2026 Scoters & Seals Cruises

Black Scoter photo courtesy of Dr. Frode Jacobsen. Harbor and Gray Seals photo courtesy of Rita Modesti.

Join us in Lewes, DE for fun winter birding & seal-watcning cruises on the Delaware Bay!

Our DBW guides and the Captains and Crew at Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes, DE are very excited about winter birding and seal watching with you and our friends at the Dogfish INN and Dogfish Head! Please join us this winter for “Scoters & Seals” cruises on the Delaware Bay.

Registration is open for the Feb. 14 cruise. We will open registration for Feb. 28 as soon as we have met our minimum of 30 participants for each cruise. If you wish to add your name to the interest list for the Feb. 28 cruise, please email dmvbirds@gmail.com with your name, the number of people in your party and your preferred date(s). Our Feb. 28 cruise will be hosted with other land-based birding experiences as part of our Winter Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekends. Details below.

Please note (updated 2:30 pm on Sunday, Dec. 28): We are currently updating our website to accommodate PayPal’s recent payment button upgrades. We are working quickly to restore the ‘Add to Cart’ function and apologize for any temporary inconvenience. Thank you for your patience.

2026 Cruise Information

Scoters & Seals (LEWES BOAT TOUR)
Dates & Times: Scroll down for more information. Cruises are timed around low tide, which tends to be the best time for viewing Gray and Harbor Seals.
Cost: $72/person (includes tip for crew of Thelma Dale V)
Meeting Location: Fisherman’s Wharf 107 Anglers Rd, Lewes, DE 19958. GPS Coordinates: 38.776829, -75.137510

2026 Cruise Dates & Times

Saturday, Jan. 3, 1:30 – 4:00 pm
Low Tide: 2:33 pm / Sunset: 4:51 pm
Guides: Scott Housten, Jim Green, Dave Curson & Jim Rapp

We tallied 33 species on the Jan. 3 cruise.

Saturday, Jan. 17, 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Low Tide: 1:58 pm / Sunset: 5:05 pm
Guides: Chris Bennett, Anthony Gonzon, Russ Kovach & Jim Rapp

We tallied 40 species on the Jan. 17 cruise.

Saturday, Feb. 14, 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Low Tide: 12:50 pm / Sunset: 5:37 pm
Guides: Chris Bennett, Jim Rapp, Jim Green & Guide TBD

Click here to register for the Feb. 14 Scoters & Seals cruise.

Saturday, Feb. 28, 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Low Tide: 12:26 pm / Sunset: 5:52 pm
Guides: Chris Bennett, Anthony Gonzon, Russ Kovach & Jim Rapp

Click here to register for the Feb. 28 Scoters & Seals cruise.

General Information

Harbor and Gray Seal photos courtesy of Sherry Abbott.

Join us for a 2.5-hour cruise of the waters around the mouth of the Delaware Bay aboard the Thelma Dale V. 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 White-winged Scoter 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 are welcome!

We coordinate these cruises with low tide, which will offer better views of the seals hauled out on the lower breakwater rocks.

We had a great time birding on the Delaware Bay last winter. Check out these eBird lists from our 2025 cruises:

Some common sense approaches to make your birding trips more enjoyable:

  • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for early spring weather near the ocean!
  • 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 at least 30 minutes before the trip departs.
  • 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.

Please note:

  • No cancellations later than two weeks before the cruise departs. For a further explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
  • Trips will go in the rain or fog, unless torrential downpours prevent us from viewing wildlife.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions (typically storms or strong, gusting winds), we will notify you as soon as possible 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.
  • eBird checklists for all tours will be shared with participants.oo.