Watch: Large pod of pilot whales off California coast, a first recorded in more than a decade

A pod of roughly 70 short-finned pilot whales was spotted off Orange County, California, on Nov. 3, marking a first recorded occurrence in more than a decade for the species that usually favors tropical, deeper offshore waters. Captain Erica Page aboard Newport Coastal Adventure made the sighting, according to Jessica Rodriguez of Davey’s Locker & Newport Landing Whale Watching. Rodriguez said an El Niño currently underway may be altering ocean conditions, possibly bringing the whales closer to shore. The encounter was visible from both larger whale-watching vessels and smaller adventure boats in Newport Beach. During the same outing, the Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari crew also saw about 10 humpback whales. The article notes pilot whales can reach about 18 feet and over 2,000 pounds, and their recent return resembles unusual encounters reported during the last major El Niño in 2014–2015.