Nov. 12: Delaware Bayshore Birding

Northern Harrier, Canvasback and Northern Shoveler. Photos courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

All reservations will be confirmed via email. No cancellations after November 1, 2023. Trips are subject to weather cancellations.

Click on the image below to review the eBird Trip Report for our Delaware Bayshore Birding field trips from Saturday, November 12, 2022. Highlights of the 67 species observed include Ross’s Goose, Harlequin Duck, Hudsonian Godwit, and Western Sandpiper!

MORNING FIELD TRIP

Birds of Bombay Hook NWR (DRIVING/WALKING)
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $25/person
Meeting Location: Bombay Hook NWR Visitor Center, 2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna, DE 19977-2912. GPS coordinates: 39.259514, -75.473799

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 to search for arriving winter waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds and songbirds. The trip will involve some easy walking and car caravans between major stops.

Please note: We will only cover Bombay Hook NWR up to the Shearness Pool. The back half will be closed for hunting that day.

AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP

Mispillion Inlet to Fowler Beach (DRIVING/WALKING)
Time: 1:30 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $25/person
Meeting Location: Dupont Nature Center 2992 Lighthouse Rd, Milford, DE 19963. GPS coordinates: 38.947610, -75.315232

The lower Delaware Bayshore offers some of the best autumn birding in Delaware. This trip will begin at the Dupont Nature Center on Mispillion Inlet in search of shorebirds, gulls, and raptors. We will stop at a few Delaware Bay access sites in Slaughter Beach to scan the beaches and bay for seabirds and waterfowl. We will end the trip at Fowler Beach, the northern access to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge where we will explore the dunes and beach for sparrows and shorebirds. We might get lucky with a Short-eared Owl sighting at dusk!

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

  • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for autumn weather near the Delaware Bayshore! 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 autumn.
  • Bring rain gear as all events are rain or shine.
  • Try to arrive a little before the scheduled trip departs.
  • 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 note:

  • No cancellations are accepted after November 1, 2023.
  • Trips will go rain or shine.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions, a full refund will be provided.