March 23: Scoters & Seals

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

Due to the terrible weekend weather forecast, the Saturday, March 23 photo workshop with Troy Bynum and the Scoters & Seals boat trip have been canceled.

For those registered for March 23, please check your email (the address associated with your PayPal registration) for your options. You may need to check your spam folder, as emails have been sent BCC. If you have questions, please email us at dmvbirds@gmail.com.

We have rescheduled for Saturday, March 30. The photo workshop will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 pm at the Dogfish INN cottage in Lewes. The Scoters & Seals boat trip will be held from 3:30 – 6:00 pm (low tide is 6:30 pm and sunset is 7:10 pm). Registration is open here.

Our DBW guides and the Captain and Crew of the Thelma Dale V are very excited about March birding and seal watching with you and our friends at the Dogfish INN and Dogfish Head! Please join us on Saturday, March 23 for a morning field trip at Cape Henlopen State Park or a morning photography workshop with Troy Bynum at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, and an afternoon “Scoters & Seals” boat trip on the Delaware Bay. Details below.

MORNING PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Photo Workshop with Troy Bynum
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am
Cost: $30/person (lunch on your own)
Instructor: Troy Bynum
Meeting Location: Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, located at 320 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Join Troy Bynum of TB Wildlife Photography for this introductory workshop and unlock the secrets of digital photography! This hands-on course delves into the essentials of Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, empowering participants with a solid foundation. Explore Exposure Compensation, Auto-Focus, Metering, and more, while mastering important terminology and troubleshooting techniques. Perfect for beginners and seasoned photographers alike, this workshop cultivates the skills needed to capture images with your unique artistic flair. By the end, you’ll confidently use manual settings to photograph wildlife and diverse subjects, applicable across various camera types – DSLR, mirrorless, bridge, and superzoom. Elevate your photography journey with this workshop! Click here to read more.

AFTERNOON BOAT TRIP

Scoters & Seals (LEWES BOAT TOUR)
Date: Saturday, March 23
Time: 2:00 – 4:30 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 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 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 March 23 is 2:41 pm.

Harbor and Gray Seal photos courtesy of Sherry Abbott.

March 22 – 24 is also the Weekend of Compelling Ales & Spirits!

Get in the SPIRIT of goodness with this year’s Weekend of Compelling Ales & Spirits! Last year’s guided tasting tour concept is back, so get ready for new beers, cocktails, food pairings, and so much more. Your palate will explore a myriad of beverage concoctions and the chance to taste your way through Dogfish goodness with beer-centric inspired food pairings prepared by our talented culinary teams at Dogfish Head’s Milton Brewery, Brewings & Eats and Chesapeake & Maine. Click here for tickets!

Some common sense approaches to make your 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.
  • 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 March 10, 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.