Nickerson Beach

Quick Facts

Free?
(Free off season/hours)
Parking ?
Facilities?Restrooms ✅
Food and Drink for sale? ✅ (in season)
Dogs Allowed?
(fenced in dog park on premises)

? Click here to see IG Story Videos from our trips here

Nickerson Beach is one of our favorite places to see nesting shorebirds such as Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Common Terns and Black Skimmers.

Fees – FREE between Labor Day Memorial Day

If you visit, be mindful of the times you arrive. You can avoid the fees by arriving before 8am or after 4pm – which are better for bird viewing photography anyway. After that, it becomes one of the most expensive beaches on Long Island at $37 per car. Even if you have a Leisure Pass, it’s still $14(now $17)  Although it’s pretty outrageous, it may benefit the birds by not being as crowded as other local beaches in the area. 

How to get there – Parking & Beach Map

There is a large entrance sign on Lido Blvd., and when you pull in just follow the “U” shaped road to the booths.

Off season/hours, there wont be anyone in the booths – they will all be blocked off with cones except the one on the right, which you can drive through. Keep going straight and the large parking lot will be on your left. Park in the far left corner when you pull in. There are bathrooms and a concession stand there, as well as the ramp to the beach access closest to the east bird colony. Once you’re there, you can stay as long as you like (until sunset).

The “(common) Tern & Skimmer” colony is where we spend most of our time in the summer, watching the babies and parents. While Oystercatchers can be found throughout the entire beach, it’s also where most of the families spend their time.

The area that says “More Terns” often has a large puddle area alongside it (especially in Spring) where Skimmers skim and Terns bathe. It’s also a good spot to see different species of terns that are migrating through, which seem to stop there. We most recently saw a Roseate Tern there.

If you keep walking that way down the beach towards the “More Terns” section, you may find some nesting Least Terns as well, but Jones Beach West End, as well as Robert Moses/Fire Island Beaches are better places for those. There will still be nesting Terns, Skimmers, Plovers and Oystercatchers at that end.

The colonies areas are roped off with signs, giving a safe haven for the nesting families.

**IMPORTANT**
The terns often make nests close to the ropes – but that doesn’t mean you can get that close. They are very defensive and will be visibly stressed if you get too close. You will get “dive-bombed” and pooped on. If this happens, move a safe distance away until the tern feels comfortable. Sitting down in one spot and slowly moving forward is a good trick.

The other side of the Parking Lot has a small fenced off area with fresh water, where you can find Skimmers skimming, Terns bathing, Oystercatchers, Herons and many other species.

When To Go:

March: The Oystercatchers start returning and winter visitors like Gannets, Dunlin, Sanderlings, Loons and others are still present early in the month. The Oystercatchers begin their piping cermonies and looking for mates.

April: The Winter birds are returning north and Oystercatchers are pairing off. The Piping Plovers return along with the Terns.

May: The Oystercatcher chicks begin hatching near the end of the month, The plovers start laying eggs and the Terns and Black Skimmers have all returned in large numbers. Terns are mating and doing their dances.

June: More Oystercatchers babies and Tern and Plover chicks start hatching mid-late in the month.

July: More Terns are hatching, Skimmers are on nests and the Oystercatchers juveniles are looking more like adults.

August: Skimmer chicks start hatching in beginning of the month.

September: We start seeing more Sanderlings, Red knots and other fall shorebird migrants. Skimmer chicks are mixed between younger and older chicks. All the tern chicks can fly, and along with Oystercatchers and Skimmers, they begin migrating out.

During the winter months you can see Long Tailed Ducks, Common and Red Throated Loons, Scoters and others. We prefer Jones Beach West end for a greater variety. ***From late November to March, you may be able to see a Snowy owl here.