Nov. 23: Broadkill River & Breakwaters Cruise

Birding aboard the Thelma Dale IV. Photo courtesy of Brenda Miller.

Registration is open. All reservations will be confirmed via email. No cancellations after Nov. 8, 2024.

AFTERNOON BOAT TRIP

Broadkill River & Breakwater Cruise with the Maryland Ornithological Society (BOAT TRIP)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024
Time: 12:30 – 3:00 pm
Cost: $60/person (includes tip for First Mate)
Meeting Location: Fisherman’s Wharf, 107 Anglers Rd, Lewes, DE 19958. GPS coordinates: 38.776757, -75.137437

Join our friends with the Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) for a 2.5-hour cruise of the saltmarshes along the Broadkill River and the open water around the Lewes breakwaters. The MOS is hosting their 76th annual convention at the Grand Hotel in Ocean City, MD during Nov. 22 – 24, and this cruise is one of the many field trips being offered. There are a few seats open on the boat trip in the afternoon for our Delmarva Birders! If you want to register for the full convention, please do so before registration closes on Nov. 5th. For more information, please visit www.MOSconvention.org.

Please note: if you register for the MOS Convention, then you’ll want to sign up for the Broadkill River & Breakwaters Cruise through MOS. The cost is slightly cheaper for MOS convention participants.

More information about the cruise
We’ll depart from Fisherman’s Wharf in historic Lewes to cruise up the Broadkill River and search the saltmarshes of Beach Plum Island and Great Marsh for herons, egrets, ibis and raptors. We’ll then set out through the Roosevelt Inlet towards the Lewes breakwaters and historic lighthouses. Along the way, we’ll search the breakwater rocks and Cape Henlopen shoreline for gulls, terns, pelicans and migrating shorebirds.

We ran this tour on Saturday, October 12 and tallied 44 species, including Brown Pelican, Great Cormorant and Black Scoter. Click here for the eBird species list.

Please park in the lot in front of The Wheelhouse restaurant, located at 107 Anglers Rd, Lewes, DE 19958.

Please note:

  • Food and drink are not included, but you are welcome to bring snacks & drinks in small coolers. Beer and wine are welcome, but NO GLASS BOTTLES.
  • Trips will go rain or shine, unless conditions are predicted to be dangerous.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions, you will be notified via email and a full refund will be provided.
  • If you’re on a boat, bring a coat! Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for weather which can be much cooler near the ocean. It may be warm on the dock, but our ocean and bay waters can be chilly.
  • Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
  • Bring rain gear as all events are rain or shine. We only cancel trips due to dangerous weather, such as lightning or strong winds.
  • 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 and boating.
  • There is an indoor cabin and two heads (toilets) on the boat.
  • Try to arrive a little before the scheduled trip departs.
  • Tips for the First Mate are included in the ticket price.
  • Most trips are not appropriate for young children. Please use your discretion when registering.
  • Be courteous to your fellow birders. Speak quietly and silence cell phones during trips.
  • All reservations will be confirmed via email. No cancellations after Nov. 8. Trips are subject to weather cancellations by boat captains, outfitters and guides. If we must cancel an event due to dangerous conditions, we will notify participants via email, and refunds will be issued a few days after the event. For a further explanation of our refund policy, please click here.