Ear: Dolphins

“Check out this super pod of over 1,500 Risso’s dolphins our scouting boat spent time with in Carmel Bay yesterday!” Monterey Bay Whale Watch posted on Instagram in late January.

“With our bigger boats still out having their winter maintenance done, and getting ready for the 2025 season, we sent out our scouting boat to perform a survey on the coast south of Monterey. We covered 62 miles, round trip, from Monterey to Point Sur, and counted 33 gray whales, 1,500-plus Risso’s dolphins (and) three northern right whale dolphins.”

“It was just an amazing sight.” Evan Brodsky, the group’s whale watch captain and drone videographer, told KSBW. “Just little white dots everywhere, and every single one of those white dots was a dolphin.”

What caused the super pod? The whale watch team speculated to Smithsonian Magazine that perhaps several small pods simply congregated while heading south. And, since they are deep-water swimmers, they were probably enjoying the Monterey Canyon.

“It just honestly felt like, to me, especially being on a small boat, a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be surrounded by that many dolphins.” Colleen Talty, Monterey Bay Whale Watch marine biologist, recalled to KSBW. “It was really, really special.” (Screenshots: Evan Brodsky/MBWW)