Another Cold And Windy Hike On Long Beach Island., This Time In The Pristine Holgate Beach Wilderness
I was only on Long Beach Island for two two days on my recent visit. But I experienced a lot in those two day, On my first day, I saw many species of colorful migratory shore birds seldom seen by most humans, 
walked on beautiful beaches and sand dunes, explored an historic lighthouse, 
watched a sunrise and sunset ,
and enjoyed delicious food. 
It was already a good trip when I awoke early Sunday morning, It would get even better my last morning on the island.. I decided to visit the Holgate Beach Wilderness in the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge located on the southern tip of Long Beach Island. 
It was only the previous evening that I learned about this nature preserve when looking for places to hike. I learned it was a National Wilderness Area and Natural Heritage Priority Site. It has over 400 acres of barrier beaches, dunes, tidal salt water marshes. I also learned that it was open to hikers from September to March. So early Sunday morning I was driving the empty streets of Long Beach Island again, for 8 miles, but this time heading south, to the Holgate Beach Wilderness. 
The skies were partly cloudy with a strong easterly wind blowing off of the ocean. The strong wind made the 28 degree temperature feel a lot colder. I walked onto the deserted beach. I was the only person there to watch the sunrise. In fact, I only saw one other person on my five mile hike, and two motor vehicles. 
It was a peaceful hike on the pristine beach. 
Clouds on the eastern horizon at first obscured the sunrise, but made for some breathtaking scenery. I enjoyed the changing colors as the sun rose abovre the clouds as I listened to the crashing of the waves and the howling winds. 
There was not much bird activity along the beach. A few sea gulls flew over from the bay. I think the strong winds kept a lot of the seagulls ducks, geese and other shore birds on the calmer waters of the bay. I enjoyed the beauty and solitude of the beach. The winds blowing off the ocean were strong and cold but I didn’t mind, in fact, I think they added to the experience of the primevil feeling of the ocean in Winter. 
My solitary walk ended when a man in a truck drove by and stopped to say hello. I learned motor vehicles can drive on the beach, with restrictiuons from September to march. I don’t agree with allowing motor vehicles on the beach. I continued my hike, now following tire tracks along the beach.
There were still no birds to see or photograph but there were seashells strewn on the beach. 
I love walking on a beach in the morning to see what the waves tossed up on the sands along the shore. I am no seashell expert but I knew this was an oyster shell, 
and this some sort of clam shell. . 
I found this crab shell . I knew it wasn’t a blue crab, which I love to eat. Google lens tells me it is a lady crab.
As the sun rose in the east, I began to see some birds flying along the shore, including I believe, this great black backed seagull and
this American herring seagull. 
I also saw a few surf scoters, 
and long tailed ducks flying lower above the waves.
Some birds braved the rough waters and were diving in the surging waves, including this long tailed duck. 
The tide was coming in and the tire tracks made by the trucks were being washed away by the surging surf. 
I walked up from the shore to higher ground where I found more seashells, 
of all shapes,
sizes 
and colors. 
I also found what I think are bird feathers, 
and this horseshoe crab. 
There was some drift wood on the dunes too. 
I walked toward the bay side of the narrow beach and found more vegetation growing on the dunes. 
I saw more bird activity over on the bay, but this area was closed to the public. The dunes in this area provide nesting and foraging grounds for a few endangered species of birds including American oyster-catchers, least terns, piping plovers, and black skimmers. 
Another truck passed me as I continued on my hike on the beach. The winds were still strong but the rising sun warmed the air a little. 
I had hiked about 2 1/2 miles when I saw large buildings in the distance. I learned this were hotels in Atlantic City. My last visit, and only my second visit to this city , was in 1989, when I stayed at Beach Haven with my family. 
It was here I decided to end my hike. I wanted to check out of my hotel and get back to Northeastern Pennsylvania because there was some snow in the forecast in the afternoon. I learned later I there was only another half mile of beach until the southern end of the island. I hope to walk there on my next visit, and, hopefully, soon. 
I began my 2 1/2 mile hike back. The wind was cold but the sun warmed it up a bit. 
The wind was still producing large waves that were crashing on the shore. 
There were more birds now, both flying over the ocean and along the shore. mostly American herring gulls,
feeding on mollusks,
including this one who caught something pretty large. 
I am not sure what it was but the bird was having a hard time eating it.
Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web-page with some more photos of the sea shells and birds I saw on the beach. Long Beach Island: Holgate beach seashells and birds February 2 2025. 
As I neared the parking lot I saw the only other person I would see on the beach, a young man running in the sand. He was an Philadelphia Eagles fan. He yelled Go Birds when he saw my Eagles hat and jacket. They are going to win the Super Bowl this year, well, I hope so anyway.
I finished my five mile hike. The weather conditions weren’t the best for me, or for seeing wildlife but I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the solitude of the beach and ocean. I love the ocean in all seasons and all over our planet. I have been on all of our oceans., but there is something special, primeval, about the ocean in Winter. I was glad I made the journey to Long Beach Island. I hope to return soon. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web-page with some more photos from my hike on the beach. Long Beach Island: Holgate beach hike February 2 2025.
“Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” Christy Ann Martine
“Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” Van Morrisson
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