Oct. 9-11: OktoBIRDfest x Dogfish Head
Registration is open! All reservations will be confirmed via email. No cancellations after Oct. 1, 2026. Trips are subject to weather cancellations.
Join Dogfish Head and Delmarva Birding Weekends for fabulous fall birding and off-centered ales during OktoBIRDfest x Dogfish Head, October 9 – 11!
Check out our eBird Trip Report for last year’s OktoBIRDfest x Dogfish Head, hosted Oct. 16 – 19, 2025. The trip report tallied 130 species from field trips to National Wildlife Refuges, Delaware State Parks and a cruise on the Delaware Bay and the Broadkill River.
During Oct. 9 – 11, we will be hosting these field trips with our partners:
- Bombay Hook NWR & Kent County Hotspots
- Cape Henlopen State Park
- Prime Hook NWR
- Online Photo Workshop with Troy Bynum
- Broadkill & Breakwater Cruise with Fisherman’s Wharf
- Indian River Inlet & Burton Island
Click these links for field trip descriptions and registration info
- Friday, October 9
- Saturday, October 10
- Sunday, October 11
- OktoBIRDfest x Dogfish Head Directions, Policies & Tips
Punkin Ale Fest: Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 am – 4 pm
Oh my gourd, it’s officially the season for all things Punkin Ale! Get ready to celebrate with some exclusive libations, DOGfishies, local vendors and more at Dogfish Head’s Milton Brewery!
Swing by Punkin Ale Fest from 11 am – 4 pm for their annual FREE family and dog friendly event where you can enjoy some amazing local craft vendors and food trucks, Dogfish Head ales & spirits, live music, yard games, a pet photo booth and much more! It’s the perfect fall celebration!
The Dogfish INN
Nestled along the canal in historic downtown Lewes, the Dogfish INN is the Mother Nature basecamp for coastal Delaware, providing beer lovers and adventure seekers alike with fun-filled opportunities to explore the area’s many splendors. We’ll host a Tally Rally at the Dogfish INN on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 6:00 pm following our 3:30 – 6:00 pm Broadkill & Breakwaters Cruise.
Looking to book your stay during OktoBIRDfest? Follow the link here or give the INN a ring at 302-644-8292.
“Mother Nature, Let’s Do This!“
Dogfish Head Founder & Brewer, Sam Calagione, said the brewery’s nature-centric mindset made this partnership an easy marriage. “Mother Nature is at the heart of everything we do at Dogfish, because without the natural agricultural ingredients with which we craft our recipes, our beers would not exist. That’s why we are continuously seeking new ways to protect and give back to the Earth, especially in our local community. In fact, our motto here at the Dogfish INN is, ‘Welcome to Lewes. Mother Nature, Let’s Do This!’ In coastal Delaware, we are surrounded by opportunities to explore the great outdoors, and we are lucky enough to have one of the world’s best birding scenes. Through our partnership with Delmarva Birding Weekends, we are hoping to not only encourage folks to get outside and experience the goodness just beyond their doors, but to inspire them to do their part to protect the planet we call home.”
Please note:
- No cancellations are accepted after Oct. 1, 2026. For an explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
- 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.