Friday, April 24 – Delmarva Birding Weekends

*Prothonotary Warbler and Common Loon. Photos courtesy of Dr. Frode Jacobsen.*

Join us for a our annual celebration of spring birding! We are hosting two concurrent morning trips and one afternoon boat trip in Delaware on Friday. Registration is open.

MORNING FIELD TRIPS

Redden State Forest (DRIVING/HIKING)
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $30/person
Guides: Chris Bennett & Anthony Gonzon
Meeting Location: 18074 Redden Forest Drive Georgetown, DE 19947. Use GPS coordinates: 38.740507, -75.413394

Yellow-throated Warbler. Photo courtesy of Dr. Frode Jacobsen.

The 12,000 acres of Redden State Forest near Georgetown, Delaware, offer some of the best habitat for breeding forest birds, including Red-headed Woodpecker, Summer Tanager, Yellow-throated, Hooded and Kentucky Warbler and Yellow-throated Vireo. The trip will involve some easy walking and car caravans between major stops.

Please note: Dress and prepare for hiking on trails that may be wet and muddy. Waterproof boots are recommended. Please prepare for ticks. Be sure to bring insect repellent. For information about preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (DRIVING/HIKING)
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $30/person
Guides: Russ Kovach & Jim Rapp
Meeting Location: the new Prime Hook NWR Visitor Center, located on Turkle Pond Rd, Milton, DE 19968. Please note that the new Visitor Center opened in 2025, and it is located on the left shortly after you enter the refuge. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.814729, -75.254365

*Northern Parula. Photo courtesy of Dr. Frode Jacobsen.*

The Delaware Bay shoreline and its adjacent uplands offer the most diverse birding opportunities in southern Delaware. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Milton, Delaware, is the perfect birding location for Friday afternoon. We’ll search for migrants and local breeders, including wading birds, shorebirds, rails, and colorful songbirds like Prairie Warbler and Northern Parula. The trip will involve some easy walking, and car caravans between major stops. Meet at the Prime Hook NWR Visitor Center on Turkle Pond Road.

AFTERNOON CRUISE

Delaware Bay Seabirds (BOAT)
Time: 1:30 – 4:00 pm
Cost: $72/person (includes tip for crew of Thelma Dale iV)
Guides: Chris Bennett, Anthony Gonzon, Russ Kovach & Jim Rapp
Meeting Location: Fisherman’s Wharf 107 Anglers Rd, Lewes, DE 19958. GPS Coordinates: 38.776829, -75.137510

Join us for a 2.5-hour cruise of the waters around the mouth of the Delaware Bay aboard the Thelma Dale V. The boat features a heated cabin, benches along the lower deck rail, and a top deck for open-air viewing. We will visit the two stone breakwaters and the ice breakers in search of waterfowl and seabirds including gulls, cormorants, gannets and loons. Although late in the season, we also have a chance of seeing Gray Seals that haul out on the rocks (we usually see a few in late April). Bottlenose Dolphins are a possibility, too! Restrooms are available on board, and coolers (with off-centered ales from Dogfish Head 😀) are welcome.

*Great Cormorant and Gray Seals. Photos courtesy of Barbara Clipper.*

Please note:

No cancellations are accepted after April 6, 2026. For a further explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
Trips will go rain or shine, unless torrential rains prevent us from viewing wildlife.
If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions, 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.