Whales in Massachusetts in September
Yes, September is a good month to see whales in Massachusetts. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 154 of the 1,627 sightings logged across the year (9.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Humpback Whale · Jayne Buckley Sykes CC BY
Pygmy Sperm Whale · Martin Kaehrle CC BY
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin · Public domain CC0
Good month for whales in Massachusetts
9.5%
of yearly sightings
154
records in September
#4
busiest month of 12
1,627
verified records a year
August 23.8%, September 9.5%, October 4.7%. Busiest month is August at 23.8%.
1,627 verified observations of whales in Massachusetts, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in Massachusetts
Peak month
August
387 records (23.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 38 | 2.3% |
| February | 51 | 3.1% |
| March | 76 | 4.7% |
| Aprilpeak | 242 | 14.9% |
| May | 127 | 7.8% |
| June | 108 | 6.6% |
| Julypeak | 255 | 15.7% |
| Augustpeak | 387 | 23.8% |
| September | 154 | 9.5% |
| October | 77 | 4.7% |
| November | 63 | 3.9% |
| December | 49 | 3% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Humpback Whale | 709 |
| North Atlantic Right Whale | 192 |
| Fin Whale | 160 |
| Common Dolphin | 150 |
| Common Minke Whale | 92 |
| Atlantic White-sided Dolphin | 90 |
| Harbour Porpoise | 51 |
| Sei Whale | 20 |
In Massachusetts, September carries 9.5% of the year's whales sightings, about 1.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from August (23.8%) into September, and it heads toward October (4.7%) after. The busiest month is August (23.8%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The whales most often recorded in Massachusetts are Humpback Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale and Fin Whale. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.
Which whales you are most likely to see
- Humpback Whale709 records
- North Atlantic Right Whale192 records
- Fin Whale160 records
- Common Dolphin150 records
- Common Minke Whale92 records
- Atlantic White-sided Dolphin90 records
Go see them · Massachusetts
Whale Watching Tour in Gloucester
You are guaranteed whale sightings on this whale watching tour out to Stellwagen Bank, a national marine preserve about 12 miles off the coast of...
Staying over? Compare places to stay near Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Frequently asked questions
Can you see whales in Massachusetts in September?+
Yes. September accounts for 154 of the 1,627 verified whales sightings logged in Massachusetts across the year, which is 9.5% of the annual total.
Is September a good time to see whales in Massachusetts?+
September is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though August and July is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for whales in Massachusetts?+
August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, July and April, based on 1,627 verified observations.
Which whales are you most likely to see in Massachusetts?+
The most-recorded species in Massachusetts are Humpback Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale and Fin Whale, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See whales in Massachusetts in other months
More wildlife in Massachusetts