Search for seabirds and shorebirds over acres of salt marsh from atop the dike at Egypt Lane, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This popular birdwatching hotspot along the shore of Fairhaven’s Priests Cove is home to a rich diversity of coastal life for you to scope out.

Walk out on Egypt Lane’s stone dike, part of the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier, to view recently named Carolyn's Pond, salt marshes and the bay, which is a great places to spot birds!

Whether you’re an avid birder or you simply appreciate a beautiful view, you’ll find something to love at Egypt Lane. Along the Phoenix Bike Trail near the end of Egypt Lane, a section of the New Bedford Harbor Hurricane Barrier looks out over salt marshes and the sandy shoreline of outer New Bedford Harbor. Stop here during a walk or bike ride to look for birds, or enjoy a picnic with a view.

Because there’s no parking on Egypt Lane, this spot is best accessed on foot from the Phoenix Bike Trail. Turn south off the bike path at Egypt Lane and walk up the slope toward the stone dike. The flat top of the dike, beyond both gates, is open to the public.

The road on the south side of the dike is private. Please respect homeowners’ privacy and stay off this end of the road.

Snowy egret and pied-billed grebe, clapper rail and American woodcock, osprey, eider, hawks, and swallows, herons in green and blue, are just a fraction of the hundreds of bird species that birdwatchers have spotted in the pond and salt marshes visible from the Egypt Lane dike. These marshes not only provide excellent habitat for these birds, but also for crabs, insects, fish, and a variety of shellfish.

The marshes west of Egypt Lane are also a testament to the power of environmental restoration. What is now pond and marsh was formerly the site of the Atlas Tack Corporation, which polluted the area with heavy metals and solvents. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared this spot a Superfund site. The EPA led an extensive effort to revitalize the area and restore the coastal habitats you see today.