Whales in rivers

2026, September 14. USA, California. A subadult fin whale floating offshore, about 10 km out. In the first stages of decomposition.

2026, September 16. USA, California, Sacramento River, near the Rio Vista Bridge, roughly 60 miles upstream from the ocean. A humpback whale was reported. Witnesses spotted the whale around noon Wednesday near the bridge. The humpback’s whereabouts as of Thursday afternoon were not immediately known.

2026, September 16. UK, River Thames. A pod of around 25 Black dolphins (pilot whales) was reportedly spotted near Coalhouse Fort in Tilbury, an extremely unusual event for the area. In the last report, they had exited the river.