Birdwatching Louisiana Swamp Tours

de la Houssaye's Swamp Tours email:> catahoula1@gmail.com

Hi, I am Marcus de la Houssaye

                                       owner and operator of de la Houssaye's Swamp Tours

One of my favorite birds on tour is the Prothonitary Warbler as seen below.

What I like about this warbler is how it will be indifferent to being in close proximity to humans thus allowing easy photo and birding opportunity.

After nearly 3 months of non-stop rain, I can't believe we have blue bird skies!

One of the best parts of sunshine is we can now find the gators sunning themselves...

and the birds are coming out of the shadows to dry off too!

Most of the bird nesting is in decline at this point, but evidence of the abundance of nesters is everywhere, like this Osprey nest on top of an ancient cypress, as seen below.

Also this time of year we have some very interesting nesters who nest on the ground!

BTW: there is a mama alligator nesting on the waters edge on Rookery road, and even though the newbie at the Nature Conservancy came and trashed the nest, scattered the eggs all over road, mama is still there protecting her nest anyway.


As much as I love the early morning swamp tours I do more sunset tours because getting to the lake for sunrise is asking a lot of people who are on vacation, and this time of the year everybody wants to see gators and sunset is the most productive time this time of day during the year to view gators unless you do a night tour!

If you are travelling and want to see gators, and don't have time for a 1 or 2 hour tour, I advise you get off of I-10 at Breaux Bridge, go to the rookery and see the gators on the side of the road.

They are always there waiting on you, and there is no charge to travel rookery road in your private vehicle and tour yourself...

Louisiana Swamp Tours July 2015

Don't hate me for the weather report, but 4th of July swamp tours are getting rained out for the third time in a row here at Lake Martin today and it ain't even 3:30pm yet.

But we are here waiting for you should you want to brave the rain chance...


The photo below was how good the weather looked at sunrise and it has been down hill ever since.

Hi, I am Marcus de la Houssaye, and I am the man who invented the small flat bottomed boat tours over 30 years ago, and that is how I am still doing it today, as you can see in the photo below.

The reason my boat does not have a top is because I couldn't go through the flooded forest with low hanging branches if it was protected from rain, but after 3 months and about 150 inches of rain so far this year, I am thinking about it.

I have always done my tours in a flat bottomed crawfish boat as you can see from the photo above taken 24 years ago.

As you can see in the photo above, I am not shy about getting wet and wild while on tour, but I try to protect my guests from getting wet and we dodge the thunderstorms to stay dry.

Also, I do on occasion swim with the big boys you see in the photo above, but no one believes me until they see it. And hey.... that's another way to cool off in the summer time!

I love the summer!


Louisiana swamp tours in the summertime are usually better at sunrise or sunset because you see more alligators in the cool of the day and it is much more pleasant for us temperature wise and.... we typically have afternoon thunderstorms which end before 6pm allowing for a window of time to do sunset tours without the risk of rain.

But this year the weather is unpredictable because it rains everyday and morning noon, or night we have been having rain and I mean for the last 3 months!

  Should you choose to do a tour and would like to make a reservation, I can be reached at 337 298 2630.

4th of July Louisiana Swamp Tours

de la Houssaye's Swamp Tours

 

 

I am the man who has been doing swamp tours in a crawfish boat for nearly 30 years.

I have always made a point to keep it small and personal. I also do custom photo and birding safaris as a private option where is only you and your family.

 

 

The photo below of a wood duck was shot at Lake Martin on a custom trip.

 

Looks like we may have a dry 4th considering that we have had rain nearly everyday for the last three months, but...I will believe it when I see it!

 

 

 

 

At any rate IF the sun shines the gators come out of the water and sun themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

The bird nesting season is winding down, but we still have spoonbills and Ibis active in the rookery.

If you are traveling for the 4th of July and want to do a swamp tour we have a about 10 boats at Lake Martin that available for your convience, but not guaranteeing you a seat without a reservation. You can call me at 337 298 2630 to make a reservation, or just show up and sort it out which is not a bad idea with the weather complicating things and making it virtually impossible to predict or plan anything outdoors when it is raining morning and afternoon..

So if you don't mind risking a little rain and getting wet and wild with the man who was swamp before Swamp People was cool, I am your man.

I am Marcus de la Houssaye, and I will be the man driving your tour if you come to de la Houssaye's Swamp Tours. I do not hire drivers to run my tours, as I am a one man operation and I can be reached by cell phone at 337 298 2630 if you would like a personal swamp experience with me.

 

BTW: July and August are alligator nesting season and the momma alligators are on the nest as you can see below...

 

 

Lake Martin is located just a few minutes off of I-10 near Breaux Bridge and Lafayette.

Typically this time of year I only do sunset and sunrise tours due to the heat, but with this crazy weather, the clouds and rain is actually keeping the temps down some. At any rate if I am not available I will refer you to one of my friends who are doing tours 24/7 in big flat bottomed boats.

No matter what or when we will try to accommodate your special interests and make it happen!