Friday, March 8 BirdINNg Trips & Reservations

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

WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE: We are watching the March 8-10 forecast closely. All field trips are currently going as planned, EXCEPT FOR the Saturday, March 9 afternoon “Scoters & Seals” boat trip. This trip has been canceled due to strong, gusting winds. If you registered for the March 9 boat trip, please check your email for options.

MORNING TRIP

Cape Henlopen State Park (DRIVING/HIKING)
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $30/person
Guides: Chris Bennett & Anthony Gonzon
Meeting Location: Seaside Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. GPS coordinates: 38.784045, -75.098197

Please note: Cost does not include the entry fee for Cape Henlopen State Park. Access is granted with a Delaware State Parks annual pass, or with a day-use fee of $5/vehicle with DE tags or $10/vehicle with out-of-state tags. Click here for more information.

The largest state park in Delaware has much to offer birders in late winter. Located where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic, the park contains pitch pine forest, forested wetland, tidal marsh, dunes and beach habitats that support a wide array of bird life. Participants on this trip will search for Brown-headed Nuthatch, loons, scoters and other bay and sea ducks. Less common or rare birds that may be encountered include “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Razorbill, and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

If you have also booked the afternoon boat tour, please note that the entrance to Cape Henlopen State Park is only two miles from the dock at Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll have time to make the 12:00 pm departure time, but you may want to pack a lunch, or eat a late lunch at 2:30 pm when the boat returns.

AFTERNOON BOAT TRIP

Scoters & Seals (LEWES BOAT TOUR)
Time: 12:00 – 2:30 pm
Cost: $72/person (includes tip for crew of Thelma Dale V)
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 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 rocks. Restrooms are available on board, and coolers are welcome!

We are coordinating the boat trip with low tide, which will offer better views of the seals hauled out on the lower breakwater rocks. Low tide for Lewes on March 8 is 12:56 pm.

Harbor and Gray Seal photos courtesy of Sherry Abbott.

The Dogfish INN: your Basecamp for Winter BirdINNg!

Stay at the Dogfish INN! Enjoy 10% off your entire stay for the March 8 – 10 Winter Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekend by using the code 4THEBIRDS when booking your stay at Dogfish.com or by calling 302-644-8292. Click here for more info!

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! Please drink responsibly.

Red-throated Loon photo courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

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.

Please note:

  • No cancellations are accepted after February 23, 2024. 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.