← BACKFIELD GUIDE / SEI WHALE
RARE SIGHTING

Sei whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Like a slim fin whale but symmetrical jaw, blow and dorsal appear together. Often misidentified.

Stats

At a glance

LENGTH
40–60 ft
WEIGHT
Up to ~50 tons (100,000 lbs) — NOAA
LIFESPAN
50–70 yrs (NOAA)
DIET
Copepods, krill, small schooling fish, squid
RARITY
Very rare — celebrate
SEASON
Sporadic

Length/weight/lifespan/diet: NOAA Fisheries species page →

How to ID

What to look for

Like a slim fin whale but symmetrical jaw, blow and dorsal appear together. Often misidentified.
BEHAVIORS TO WATCH FOR
Blow and dorsal appear togetherShallow skim-feedingRarely shows flukes
When

Best months to see

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Archive

Last 30 days

Total seen
0
Days active
0/30
Last seen
Not seen
DAILY SIGHTING COUNTHOVER A BAR
TODAY
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Where to go (operators publish dated sighting reports)

Newport & Long Beach operators share daily trip counts — you can see what was spotted before you book. Other operators don't publish daily reports.

NC
Newport Coastal Adventure
2,900 common dolphins · 1 minke whale
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NW
Newport Whales
2,900 common dolphins · 1 minke whale
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DL
Davey's Locker
2,900 common dolphins · 1 minke whale
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HB
Harbor Breeze
LONG BEACH · No sightings reported yet today
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DW
Dana Wharf
1 common dolphin
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SD
San Diego Whale Watch
250 common dolphins
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P
Paul Grogan
Covers SoCal whale watching, ocean conditions, and the best departure ports on the Southern California coast.