Winter (December–February)
Winter is one of the richest birding seasons in Morro Bay. Cold northern geese and duck species flood into the bay, seeking milder coastal waters. You’ll see large flocks of diving ducks like surf scoters, scaup, and mergansers. Brant geese often graze on eelgrass beds. The estuary is quieter, and visibility is generally excellent. Go early in the morning for calm water conditions and better reflections.
Contacts with raptors increase in winter. Red-tailed hawks and rough-legged hawks ride the bay winds. Peregrine falcons are active cliffwise hunting shorebirds that pause on mudflats at low tide. Waterfowl roosts in protected marsh strips like the Morro Bay State Park Estuary offer peaceful observation zones.
Top spots in winter: the north side of Morro Bay Harbor, the salt marsh at Los Osos Creek, and the Embarcadero waterfront between the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge and the old power plant. Low tide times are critical: mudflat exposure reveals feeding zones for sandpipers and plovers.
Spring (March–May)
Spring migration is vibrant. Species arriving from southern wintering grounds begin streaming through. Expect swallows, warblers, yellowrumped, orange-crowned, and Wilson’s warblers. Shorebirds such as willets, godwits, and least sandpipers stop by to feed on exposed mud and algae. Also small canopy dwellers in Morro Bay’s riparian corridors become more visible as leaves return.
Peregrine falcons remain active. Gulls are noisier, and nesting noise in the rookery at Morro Rock increases. Listen for shorebird calls over estuary channels. In spring mornings, thermal lifts are gentler so small gliding raptors can be visible in the skyline.
You’ll want to visit the bluff trails at Montana de Oro, the San Luis Bay Estuary frames onshore, and the shoreline stretches along Morro Strand. Songbird hides or quieter riparian trails like those near Sweet Springs Nature Preserve offer peace and color.
Summer (June–August)
During summer, many birds breed and raise young. The bay is busier with year-round resident species. You’ll see Forster’s terns, Caspian terns, pelicans, and gulls on or near Morro Rock. Oyster catchers may be spotted along rocky shores. Many shorebird species migrate away for the wet season but return in emotional bursts come fall.
In summer evenings expect song sparrows, California towhees, perhaps Anna’s hummingbirds. The vegetation is drier inland, so riparian areas retain fewer migrants but offer reliable resident activity. Early morning remains the best time. Shorebird movement is quieter but the skies are good for riverside and bluff vistas.
Best viewing locations: the Morro Bay rock jetty, Sandspit, and rocky shorelines. Also try backcountry drives where rural road edges meet open skies for raptors, swallows, and spotting kestrels or hawks hovering over fields.
Fall (September–November)
Fall brings returning shorebirds, some passerine migration, and often spectacular skies. As sandpipers, plovers, and godwits return, mudflat feeding zones are prime around the bay. Marsh edges accumulate warblers, sparrows, and occasionally rarer vagrants pushed off course by weather systems.
Evening lighting can help with dramatic silhouettes of gulls and cormorants, and cooling mornings bring more active raptor behavior. Raptors like Merlin and Peregrine falcon patrol the edges. Watch from bluff viewpoints, shoreline edges, or less trafficked marsh walkways.
Great spots: Morro Rock breakwater, Sandpit at low tide, the Los Osos Creek marsh, and road pull-outs in Montana de Oro. Also check tide tables: highest bird activity for shorebirds tends to cluster around outgoing tide in fall.
General Tips for All Seasons
- Time your visits with tide schedules. Low and outgoing tides expose mudflats and feeding grounds.
- Check sunrise and moon phase. Full moon nights can illuminate shoreline behavior for certain nocturnal species.
- Weather matters. Coastal fog in mornings may delay visibility. Clear skies make reflections strong and colors rich.
- Bring binoculars and field guides or apps. Even common birds are more fun when you can identify them.
- Dress in layers. Mornings and evenings can be cold; midday near the shore warms up.
Why Ascot Suites is Ideal for Seasonal Birding
Ascot Suites puts you near the heart of Morro Bay’s birding action. You can step out before sunrise and be at dawn viewpoints without long drives. The rooftop view offers lookout over Morro Rock and parts of the bay for quick scanning of distant activity. When days are full of walks, tours, or bluff viewing, coming back to a comfortable room helps you recharge. Happy Hour in the lobby gives you a chance to compare sightings or plan your next seasonal walk.
Plan Your Seasonal Visits
That birding list you carry in your head changes with the season. If you want a winter waterfowl trip, plan around December to February. For spring color and backyard birding from March through May. Summer gives you warm early mornings and breeding behavior. Fall wraps up with shorebird migration and more dramatic light. Pick your season interest first, then choose your stay dates, vantage points, and gear accordingly.