Winter In San Luis Obispo County, California

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Winter In San Luis Obispo County, California

San Luis Obispo County is one of the most popular destinations in California for wildlife, especially in winter. Spot gray whales during their annual migration along the coast, watch elephant seals as they gather and mate along the northern coastline of Piedras Blancas, visit Pismo State Beach, the wintering grounds for thousands of migrating Monarch Butterflies, or view the Brant Goose that winters in the Morro Bay estuary after flying non-stop from Alaska. Further inland, huge flocks of sandhill cranes join resident wildlife species in the winter at Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Birding. The Morro Bay area is known as one of the top 10 bird watching areas in the country. During the Audubon Society’s December 2004 bird count in San Luis Obispo County, nearly 200 species of birds were counted. Included in the tally were a bald eagle and a California condor! Catch a glimpse of bald eagles soaring above Santa Margarita or Lopez Lake, and while you’re at it, view peregrine falcons around Morro Rock or brown pelicans flying in formation over Morro Bay.

Celebrate the birds during the 10th Annual Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, January 13-16, 2006. This “Globally Important Bird Area.” is showcased with weekend events featuring birding hikes, tours, field trips on the ocean and bay, plus workshops, guest speakers and exhibits. http://www.morrobaydirdfestival.org/

· Gray Whales. From mid-December through early April, the San Luis Obispo County coast is an ideal spot to view gray whales from land or aboard a whale watching cruise. Regularly scheduled whale watching cruises depart Morro Bay and Port San Luis during the winter season. There are also several popular vantage points on land to view these magnificent marine mammals during their annual migration. Try an overlook at Montana de Oro State Park, along the bluffs near the Piedras Blancas lighthouse or a vista point in Pismo Beach.

• Elephant Seals. Along Highway 1, approximately one mile north of the Hearst Castle Visitor Center, is Piedras Blancas, a favorite gathering spot for Northern Elephant Seals. Winter is the peak viewing season as the elephant seals gather to give birth and mate. The elephant seal viewing vista point has a number of excellent educational and interpretive signs. Also, look for Friends of the Elephant Seal docents in their blue jackets, who are eager to answer your questions.
• Monarch Butterflies. One of the largest monarch butterfly winter gathering spots of the West Coast is Pismo State Beach. From November through February, a grove of eucalyptus trees at Pismo State Beach are the home of some 50,000 Monarch butterflies. The butterflies can be found on the ground, in the air fluttering and soaring or hanging from the trees in massive clusters.

Although winter offers prime time wildlife viewing, San Luis Obispo County is home to a variety of critters year-round. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters can be found swimming and floating in coastal waters, and sea gulls and shore birds can be found on the beach or flying above. You might even catch a glimpse of a zebra, or two, when visiting Hearst Castle!

To plan your wildlife viewing adventure to San Luis Obispo County, California’s Natural Escape, call 1-800-634-1414 or visit http://www.sanluisobispocounty.com. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!