Thursday, Oct. 16
Registration is open! All reservations will be confirmed via email. No cancellations after September 27, 2025. Trips are subject to weather cancellations.
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.
In the event of a federal government shutdown, National Wildlife Refuges operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will generally be closed to the public. As of midnight on October 1, 2025, parts of the U.S. government have shut down, triggering these closures.
Update on Sunday, Oct. 12: The wildlife drive and trails at Bombay Hook NWR are open for visitation. The visitor center and public restrooms are not open at this time. If you are joining this field trip, you may want to visit a restroom prior to your visit.
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, and are valid July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. For more information about purchasing your Delaware CAP, please click here.
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. Your guides will probably eat lunch at Sambo’s in Leipsic if you wish to join them. Please note that Sambo’s does not take credit cards – cash only.
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 the Little Creek Wildlife Area, Aquatic Resources Education Center and Cedar Swamp 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 September 27, 2025. For an explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
- Food and drink are not included in the cost for trips and tally rallies.
- 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.