Thursday, April 24

Prothonotary Warbler and Common Loon. Photos courtesy of Dr. Frode Jacobsen.

Registration is open for our Thursday field trip! We are hosting one all-day field trip in Kent County, DE. Read more below.

ALL-DAY FIELD TRIP

Bombay Hook NWR and Kent County Hotspots (DRIVING/HIKING)
Time: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $55/person
Guides: Chris Bennett & Anthony Gonzon
8:00 am Meeting Location:  Bombay Hook NWR Visitor Center, 2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna, DE 19977-2912. GPS coordinates: 39.259514, -75.473799

Please note: Cost does not include the day pass for Bombay Hook NWR or a Conservation Access Pass (CAP) for Delaware’s Wildlife Areas. Read more about the costs for each below.

Bombay Hook NWR Day Pass: Day passes provide access to refuge trails and the Wildlife Drive. The $4 pass covers the vehicle and up to 4 occupants. The $12 pass is a Bombay Hook specific annual pass. It covers the pass holder and up to 3 guests in the same vehicle. Click here for more information. A current Federal Duck Stamp is also a free pass into any National Wildlife Refuge that charges an entry fee. 

Conservation Access Pass (CAP): Participants must purchase a Conservation Access Pass (CAP), which is required for any vehicle visiting a Delaware state wildlife area. The CAP provides needed funding to help the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife maintain and improve public access, facilities, and wildlife habitat in these beautiful refuges.

A 3-day CAP can be purchased for $10 for a Delaware registered vehicle and $20 for an out-of-state registered vehicle. Only one CAP is required per vehicle. Annual passes are also available, but please note that CAPs purchased now will only be good through June 30, 2025. Annual passes are good July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. For more information about purchasing your Delaware CAP, please click here.

Birding along the Bombay Hook NWR Wildlife Drive.

Delaware’s most famous birding hot spot, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Dover, Delaware, offers a cornucopia of birding opportunities – from saltmarsh and bay beach to freshwater ponds and rich, deciduous woodlands. We’ll sample each of the main habitat types looking for migrants and local breeders, including wading birds, shorebirds, rails, and colorful songbirds. The trip will involve some easy walking and car caravans between major stops alog the Wildlife Drive.

We’ll take a break for lunch around 11:30 am. There are many great lunch spots in nearby Smyrna and Dover!

Black-necked Stilt. Photo courtesy of Nico Sarbanes.

At 1:30 pm, the group will meet at a Kent County (DE) birding hotspot. We have not yet determined which hotspot we will visit first, but we may make stops at Blackbird State Forest, Little Creek Wildlife Area, and the Ted Harvey Wildlife Area. Your guides will help add songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl to your species tally for the day. Please note that a Delaware Conservation Access Pass (CAP) is required for all vehicles visiting a State Wildlife Area. For more information about purchasing your Delaware CAP, please click here.

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.