Jan. 11: Scoters & Seals

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

Our DBW guides and the Captain and Crew of the Thelma Dale V are very excited about winter birding and seal watching with you and our friends at the Dogfish INN and Dogfish Head! Please join us for our first trip of the 2025 season on Saturday, Jan. 11 from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm. We time these cruises with the low tide, which is 12:40 pm on Jan. 11. Following the cruise, we’ll run a late afternoon field trip from 2:30 – 5:30 pm for waterfowl and (hopefully!) Short-eared Owls at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Details below.

MIDDAY BOAT TRIP

Scoters & Seals (LEWES BOAT TOUR)
Date: Saturday, January 11
Time: 11:00 am – 1:30 pm (low tide is 12:40 pm)
Cost: $72/person (includes tip for First Mate)
Meeting Location: Fisherman’s Wharf 107 Anglers Rd, Lewes, DE 19958. GPS Coordinates: 38.776829, -75.137510

Black Scoter, photo courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

Join us for a 2.5-hour cruise of the waters around the mouth of the Delaware Bay aboard the Thelma Dale IV. 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 White-winged Scoter 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 (with off-centered ales from Dogfish Head 😀) 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 the Lewes Breakwater Harbor on January 11 is 12:40 pm.

We tallied 37 species during this cruise on January 6, 2024.

Harbor and Gray Seal photos courtesy of Sherry Abbott.

LATE AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP

Prime Hook NWR to Fowler Beach (DRIVING/HIKING)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 11
Time: 2:30 – 5:30 pm (sunset is 5:00 pm)
Cost: $30/person
Meeting Location: Prime Hook NWR Visitor Center, 11978 Turkle Pond Rd, Milton, DE 19968. GPS coordinates: 38.830404, -75.248497

Gadwall, photo courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Milton, 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!

We will end the trip at Fowler Beach, the northern access to Prime Hook NWR where we will walk out to the beach in search of wintering shorebirds, Horned Lark, and Snow Bunting. As the sun sets at the end of the day we will scan the marsh for hunting Short-eared Owls. This field trip will involve some easy walking and car caravans between major stops.

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

  • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for winter 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.
  • Boat trips usually fill earlier than other trips; please make your reservations early.
  • For boat trips: If you are prone to seasickness, you may want to consider Dramamine or Bonine (both are sold over-the-counter), or whatever natural preventative you prefer. Please don’t wait until you’re on the boat to take your medication. Follow the instructions to make sure you have a great experience birding on the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
  • 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.
  • Please do your best to not block the view for others on the boat. For the land-based trip, please don’t walk ahead of the group. Let’s stay together so that we can all see the bird.
  • 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 January 1, 2025. 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 as soon as possible. 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.