April 13: Ospreys, Eagles & Ales

Catch a Flight & Raise a Pint with Dogfish Head!

Bald Eagle and Osprey photo courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

We are very excited about spring birding, biking and off-centered ale tastings with you. You can register for each experience individually for $25/person, and join us for a free Tally Rally at the Dogfish INN at 5:00 pm! Details below.

We tallied 56 species during our April 13, 2024 event!

MORNING BIRDING TOUR

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (HIKING)
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $25/person
Meeting Location: Prime Hook NWR Visitor Center, 11978 Turkle Pond Rd, Milton, DE 19968. GPS coordinates: 38.830404, -75.248497

Please note: only two tickets remain available for this tour as of 8:00 pm on Tuesday, April 9.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Milton, Delaware, offers a cornucopia of birding opportunities – from saltmarsh to ponds and rich, deciduous woodlands. We’ll sample each of the main habitat types looking for spring shorebirds and waterfowl. The trip will involve some easy walking on the Dike and Boardwalk Trails. Meet at the Prime Hook NWR Visitor Center on Turkle Pond Road. Total estimated hiking distance is 1.5 miles.

If you are joining us for the 11:30 brewery tour and tasting, it’s only a 16-minute drive from Prime Hook NWR to the Dogfish Head Brewery.

MID-DAY BREWERY TOUR & TASTING

Off-Centered Tour at the Dogfish Head Brewery
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Cost: $25/person
Meeting Location: The Dogfish Head Brewery, located at 6 Cannery Village Center, Milton, DE 19968.

You’ve tasted the beers and now you want to see how the magic happens! Join us as we show you around our off-centered world. An hour-plus long tour, we’ll dive into what makes Dogfish Dogfish. We have stops at our 200-barrel brewhouse, our R&D system where you’ll have a chance to sample one of our experimental brews, and our rackhouse where we will sample a cocktail. Then we’ll finish things off with a trip into our Steampunk Treehouse and a flight in our Tasting Room – four samples and you get to pick ‘em all! In addition to beer and cocktail samples, we’re sending you home with a specialty logo glass that’s only available to those that take this tour!

When the brewery tour ends at 12:30 pm, we encourage you to grab lunch at the Dogfish Head Tasting Room with your DBW guides before the afternoon cycling adventure in Lewes. Please note that lunch is not included in the tour. We’ll plan to depart Milton by 1:45 pm to make the 20-minute drive to the Dogfish INN in Lewes to get ready for the 2:30 pm bike tour.

AFTERNOON BIRDING & BIKING TOUR

Birding by Bike at Cape Henlopen State Park
Time: 2:30 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $25/person  (must provide your own bike; see below for rental information)
Meeting Location: The Dogfish INN, located at 105 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.

Please note: the Dogfish INN parking lot is for guests only, but there is a public parking lot conveniently located across the street. You must arrange for your own bike and helmet for this trip. If you need to rent a bike, please email dmvbirds@gmail.com. The entry fee for Cape Henlopen State Park is not required when cycling into the park.

This field trip is sold out. If you wish to be placed on the waitlist, please email dmvbirds@gmail.com with your name and the number in your party. If someone cancels, we may be able to add you.

We’ll meet by the Cowboy Cauldron at the Dogfish INN for an overview of the afternoon’s itinerary. Over the course of this 2.5-hour cycling tour, we’ll travel ~10 miles along paved and compact bike trails (appropriate for both road and mountain bikes) through pitch pine forest, dunes and beach habitats that support a wide array of bird life. We’ll make several stops to scope birds along the beach, ocean and bay, as well as a stop at the Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch to scan the skies for seabirds and a stop at the Seaside Nature Center to watch the bird feeders. Total estimated biking distance is 10 miles.

We’ll end our biking & birding adventure right where we started at the Dogfish INN, just in time for our 5:00 pm Tally Rally!

TALLY RALLY

Tally Rally at the Dogfish INN
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Cost: free, but RSVP is required at dmvbirds@gmail.com
Meeting Location: The Dogfish INN, located at 105 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958. We may host the Tally Rally inside or outside around the Cowboy Cauldron, so please dress for the weather! GPS Coordinates: 38.775121, -75.137909

Please note: the Dogfish INN parking lot is for guests only, but there is a public parking lot conveniently located across the street.

Ospreys, Eagles & Ales is more than a great opportunity to see unique local birds…it is also a time to meet unique local birders! Birders will enjoy complimentary samples of Dogfish Head craft ales and good company at the Dogfish INN. Help our guides tally species observed during the field trips, and learn about local birding hotspots.

Check out our Google Map of sites. Zoom in for estimated hiking and biking routes:

Some common sense approaches to make your spring birding trips more enjoyable:

  • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for spring weather near the ocean! Boots are preferred on trips that include hiking.
  • Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun. You can still get sunburn in the winter.
  • Bring rain gear as all events are rain or shine.
  • Try to arrive a little before the scheduled trip departs.
  • Most trips are not appropriate for young children. Please use your discretion when registering.
  • Be courteous to your fellow birders. Speak quietly and turn off cell phones during trips.
  • There are restroom facilities on most trips, but there may not be restrooms available at all stops. Please use the facilities when they are available to you!

Please note:

  • No cancellations are accepted after April 1, 2024. For a further explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
  • Trips will go in the rain or fog, unless torrential downpours prevent us from viewing wildlife.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions (typically storms or strong, gusting winds), we will notify you via email. Please note that the email will be sent to all participants BCC, so you may need to check your email spam folder. A full refund will be provided within 15 days.