Lewes, DE Seabirds & Seals Tours

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

Our Seabirds & Seals boat tours will begin in January 2024, thanks to our sponsors the Dogfish INN and Dogfish Head!

Soon, we will post dates for next season, starting in January and running through March 2024. If you wish to have your name added to a waitlist for next season’s tours, please email us at dmvbirds@gmail.com.

We will also host two full Winter Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekends, with Seabirds & Seals boat tours, and field trips to local parks and refuges. Save the dates!

  • Friday, Jan. 26 – Sunday, Jan. 28
  • Friday, March 8 – Sunday, March 10

Read below for a description of the winter tours. We hope to see you next season!

Join us for an afternoon of boating excursions around the historic breakwaters and lighthouses of Lewes, DE, to search for seabirds, scoters and seals with our friends at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Make the Dogfish INN your Basecamp for Winter BirdINNg! Pair your birding adventure with a stay at the Dogfish INN in historic downtown Lewes, and visit Dogfish Head’s off-centered world before and after your boat trips at the at the Tasting Room & Kitchen in Milton, and Brewings & Eats and Chesapeake & Maine in Rehoboth Beach.

BOAT TOURS

Seabirds & Seals (LEWES BOAT TOURS)
Dates and Times: TBD
Cost: $72/person (includes tip for First Mate)
Meeting Location: Fisherman’s Wharf 107 Anglers Rd, Lewes, DE 19958. GPS Coordinates: 38.776829, -75.137510

Great Cormorant and Gray Seals, photos courtesy of Barbara Clipper.

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 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 rocks. Restrooms are available on board, and coolers (with off-centered ales from Dogfish Head 😀) are welcome!

We will coordinate the boat trips around low tide, which will offer better views of the seals hauled out on the lower breakwater rocks.

Harbor Seal and Gray Seal photos courtesy of Sherry Abbott.

What goes better together than birds and beers? Here are Dogfish Head’s off-centered ale pairing recommendations for the February 18 “Seabirds & Seals” experiences! Please drink responsibly.

Red-throated Loon photo courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

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.

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.

Read more about winter wildlife watching in the Delaware Bay


Click here to read the February 4, 2023 article “Once near extinction, gray seals are a frequent sight in Delaware Bay,” courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch and our friend Jim McCormac

Please note:

  • Cancellations are accepted and refunds will be provided up to two weeks before a trip. After that, refunds will not be provided.
  • Boat trips will go rain or shine.
  • Our biggest risk for a trip cancellation is strong, gusting wind. We closely watch the weather forecast the week prior, and normally we can make the call to cancel 48 hours out. We aim to give you as much advance notice as possible, but occasionally the forecast is incorrect and we will need to cancel or postpone the tour on the same day.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions, you will be given the option of a full refund or a rescheduled trip.

Google Map of all meeting locations

Click on the Google map for specific meeting locations for all field trips and tally rallies.

Some common sense approaches to make your winter 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!