Saturday, April 26
Registration is open for all Saturday field trips! We’re hosting two morning field trips: a paddling excursion on Nassawango Creek near Snow Hill, MD and birding at the old Bay Club Golf Course and Heron Park in Berlin, MD. In the afternoon, we invite you to join us for a birding cruise in the coastal bays behind Assateague Island and Ocean City, MD.
We may add an all-day field trip in the Nanticoke River Watershed in Southern Delaware. We will share that information soon. Read more below.
MORNING FIELD TRIPS
Neotropicals on the Nassawango – Red House Road to Nassawango Bridge (KAYAK/CANOE)
Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: $65/person sharing a tandem kayak or canoe ($130 total), $90/person solo kayak, $60/person with your own boat & portage (please note: cost includes 11% tax added to rentals by Pocomoke River Canoe Co.)
Guides: Russ Kovach & Jim Rapp
Meeting Location: Pocomoke River Canoe Company, located at 2 River St, Snow Hill, MD 21863
Please note: All paddling done by participants; some experience required. Must be 13 years old to participate. If you are reserving a tandem kayak or canoe, please plan to attend with a paddling partner. We can’t always guarantee another solo paddler will join you in a two-person boat. Thank you!
After we meet at the Pocomoke River Canoe Company in Snow Hill, we’ll be driven to the launch at Red House Road, a few miles northwest. From there, we’ll paddle Nassawango Creek deep into this forested wilderness of bald cypress. Prothonotary Warblers, Wood Ducks, Bald Eagles, and beavers are regulars on this 3-hour trip, which will end at the bridge on Nassawango Road.
On a windy day, this paddle can present a moderate challenge as we approach the Nassawango Road bridge. Paddlers may choose canoes, tandem kayaks, or solo kayaks.
Bay Club & Heron Park (HIKING/DRIVING)
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $30/person
Guides: Jared Parks & Scott Housten
Meeting Location: 9122 Libertytown Road, Berlin, MD 21811. Meet at the entrance to the old Bay Club Golf Course. GPS coordinates: 38.3351265,-75.2497424
Please note: Dress and prepare for hiking on trails that may be wet and muddy. Waterproof boots are recommended. Please prepare for ticks. Be sure to bring insect repellent. For information about preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Join your guides as we explore Worcester County’s newest birding hotspot, the old Bay Club Golf Course just west of Berlin, MD. This property is currently being restored to open meadows, wetlands and forest that are already teeming with songbirds! Management of the property for public access is just beginning, so the trail network is not fully installed. However, MD DNR is in the process of creating an extensive trail network from the cart paths of the old golf course to provide access for birders seeking warblers, sparrows, vireos and more. Read more about the project here.
Following our tour at the Bay Club, we’ll drive 2.5 miles to Berlin to scope the ponds at Heron Park for later wintering waterfowl and early arriving spring songbirds and wading birds.
AFTERNOON FIELD TRIP
Shorebird Explorer (BOAT TRIP)
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Cost: $45/person
Guides: Russ Kovach, Jim Rapp & Guides TBD
Meeting Location: Talbot Street Pier in Ocean City, MD, located at 311 Talbot St., Ocean City, MD 21842. GPS Coordinates: 38.331652, -75.090363
Please note: April 24 – 27 is also Springfest Weekend in Ocean City, so finding available street parking may be difficult. Please make sure that you arrive with plenty of time to park and make your way to the dock before we depart at 2:00 pm.
We have been asked to park at the Assateague Adventure parking lot at 205 Talbot Street. Look for a large “Assateague Adventure” parking sign directly behind the bank. After you have parked, meet your guides at the end of the Talbot Street Pier. Please click on this Google Map for specific parking and meeting locations.
Leave the dock at Talbot Street in Ocean City, Maryland, and tour by boat around Skimmer Island and the north shore of Assateague Island. This two-hour trip is a great for adding coastal species to your DBW checklist, such as Royal Tern, Piping Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Brant, and Common Loons transitioning into their spectacular breeding plumage. And don’t forget the Assateague ponies! Please bring a $5- $10 tip for the First Mate.
We will host a brief Tally Rally on the Talbot Street dock when the boat returns. We encourage you to stay and enjoy happy hour at the world-famous M.R. Duck’s Bar & Grille!
Please note:
- No cancellations are accepted after April 10, 2025. 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.