Little Egg Harbor Bay in Holgate — Online Webcam
Where Little Egg Harbor Bay Is Located
Holgate is a small settlement at the southern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County, New Jersey. This webcam is installed near a marine field station and overlooks the waters of Little Egg Harbor — a brackish water body that is part of the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway system. The camera operates in real time, allowing you to observe the tidal life of the Atlantic coast.
Why the Bay Was Called "Egg Harbor"
The name "Little Egg Harbor" appeared long before the founding of the United States. Dutch sailors, the first to explore this coastline, discovered a vast number of bird nests with eggs on the nearby beaches and marshes — predominantly seagull eggs. That is where the name originated, which later became attached to the entire bay and the settlement of the same name. Today, this name sounds unusual, but it reflects the richness of the local birdlife that attracted early explorers as far back as the 17th century.
The Battle of Chestnut Neck and the Revolutionary War
Little Egg Harbor Bay played a notable role in the American Revolution. The settlement of Chestnut Neck on the Little Egg Harbor River served as an important base for American privateers — private raiders who attacked British supply transports destined for George Washington's army stationed at Valley Forge. In response, the British command organized a punitive expedition.
On October 5, 1778, the British fleet entered the bay through the tidal inlet near Holgate — the very same inlet that is now closed and no longer appears on modern maps. The following day, on October 6, 1778, the Battle of Chestnut Neck took place. British ships bombarded the settlement with artillery and landed troops that destroyed the privateers' warehouses and vessels. This event became one of the episodes in the struggle for control over maritime communications in the region.
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Today, Holgate is not only a historic site but also an important nature reserve. The southern part of Long Beach Island, where Holgate is located, is part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge was established in 1984 by merging two existing tracts with the goal of protecting tidal marshes and shallow bays as habitat for migratory waterfowl.
The refuge's territory is unique in its composition: more than 78% of its area is covered by coastal salt marshes — an ecosystem that serves as a critical stopover and feeding ground for thousands of migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. The Holgate section of the refuge holds Important Bird Area (IBA) status with global priority, designated by the National Audubon Society.
Nature and Coastal Landscape
The landscape visible from the Holgate coast is typical of New Jersey's barrier islands. Sandy dunes give way to a strip of salt marshes, beyond which lies the calm waters of the bay. In the summer months, the dunes are covered with seaside goldenrod and other salt-tolerant plants that hold the sand in place and prevent erosion.
The bay is home to both freshwater and marine species — the brackish water creates unique conditions for a mixed ecosystem. Fish spawn here, crabs inhabit the waters, and during migration season, flocks of waterfowl gather. The calm water surface on the camera is not a static picture but a living ecosystem that changes with the tides.
What You Can See on the Camera
The online camera is positioned to cover the central part of Little Egg Harbor Bay. In the frame are wooden piers and a boat dock with moored boats and yachts, many of which are covered with protective tarps. On the left is a long pier with several vessels, and on the right is another wooden pier with distinctive posts. The water in the bay is usually calm, creating a sense of tranquility. On the horizon, a distant shoreline is visible, and in the lower right corner of the frame is the logo of the Marine Education Field Station Long Beach Township, indicating the camera's location. This real-time webcam allows you to observe life on the New Jersey coast at any time of day.
