Cypremort Point State Park
Perched at the northeastern edge of Vermilion Bay, Cypremort Point State Park offers panoramic views of brackish marsh, open-water, and beach-associated wildlife.
Though small and concentrated, these habitat types combine to attract an impressive year-round bird population. The park’s checklist stands at 185 species.
Along the entrance road, Quintana Canal is on the left, and the marsh is to the right. Start birding here. The canal is lined with jetty rubble which often attracts foraging shorebirds and loafing wading birds and seabirds – both of which hunt and commute up and down the canal during daylight hours.
At Vermilion Bay, species include waterfowl such as Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, and Lesser Scaup. Wading bird species include both Great and Snowy Egrets, Little Blue, Tricolored, and Green Herons, as well as both Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night-Herons.
Look for seabirds around rock jetties, viewing piers and the large beach. Summer species include Laughing Gull, along with Gull-billed, Caspian, Forster’s, Sandwich, and Royal Terns and Brown Pelican. During migration periods and winter, Bonaparte’s, Franklin’s, Ring-billed, and Herring Gulls, along with Black Tern and American White Pelican are all commonly observed.
The elevated boardwalk, several hundred yards long, meanders through the marsh and alongside wooded patches. During migration months and winter, check these areas for interesting passerines. Scissor-tailed and Least Flycatchers are observed during fall migration, along with others such as Yellow-throated, Blue-headed, and Red-eyed Vireos, and various thrushes. Ten species of sparrows and 15 species of warblers have been recorded here.
The boardwalk ends at a covered pavilion overlooking the marsh, ponds and exposed mudflats. This interesting mix of niches can be the most exciting of the site’s birding locales. It often holds several species of rails, along with Common Gallinule, American Bittern, and Reddish Egret. At least 20 species of shorebirds have been recorded here, including Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, American Golden, Wilson’s, and Semipalmated Plovers, along with Upland, Least, and Western Sandpipers.
Cypremort Point has long served as a favorite getaway for fishing, sailing, birding, cookouts, and camping for Acadiana locals. The nearest grocery store or restaurant is at least 15 miles away, so be sure to pack your own provisions. Amenities include shaded picnic pavilions, rental cabins, restrooms/water, and a lengthy handicapped-accessible elevated boardwalk and observation deck.
