Seasons in the Sea - A month-by-month guide to Central California sea life
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The open ocean Marine mammals Seabirds Kelp beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Overview Winds, waves, and currents The Open Ocean Marine Mammals Seabirds Kelp Beds Rocky intertidal areas Sandy Beaches Coastal estuaries
Marine Mammals Birds Fishes / Sharks Crustaceans Mollusks Echinoderms Algae / Plants
References
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Seasonal activities of selected
marine mammals on the Central California Coast

Jump to:    Whales     Dolphins and porpoises     Seals and sea lions    Sea otters

Key to table shading:
Organism likely to be present Organism may be present Few or no individuals present

 

Whales - yearly timelines

Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec
Gray whale   (Eschrichtius robustus)
Peak S.
migration		 Migrating
S. and N.		 Peak N.
migration		 Late N.
migration		 Feed in
Arctic		     S. migration
in Dec
Orca (killer whale)   (Orcinus orca))
Hunt gray
whales		 Hunt gray
whales		 Hunt gray
whales
Humpback whale   (Megaptera novaeangliae)
First arrivals First arrivals Feeding Feeding Feeding Peak pops
in MBay		 Migrate
to south
Blue whale   (Balaenoptera musculus)
        First
arrivals		 Peak pops Peak pops Migrate
to south		  
 
Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec

 

 

Dolphins and porpoises - yearly timelines

Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec
Dall's porpoise   (Delphinus capensis)        Harbor porpoise   (Phocoena phocoena)
First arrivals Migrate north Peak pops,
give birth?		 Peak pops     Migrate south
Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
Risso's dolphin   (Grampus griseus)        Long-beaked common dolphin   (Delphinus capensis)
Congregate
near shore		 Leave area Give birth? Arrive
from south		 Peak pops Peak pops Congregate
near shore;
 
Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec

 

 

Seals and sea lions - yearly timelines

Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec
California sea lion   (Zalophus californianus)
Adult males
head S.		 Juveniles
arrive		 Peak in
juveniles		 Pupping
in S. Cal		 Adult males
return		 Peak in
adult males		 Peak in
adult males		  
Harbor seal   (Phoca vitulina)
  Females
gather		 Peak
pupping		 Pupping,
nursing		 Weaning,
training		 Mating,
moulting		 Moulting
Northern elephant seal   (Mirounga angustirostris)
Pupping,
mating		 Adults
leave		 Pups
leave		 Adults
moult		 Pups
return		 Adults
arrive
Steller sea lion   (Eumetopias jubatus)
    First
arrivals		 Females
arrive		 Pupping Pups
weaning		 Males leave Fems& pups leave
 
Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec

 

 

Sea otter - yearly timeline

Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec
Sea otter   (Enhydra lutris)
Peak
pupping		 Pupping,
nursing		 Weaning,
training		 Peak
mating		 Peak
mating		 Pupping
 
Jan/Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov/Dec
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