As many a confused visitor to this area can attest, there isn’t really any “Big Sur Town.”  There is a Big Sur River, with its accompanying river valley, and there is the larger “Big Sur Coast,” with its own attendant boundary arguments. There is, however, local convention on what is meant by “Big Sur Town”:  the two mile stretch of the Big Sur Valley alongside California State Highway 1 where most of the Big Sur River Valley businesses are, roughly from River Inn in the north to Fernwood in the south.

There are no public restrooms, but restrooms are readily available for patrons of gas stations, restaurants, some shops, and lodging, if you stay overnight. There are public restrooms at Andrew Molera State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, at either end of this Hotspot. The Hotspot acts as river and Highway 1 corridor between these two significant State Parks.

The birds occurring in this Hotspot are the expected birds of coastal forests, riparian woodland, and brushy chaparral. The eBird coverage here is rudimentary, as the area has not been worked systematically, and most sightings come from incidental or very causal birding outings.

Highlights include California Condor (most often seen soaring high over the valley or the eastern ridges), Vaux’s Swift (in season, flying just over the treetops—has nested in chimneys in the area), Purple Martin (in season, very vocal and easy to see flying in and above the trees—likely nesting), and American Dipper. The latter species works its way up and down the river, and is hard to pin down to a specific locale. Might one be guaranteed a sighting by sitting in a camp chair next to the river for a day?  Further research is needed, and recommended!  While sitting there one might also notice the occasional passing Belted Kingfisher or Common Merganser, with Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet in the adjacent tall redwoods.

The "Big Sur--town" Hotspot is centered at the two-mile stretch of Highway 1 with most businesses, but includes the area along the Big Sur River south of Andrew Molera State Park to the the northern border of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, just south of Fernwood (Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park has a separate Hotspot, and there is a sub-location Hotspot at the Highway 1 crossing of the Big Sur River). 

Bear in mind that the various river access trails along the Big Sur River south of the main Molera State Park parking lot are actually in Andrew Molera State Park. Technically the "Big Sur--town" Hotspot includes the adjacent hillsides, but that land is virtually all private or otherwise difficult of access. The higher ridges are covered by other hotspots (e.g. East Molera, Post Summit, Mt. Manuel). 

Most sightings assigned to the "Big Sur--town" Hotspot are made by visitors and residents, for birds seen while staying at or otherwise patronizing one of the various commercial establishments along this stretch (e.g. from north to south, River Inn, Big Sur Campground, Riverside Campground, Ripplewood Resort, Glen Oaks, and Fernwood).  When birding this area be mindful of signs indicating private property. There is plenty of excellent habitat visible from publicly (legally) accessible areas, not least of which is right along the highway. Do not walk or drive up roads and paths marked "private" or "no trespassing."

Habitats are varied, with dense stands of Coastal Redwood, riparian Sycamore, Coastal Live-Oak/California Bay woodlands, and drier coastal chaparral upslope. The businesses along the road also have ornamentals of various species. Then there is the river itself, a permanent watercourse—a raging torrent in the winter, and a delightful rocky brook in the summer and early fall.