Morro Bay State Park - Marina/Boardwalk Trail
California · Southwest
Easy
October-May
Free (parking $10)
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
About This Location
Morro Bay State Park - Marina/Boardwalk Trail is a productive birding destination in California, with 266 species recorded on eBird. This coastal habitat attracts Canada Goose, Bufflehead, and California Quail among many others. The unique desert and riparian habitats support specialty species alongside wintering and migrating birds.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Marbled Murrelet
Brachyramphus marmoratus
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Vaux's Swift
Chaetura vauxi
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
King Eider
Somateria spectabilis
American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Nazca Booby
Sula granti
Scripps's Murrelet
Synthliboramphus scrippsi
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Willet
Western Gull
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
American White Pelican
Turkey Vulture
Nuttall's Woodpecker
American Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Wrentit
Bewick's Wren
Birding Tips
- 1
Check rocky shorelines and jetties at low tide for shorebirds.
- 2
Scan offshore waters with a spotting scope for seabirds and waterfowl.
- 3
Carry extra water and sun protection; mornings are the prime birding window.
- 4
Consider purchasing an annual parks pass if you plan to visit multiple times.
- 5
Bring quality optics — a good pair of binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) makes all the difference in species identification.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Morro Bay Estuary
- Morro Rock
- Montana de Oro State Park
More in California
California Birding Guide
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