Friday, March 5 BirdINNg Trips & Registration

White-winged Scoter photo courtesy of Frode Jacobsen. Harbor and Gray Seals photo courtesy of Rita Modesti.

Delmarva Birding Weekends is offering tours with these COVID-19 guidelines in place.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Each field trip is sold separately through an individual PayPal button.

MORNING TRIPS

Chincoteague Bay Wilderness: Public Landing to Scott’s Landing (DRIVING/HIKING)
8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $25/person
Meeting Location: Public Landing Pier at the end of Public Landing Rd

The historic landings of Chincoteague Bay in Maryland feature some of the most unspoiled wilderness on the East Coast. During this exclusive winter trip, historically and ornithologically-versed guides will lead participants to some of the most remote and best saltwater and marsh winter birding spots in Maryland. These include three secluded landings nestled within 16,000 acres of protected lands.

Birds of Bombay Hook NWR (DRIVING/HIKING)
8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $25/person
Meeting Location: Bombay Hook NWR Visitor Center

Delaware’s most famous birding hot spot, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Dover, Delaware, offers a cornucopia of birding opportunities – from saltmarsh and bay beach to freshwater ponds and rich, deciduous woodlands. We’ll sample each of the main habitat types looking for winter shorebirds and waterfowl. Scan the fields on your drive into the refuge for large flocks of Snow Geese! The trip will involve some easy walking and car caravans between major stops.

AFTERNOON LAND-BASED TRIP

Mispillion Inlet to Fowler Beach (DRIVING/HIKING)
1:30 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $25/person
Meeting Location: Dupont Nature Center (2992 Lighthouse Rd, Milford, DE 19963)

THIS FIELD TRIP IS SOLD OUT. Please email dmvbirds@gmail.com if you wish to be placed on the wait list.

The lower Delaware Bay shore offers some of the best winter birding in Delaware. This trip will begin at the Dupont Nature Center on Mispillion Inlet in search of waterfowl, gulls, raptors and other waterbirds. We will stop at a few Delaware Bay access sites in Slaughter Beach to scan the bay for loons, sea ducks and gulls. We will end the trip at Fowler Beach, the northern access to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge where we will walk out to the beach in search of wintering shorebirds, Horned Lark, Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur. As the sun sets at the end of the day we will scan the marsh for hunting Short-eared Owls.

AFTERNOON BOAT TRIP

Scoters, Seals & Slightly Mightys (LEWES BOAT TOUR)
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $65/person (includes tip for First Mate)
Meeting Location: Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes, DE

PLEASE NOTE: Under current COVID-19 restrictions, capacity on the boat is limited to maintain social distancing. The heated indoor cabin will be closed, and we will be outside for the entire two-hour trip. Please dress for a true Arctic experience! Click this link for more information.

THIS BOAT TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO STRONG WINDS.  We have rescheduled for Sunday, March 7, from 3:00-5:00 pm. Those unable to make the new trip will be given a full refund. If you registered for this trip, please check your email.

Harbor and Gray Seal photos courtesy of Sherry Abbott.

Join us for a two hour cruise of the waters around the mouth of the Delaware Bay aboard the Thelma Dale V. The boat features 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 common and rare waterfowl and seabirds including gulls, cormorants, gannets, loons, scoters, eiders and with luck a Harlequin Duck or Razorbill. We also have a good chance of seeing Harbor and Gray Seals that regularly haul out on the ice breakers. Restrooms are available on board, and coolers (with off-centered ales from Dogfish Head! see pairing suggestions below) are welcome!

What goes better together than birds and beers? Here are Dogfish Head’s off-centered ale pairing recommendations for the Winter Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekend!

Long-tailed Duck photo courtesy of Susan Hale.

Slightly Mighty IPA: A lo-cal IPA that is slight in calories and carbs with mighty hop flavor. Brewed with a touch of monk fruit that delivers body and complexity but adds zero calories or carbs, Slightly Mighty has all the flavor & tropical aromas of a world class IPA.

SeaQuench Ale: The #1 selling sour in the U.S., SeaQuench Ale is our session sour brewed with black limes, lime juice, and sea salt for a bright, citrusy flavor and thirst-quenching finish.

TALLY RALLY

Lewes Tally Rally at Irish Eyes, sponsored by Dogfish Head
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Cost: free
Meeting Location: Irish Eyes in Lewes, DE

Please note: the Tally Rally is free to attend, but you must RSVP at dmvbirds@gmail.com due to space limitations and covid-19 restrictions. Guests are responsible for their own food and drink purchases.

The Lewes Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekend is more than a great opportunity to see unique local birds…it is also a time to meet unique local birders! Birders will enjoy great food and craft beer at Irish Eyes in beautiful Lewes, DE. See what birds have been seen on the Friday field trips, and learn about local birding hotspots from our DBW guides. Join us to swap birding stories and add to the DBW checklist for the weekend. There is no fee for attending the tally rally, but food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Irish Eyes will have these Dogfish Head specials for birders:

  • Buy a pint of Dogfish Head’s Campfire Amplifier or Sun-day-feels, and keep the pint glass!
  • $1 off Dogfish Head cans (Slightly Mighty, SeaQuench or Namaste)

Please note:

  • Food and drink are not included in the cost for trips and tally rallies.
  • Trips will go rain or shine.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions, a full refund will be provided.

PHOTO CREDITS: All bird photos courtesy of Frode Jacobsen. Seal photo courtesy of Rita Modesti. Birder photographs provided by the Delmarva Birding Weekends.