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Overview
Monterey Bay isn't so much "a place," but a collection of places. A group of areas surrounding a bay adjoining the Pacific Ocean, off the west coast of the United States in the State of California.
The bay itself is approximately 25 miles/ 40 km long from Monterey's city in the south to Santa Cruz in the north.
In this expanse, there is an excellent opportunity to see a myriad of marine life and untold species of birds.
Along the coastline, there are equally plentiful opportunities for birding, sightseeing, and enjoyment of all the benefits of nature this area provides. Some of the most iconic sights of California are found in this area.
Birds
Notable Species
To specify what's notable about Monterey Bay is difficult to do. The area is so large and encompasses so many different specifics. So, let's try to summarize. This area has numerous land-based eBird Hotspots, so much so that it would be impossible to attempt to list them. There are inland areas, shore areas, nearshore areas, and pelagic Hotspots. The usual expectation is to have available 2-3 places to choose from; there are so many here that a birder trying to plan a trip here will need to do a little research with an idea of just what they want to look for.
To give you an idea, let's look at Monterey Harbor, which is on the Bay's southern end. The Sooty Shearwater is the species with the highest number of cumulative sightings, followed by the American Robin, Common Murre, Red Phalarope, and Red-necked Phalarope.
Rarities
Some of the less commonly sighted species here are the Common Eider, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Ridgway's Rail, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, and Little Stint.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Sooty Shearwater, American Robin, Common Murre, Pacific Loon, Surf Scoter, European Starling, Elegant Tern, Tricolored Blackbird, Brandt's Cormorant, Cassin's Auklet, Bonaparte's Gull, Red-winged Blackbird, American Crow, Sabine's Gull, American Coot, American Wigeon, Rock Pigeon, Brant, Violet-green Swallow, Red-throated Loon, Western Meadowlark, Pelagic Cormorant, Brown-headed Cowbird, Willet, Anna's Hummingbird, Arctic Tern, Lesser Scaup, American Avocet, Common Loon, Mallard, Lark Sparrow
Other Wildlife
Sea Lions, Whales, Sea Otters, and various seal species are some of the species of wildlife that are seen in the Monterey Bay area.
Site Information
History and Use
"to do"
Areas of Interest
Pelagic Hotspots
There are 13 eBird Pelagic Hotspots in the area
Hiking Trails
AllTrails lists 9 main trails in the area with information about birding on them.
There are numerous land-based parks and marine sanctuaries and parks in the area with birding potential.
Access and Facilities
Contact a trusted travel potential for specific, up-to-date information regarding travel to this location.
Contact Details
"to do"
References
- Visit California - https://www.visitcalifornia.com/
- See Monterey - https://www.seemonterey.com/
- eBird – Monterey Harbor - https://ebird.org/hotspot/L351481
- eBird Hotspots Map – Monterey Harbor - https://ebird.org/hotspots?hs=L351481&yr=all&m=
- AllTrails - https://www.alltrails.com/us/california/monterey/birding
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Maps
Content and images originally posted by kyram
