Common Dolphins. PM: Megapod of Common Dolphins, mixed pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins and sea lions.
3/3/08	2 Gray Whales Found two big, beautiful southbound whales right off the coast by point Loma. They gave us a great show, and stayed with us all morning.	2 Gray Whales Found two whales very far south and had a wonderful show.	AM: About 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins. PM: Hundreds of dolphins
3/2/08	2 Gray Whales	1 Gray Whale	AM: 25 Common Dolphins. PM: 12 Risso’s Dolphins.
3/1/08	No Whales Sighted	3 Gray Whales Single whale to the south and a pod of two just behind.	AM: 25-30 Common Dolphins and 20 Risso’s Dolphins. PM: 12 Common dolphins.
2/29/08	No Whales Sighted	6 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale No dolphins, but two single Grays then a pod of four Grays, all southbound. Also spotted a Minke showing two flukes.	AM: Several thousand dolphins, from the bow of the boat all the way to the horizon. Risso’s, Common and Pacific White Sided Dolphins. Never had this many dolphins on a single trip!
2/28/08	4 Gray Whales Heading back towards San Diego, we happened upon four beautiful mature grey whales. They played with us and gave us a good opportunity to watch them. Many tail flukes.	1 Gray Whale We found one whale, he was a little shy, but we got a good look at him.	AM: About 50 Risso’s Dolphins that were friendly and gave a wonderful show.
2/27/08	No Whales Sighted	2 Gray whales	Lots of dolphins both trips, including large pod of 200+ Risso’s Dolphins.
2/26/08	2 Gray whales	Trip Cancelled	AM: 12 Risso’s, 25 Pacific White Sided and 15 Common Dolphins. 1 Mola Mola fish.
2/19/08	3 Gray Whales One single Gray and then a pair of Grays.	No Whales Sighted	AM: Pod of about 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins. PM: Pod of about 200 Common Dolphins.
2/18/08	2 adult Gray Whales We found two beautiful mature Grays that came close to the boat and gave a wonderful show.	No Whales Sighted	AM: About 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
2/17/08	1 Gray Whale	4 Gray Whales Pod of 4 grays.	PM: Dozens of dolphins!
2/16/08	No Whales Sighted	2 Gray Whales Pod of two big bull whales.	PM: 20 or more Pacific White Sided Dolphins and a single Bottlenose dolphin in bay.
2/15/08	3 Gray Whales Pair of flirtatious Grays that eventually met up with a solo Gray.	2 Gray Whales One southbound gray and one northbound gray, passing within a quarter mile of one another.	AM: Many scattered Pacific White Sided Dolphins, totaling probably 100. PM: A few Common and Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
2/14/08	1 Gray Whale Rough seas with rain and wind. We did spot one mature whale, through the ocean swells though.	Trip cancelled due to weather
2/13/08	4 Gray Whales Pod of four grays; one breached five times in a row!	3 Gray Whales A single and one pair of Grays.	PM: About 200 Common and Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
2/12/08	1 Gray Whales Morning whale watching produced one whale. Heavy morning fog prevented good viewing.	No Whales Sighted	AM: Views of a Navy Submarine coming out of the water.
2/11/08	Numerous sightings, but few good views.	1 Gray Whale Found a single Gray, with very good views.	None sighted
2/10/08	5 Gray Whales Single and two pairs.	2 Gray Whales Excellent pair with tail flukes. Able to stay with them for a long view time.	Sea lions and scattered dolphins on both trips.
2/09/08	4 adult Gray Whales Four large adult whales, all together.	10 Gray Whales First found a pod of five whales, then a pair and then a trio. All gave a very good show and almost every whale today showed a tail fluke.	AM: Many dolphins jumping all around the boat.
2/08/08	2 Gray Whales One pair of Grays.	4 Gray Whales Two separate pairs of grays.	AM: Pod of about 12 Risso's Dolphins. PM: Many, many dolphins.
2/07/08	3 Gray Whales Single juvenile, then excellent views of a pair of adults.	5 Gray Whales Found a single whale first, and then found a pod of three with excellent views. Six breaches all together.	None sighted
2/06/08	1 Gray Whale	4 Gray Whales Found three huge whales all together putting on a spectacular show. Then we found another.	AM: Several hundred Bottle Nose Dolphins. PM: 5o or so dolphins playing with the boat.
2/05/08	3 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby Two single grays, one mother and calf.	8 Gray Whales Two single grays, two pods of three grays.	AM: One Mola Mola fish.
2/01/08	5 Gray Whales The morning started with the sighting of 3 whales right away. We then turned back north and found two whales along the kelp line that were very friendly and gave us a wonderful display with lots of flukes.	5 adult Gray Whales and 2 babies A marvelous day! We had two separate pairs of mothers and newborn calves. They allowed us to get close and we were able to view Mother Nature at her best. Both moms had their new babies in tow teaching them and showing off their babies to us. It was just one of those moments that you remember forever. We also had 3 other whales around us.	AM: Well over 100 of both Pacific White Sided, Bottle Nosed and Common Dolphins. PM: Many, many dolphins.
1/30/08	10 Gray Whales We had whales everywhere! We spotted over 10 whales all around us, but got very close to 3 and had a wonderful time.	5 Gray Whales We saw well over 15 different “blows” from whales in the area, and got very close to 5. Two single whales and then a trio that gave us a great display with many flukes. They stayed close to our boat and everyone on board had a marvelous time.	AM: About 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
1/29/08	4 Gray Whales Two pairs of mating gray whales chose to come right for us and passed within 20 feet of our bow. Dolphins were leaping over them as they did so. People were stunned!	11 Gray Whales Another two pairs of mating grays. Then two single grays. Then a pod of five grays.	AM: Pacific White Sided Dolphins PM: A lot of Pacific White Sided Dolphins throughout the cruise.
1/26/08	14 Gray Whales Many pods including a pod of 4 or more.	1 Gray Whale	AM: 400-600 Common Dolphins
1/26/08	14 Gray Whales Many pods including a pod of 4 or more.	1 Gray Whale	AM: 400-600 Common Dolphins
1/25/08	2 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby One single adult gray, one mother and calf pair. Nice shows in spite of choppy seas.	2 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby One mother and calf pair, followed by a single adult gray.	AM: 8 Pacific White Sided Dolphins
1/24/08	5 Gray Whales	2 adult Gray Whales The whales were spouting all around the boat.	AM: 5 Pacific White Sided Dolphins
1/23/08	6 Gray Whales	4 Gray Whales	None sighted
1/22/08	2 adult Gray Whales and 3 babies 2 mothers with their calves. There was one baby that was by itself, playing and going around going under the boat.	16 Gray Whales The best record for the season!	None sighted
1/21/08	No Whales	7 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby Mother and Calf plus 6 whales	AM: 5 Pacific White Sided Dolphins & a pod of 100 Common Dolphins
1/20/08	8 Gray Whales 4 pairs of Gray Whales, some mating.	1 Gray Whale	PM: A mega pod of over 500 dolphins.
1/19/08	3 adult Gray Whales We found 3 very mature whales. They gave us a wonderful show, with tail flukes almost on every evolution.	4 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby We hooked up with the 3 morning whales and they gave us another great show. Then we came upon a mom and a new born. The baby was just several days old, but the mom let him come over and play with us. He was very inquisitive and watched us.	AM: We found a mega pod of well over 1,000 Bottlenose Dolphins.
1/18/08	1 Gray Whale 1 grey adult, great spouts and tail flukes.	2 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby A mother and calf pair and then another adult with great spouts and tail flukes.	AM: One mega pod of 500 Common Dolphins.
1/17/08	5 Gray Whales 2 pairs and 1 single. Spotted the first pair then almost instantly another wonderful pair showed up. As we turned back to the shore we encountered a single whale that was perfect. We saw many beautiful tail flukes and had a wonderful morning.	3 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby We found a mom and newborn calf. They were very shy and the mom was trying to teach the newborn to "be a whale." We left them and spotted a single big whale. Then we turned north and spotted another whale that was very friendly and allowed us a very good opportunity to see it.	AM: About 20 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
1/16/08	4 Gray Whales Single Gray and pod of 3 Grays. Good views.	8 Gray Whales Two pods of 4 Grays each. There were other whales in the distance and we spotted two breaches on the horizon.	AM: 6 Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
1/14/08	1 Gray Whale The whale was very quiet and then suddenly it breached less than 75 feet away from us!	7 Gray Whales	AM: A pod of approximately 250 Common Dolphins.
1/13/08	12 Gray Whales This was the BEST TRIP so far! We went to the kelp beds and saw nothing, so we went to south and saw 2 pods of whales each with 6 whales. We had whales all over the boat!	1 adult Gray Whale, 1 young Gray Whale and 1 baby We went south and saw a mother and baby and a juvenile.	AM: A few dolphins sighted
1/12/08	1 Gray Whale We went to the kelp beds and saw 1 whale that showed its tail and did soundings.	5 adult Gray Whales and 1 baby We went south and saw mother and baby plus 4 whales.	AM: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins PM: Mola Mola fish
1/11/08	No whales sighted	6 Gray Whales Foggy, but after an hour we passed the fog blanket and saw 6 whales. There were 4 very close in a pod and 2 not too far away from us.	AM: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins
1/10/08	1 Gray Whale	3 Gray Whales	AM: Around 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins PM: 25 to 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins
1/9/08	4 Gray Whales	4 Gray Whales	AM: Around 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins PM: About 100 white sided dolphins
1/3/08	3 adult Gray Whales, 1 baby The baby was very cute. We spotted one of the adult whales on the way back in.	No Whales Sighted	AM: Common Dolphins and Pacific White Sided Dolphins PM: Common Dolphins and Pacific White Sided Dolphins. We also saw a pod of Risso's Dolphins (around 35 to 40)
1/2/08	1 Gray Whale	5 adult Gray Whales, 1 baby This trip was the best trip of the season so far! We sawa pod of 4 whales south bound that put on a spectacular show for us. While we were coming back we also saw a Mother whale with her newborn.	AM: A mega pod of Common Dolphins came out to play with the boat! Around 1,200-1,500 of them. PM: Sighted a Sunfish (Mola Mola) on the way in.
1/1/08	1 Gray Whale	No Whales Sighted	AM: Around 10 Common Dolphins and 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins PM:10 Common Dolphins
12/31/08	2 Gray Whales	1 Gray Whale	AM: Around 20 Common Dolphins PM: 10 Common Dolphins
12/30/08	2 adult Gray Whales They gave us a very good show and they were zigzagging all the times. The whales were very big.	2 young Gray whales estimated to be about 2 to 3 years old. They were swimming very slow and have very small spouts.	AM: 10 Common Dolphins PM: Common Dolphins
12/18/07	We sighted our first gray whale with strong spouts and great tail flukes	No Whales Sighted	AM: 1000 Common Dolphins in a mega pod; approximately 35 Risso's Dolphins. (seeinfo below) PM: 400+ Common Dolphins and approximately 30 Risso's Dolphins
12/17/07	No Whales Sighted	No Whales Sighted	AM: A glorious day of Dolphin watching Pacific White Sided Dolphins, we found about 200 that we played with. They rode our bow and gave a wonderful display for our guests. PM: We had about 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins, and they were wonderful, they came and rode our bow wake and we all had a wonderful time...
12/16/07	No Whales Sighted	No cruise	AM: 200 + Dolphins
12/15/07	No Whales Sighted	At 6 miles off shore we spotted two high spouts. They were two huge Fin Back Whales. They were very visible and put on a great show for the guests!	AM: Scattered groups of Pacific White Sided dolphins, then some Commons. Two very good looks at Mola Molas (ocean sunfish). Good dolphin show. Estimate total of 20-30 Pacific White Sided and 10 or so Common Dolphins PM: Sighted Pacific White Sided dolphins on the way