Saturday, Feb. 12 BirdINNg Trips & Reservations

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

MORNING TRIPS

Sinepuxent Bay Birds & South Point Ponds (DRIVING/HIKING)
8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $25/peron
Meeting Location: Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor Center

Locals know where to see the best variety of ducks, shorebirds, and raptors. So it is local birders who will guide this secret sojourn to four of the best winter birding spots along the area known as South Point. We’ll meet at the Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor Center and stroll to the top of the Verrazano Bridge to look for Brant and other waterfowl while taking in the spectacular view of Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays.

From there we’ll caravan to the Rum Pointe Golf Course to survey the duck-filled ponds for every manner of waterfowl. Then, the trip takes a unique turn as we drive a short distance north to Por Fin Drive, known for its iconic locust trees that grace the gateway to the National Seashore near the Assateague Market. Here, waterfowl enjoy two restored ponds nestled in 130 acres of woods and farmland. The trip ends just north of here at Bayside where we’ll look for Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, and Scaup.

Indian River Inlet & James Farm Ecological Preserve (DRIVING/HIKING) 
8:00 – 11:00 am
Cost: $30/person
Meeting Location: South jetty of the Indian River Inlet, DE, near Big Chill Beach Club

The Indian River Inlet and inland bays offer some of Delaware’s best coastal birding. Indian River Inlet is home to a huge mixed flock of sea ducks including all three scoters and Long-tailed Ducks that may be joined by Common Eider and Harlequin Duck, Great Cormorants and both Loons. Purple Sandpipers are common on the inlet jetties. Horned Grebes and Brant can be seen from the beach at the James Farm Ecological Preserve on Rehoboth Bay.

AFTERNOON BOAT TRIPS

Scoters, Seals & Slightly Mightys (LEWES BOAT TOUR)
12:30 – 2:30 pm and 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $70/person (includes tip for First Mate)
Meeting Location: Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes, DE

12:30 – 2:30 pm

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Harbor and Gray Seal photos courtesy of Sherry Abbott.

Join us for a two hour cruise of the waters around the mouth of the Delaware Bay aboard the Thelma Dale IV. The boat features a large 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 Harlequin Duck or Razorbill. We also have a good chance of seeing Harbor and Gray Seals that regularly haul out on the ice breakers. Restrooms are available on board, and coolers (with off-centered ales from Dogfish Head! see pairing suggestions below) are welcome! Please note: face masks will be mandatory when inside the heated cabin.

Due to the increase in covid cases, we have canceled the complimentary tastings of Dogfish Head off-centered ales inside the boat cabin. You are still free to bring your own — read more below!

What goes better together than birds and beers? Here are Dogfish Head’s off-centered ale pairing recommendations for the Winter Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekend!

Long-tailed Duck photo courtesy of Susan Hale.

Slightly Mighty IPA: A lo-cal IPA that is slight in calories and carbs with mighty hop flavor. Brewed with a touch of monk fruit that delivers body and complexity but adds zero calories or carbs, Slightly Mighty has all the flavor & tropical aromas of a world class IPA.

SeaQuench Ale: The #1 selling sour in the U.S., SeaQuench Ale is our session sour brewed with black limes, lime juice, and sea salt for a bright, citrusy flavor and thirst-quenching finish.

TALLY RALLY

Lewes Tally Rally at Irish Eyes
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Cost: free
Meeting Location: Irish Eyes in Lewes, DE

The Winter Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekend is more than a great opportunity to see unique local birds…it is also a time to meet unique local birders! Birders will enjoy great food and craft beer at Irish Eyes in beautiful Lewes, DE. There will be Dogfish Head specials for our birding buddies!

See what birds have been tallied on the Saturday field trips, and learn about local birding hotspots from our DBW guides. Join us to swap birding stories and add to the DBW checklist for the weekend. There is no fee for attending the tally rally, but food and drinks will be available for purchase. If you plan to attend the Tally Rally, please RSVP with the number in your party at dmvbirds@gmail.com.

Please note:

  • No cancellations are accepted after February 1, 2022, unless diagnosed or quarantined with COVID-19.
  • 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.

Delmarva Birding Weekends is offering tours with these COVID-19 guidelines in place.

PHOTO CREDITS: All bird photos courtesy of Frode Jacobsen. Seal photo courtesy of Rita Modesti. Birder photographs provided by the Delmarva Birding Weekends.