May 10 Monterey Aquarium

Monterey Aquarium is an expensive day out but worth every penny. It is quality. Every exhibit is world class as are their presentations, audio visual displays and interpretive materials. Best of all though is their setting; Monterey Bay. The Bay; even the above water bits, is an outstanding natural history display such that I spent quite a bit of time outside the aquarium watching the bay from their verandas.

Jellyfish obviously

The aquarium had a few interesting bird displays; including a wader display which featured this Red-necked Phalarope

The aquarium had a few interesting bird displays; including a wader display which featured this Red Phalarope

One of the major exhibits was the Kelp forest tank which interpreted a common ecosystem outside the aquarium in the bay

Time well spent.

One lifer - surprisingly a true pelagic specie - Fork tailed Storm Petrel. At least five of them, apparently showed up due to some storm activity and had hung around.

rubbish pics but a record shot of my first Fork tailed Storm Petrel

rubbish pics but a record shot of a Fork tailed Storm Petrel

Mammals - Harbour [or Common] Seal, Californian Sea lion, Sea Otter and Humpback Whale/

Birds - Western Gull, all three cormorants, two loons, Pigeon Guilemots, Eared Grebe, Brown Pelicans, to name a few.

We spent a full day at the aquarium - in at 9-45 and out just before closing at 5pm.

If you get to Monterey visit the aquarium!

[ Btw - Hobart needs an aquarium like this!!]