Montana de Oro State Park

This rugged, coastal state park sits just west of San Luis Obispo, making it the perfect day trip for birders in Central California. It features 8,000-acres of plains, canyons, and beaches, as well as a 7-mile long stretch of shoreline. Some of the best birding locations in the park include Coralina Cove (Brown Pelicans, Black Oystercatchers), Spooners Cove (Brandts Cormorant), and Islay Creek (Pigeon Guillemots, Black Phoebes). The park is also home to other marine and wildlife, such as coyotes, gray foxes, mountain lions, sea otters, and monarch butterflies.