Known by Louisianians as the "Cajun Riviera," Holly Beach stretches seven miles from the community of the same name westward along LA 82, much of which lines the Gulf of Mexico.
Holly Beach is among the most heavily-birded sites in the state. Approximately 1.3 miles west of the community, there is a collection of breakwaters installed a short distance from the beach. They serve as outstanding loafing spots for the many species of gulls and terns, wading birds, and shorebirds. Collectively, the breakwater can hold thousands of birds on almost any given day.
At least 29 species of gulls, terns, and other seabirds have been recorded from the breakwaters and the beach. Commonly encountered species include Laughing, Ring-billed, Herring, and Bonaparte’s Gulls, along with Royal, Caspian, Forster’s, Least (summer only), and Sandwich (summer only) Terns. Look for Black Tern during migration periods, especially in mid-late summer. Common Terns occur during migration periods as well as winter.
But the birding doesn't end with seabirds. Twenty-seven waterfowl species, along with four grebe species, have been recorded here, as have 37 species of plovers, sandpipers, and other shorebirds, including Semipalmated, Least, Spotted, and White-rumped Sandpiper, and Black-bellied, Snowy and Wilson’s Plover. There are also 15 species of wading birds on the Holly Beach list.
The north side of LA 82 parallels a prairie complex, live oak-studded pastures, and brackish marsh habitats with an impressive array of birds. Raptors, flycatchers, and blackbirds are especially prevalent during migration periods and in the winter months. Look for Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Crested Caracara, White-tailed Kite, Western Kingbird, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Sixteen species of hawks and falcons have been observed along Holly Beach.
A head-spinning total of 261 bird species have been recorded along this stretch of beach, including some of Louisiana's rarest seabirds and raptors, such as Brown Booby and Ferruginous Hawk.
Besides birding, additional recreational activities include fishing, swimming, paddling, and nature photography. During summer, beach-goers flock here, but the crowds thin out as you travel westward away from the community's camp houses. A wide hard-surface shoulder along both sides of LA 82 provides the only parking option for birders.
