Field Trips

Field trip sign-ups are now closed. You will be able to sign up for field trips at the convention.

Thank you to our friends at the Delaware Ornithological Society and the Sussex Bird Club for helping us plan field trips and recruit field trip leaders!

MOS has field trips on Friday afternoon, Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, all day Saturday, Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon. Scroll down for field trip descriptions for the 2024 Convention.

Please review these field trip suggestions:

  • Carpooling is expected and expedient. Please help out drivers with a contribution towards the cost of gas.
  • Some venues have a nominal entrance fee per vehicle. Please be prepared to contribute to this cost. Information about entrance fees and accepted annual passes are included in the field trip descriptions below.
  • Be sure to have appropriate field gear: sturdy, waterproof boots and jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent and a good supply of water. 
  • Please do not wander off the road except on public lands. Most private land is posted, but also do not enter the woods where trees are marked with blue paint blazes along public roads.
  • Some field trips will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. This has been noted in the field trip descriptions below, and on the Field Trip Schedule page. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

You can view this Google Map of 2024 field trip sites (please note that some field trip sites may change before field trip sign-ups open):

2024 Field Trip Descriptions

Many thanks to the field trip site descriptions provided by the Birder’s Guide to Maryland & DC, a project of the Maryland Ornithological Society!

ALL-DAY FIELD TRIPS (SATURDAY ONLY)

  • Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, VA
  • Somerset County, MD

If you sign up for an all-day field trip, you may want to purchase the 6-meal plan from the Grand Hotel and pick up a box lunch on Saturday morning before leaving the hotel.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Indigenous homelands of the Pocomoke and Occohannock people. The refuge protects beach, dune, marsh, and maritime forest habitats. Originally established in 1943 to protect migratory birds, this refuge is now one of the most visited in the United States. This gem of Eastern Virginia is a birder’s paradise, as well as the home of cultural treasures such as Assateague Lighthouse and the world famous Chincoteague ponies. Read more here.

  • Cost: Access is granted with a Daily Pass ($10/vehicle), a Chincoteague NWR Annual Pass ($45) or a Federal Duck Stamp ($25). Click here for more information about Chincoteague entrance fees.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 3 to 4 miles over level surfaces. Trail surfaces include sand, dirt/grass, boardwalks and asphalt. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Somerset County, MD features exciting birding destinations in Chesapeake watershed forests and marshes. This all-day field trip will include birding at these hotspots:

Irish Grove MOS Sanctuary in Somerset County is considered by many to be the “jewel in the crown” of the MOS Sanctuary System, and is by far the largest of the ten MOS sanctuaries. Irish Grove Sanctuary occupies the Rumbly Point peninsula in southern Somerset County. The sanctuary now consists of 2,326 acres, the majority being  tidal marshes, with some higher ground in pine forests. Read more here.

Deal Island Wildlife Management Area features expanses of tidal marsh, frequently broken by open water,. The 13,000 acres contain forested wetlands and a 2,800-acre man-made pond or “impoundment.” The diversity of habitats and excellent access combine to make Deal Island WMA the #1 eBird Hotspot in Somerset County. Read more here.

Additional stops may be added if time allows.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Bay, Creeks
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 3 to 4 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass, mud/marsh, and gravel roads. Some of the trails may be muddy. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available during the day, but are likely unavailable at Deal Island WMA.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

HALF-DAY FIELD TRIPS

Assateague Island National Seashore is a unique birding site, offering access to the only remaining segment of unspoiled ocean beach habitat within the State of Maryland. Based on number of bird species reported, Assateague is the #1 eBird hotspot in all of MD and DC, with a total of more than 345 species reported at the various hotspots on the island. Participants will explore a variety of island habitats, including the ocean beach, dune, forest, marsh, and both ocean and bay waters. Read more here.

  • Cost: A 7-day per vehicle pass costs $25.00; this also covers entrance into Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Annual passes and America the Beautiful passes are accepted. For more information about entrance fees, please click here.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over level surfaces. Trail surfaces include sand, boardwalks and asphalt. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Assateague Island National Seashore Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) Zone is a very special birding tour offered by our friends at the National Park Service (NPS). Participants will meet NPS staff in the parking lot of the Assateague Island Visitor Center. They will then be transported in three separate NPS vehicles to the OSV Zone, south of the public beaches. Participants will remain in the vehicles most of the time and focus mostly on birds along the tidal zone and offshore. Depending on conditions, participants will have the option of accessing the forested areas and doing some hiking. Based on number of bird species reported, Assateague is the #1 eBird hotspot in all of MD and DC, with a total of more than 345 species reported at the various hotspots on the island. Read more about Assateague Island here.

  • Cost: Since participants will be in NPS vehicles, there will be no need to pay the entrance fee. If you choose to come back to Assateague on your own, please note that a 7-day per vehicle pass is $25.00. Annual passes and America the Beautiful passes are accepted. For more information about entrance fees, please click here.
  • Maximum # participants: 11
  • Habitat: Forest, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants will remain in the vehicles for most of the tour. Stops will be made to view birds offshore and on the beach. Some hiking may occur in the forested areas. Trail surfaces will be level and mostly on sand. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

The Bay Club is a former golf course just west of Berlin, MD that is currently being restored to open meadows, wetlands and forest. Management of the property for public access is just beginning, so the trail network is not fully installed. However, MD DNR is in the process of creating an extensive trail network from the cart paths of the old golf course to provide access for birders seeking songbirds, waterfowl, raptors and more. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Ponds
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces may include dirt/grass and gravel roads. Some of the trails may be muddy. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are unavailable on site, but the Town of Berlin is nearby.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Beginner Bird Walk at the Grand Hotel: Like the name describes, this trip is aimed at beginning birders!  We’ll start inside the hotel (at a specific location to be determined) and introduce the group to how to use binoculars, including getting them set up for their particular eyes. We will talk about birding basics while we are are still inside. Then we will go outside and practice using the binoculars and how to work with a small group to discover birds. The pace will be slower so no one will be left behind. Questions will be encouraged!  We won’t go far but will try to see birds in a few different habitats. Extra binoculars will be available.

This field trip will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Open Ocean, Beach
  • Difficulty: Participants may stroll up to one mile over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces may include boardwalk, asphalt and some sand. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Wheelchair access is available for most of this field trip. Some participants may choose to walk briefly on the sand.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available in the hotel.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

The Beginner Stroll at Assateague Island National Seashore will explore the Life of the Forest trail and the Life of the Marsh trail, which have boardwalks, ramps and benches. We may also stroll on boardwalks that cross the dunes and provide views of the beach and ocean. Assateague Island is a unique birding site, offering access to the only remaining segment of unspoiled ocean beach habitat within the State of Maryland. Based on number of bird species reported, Assateague is the #1 eBird hotspot in all of MD and DC, with a total of more than 345 species reported at the various hotspots on the island. Read more here.

This field trip will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. We will explore boardwalks, with ramps and benches, and paved areas. We will not be strolling on the sand or in the marsh. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

  • Cost: The federal entrance is now using a cashless operation. Have a credit card ready. A 7-day per vehicle pass costs $25.00; this also covers entrance into Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Annual passes and America the Beautiful passes are accepted. For more information about entrance fees, please click here.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may stroll up to one mile over level surfaces. Trail surfaces include boardwalks and asphalt. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended for those walking.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Beginner Trip to North Ocean City and Delaware beaches: Explore the beaches and bayside at several stops in North Ocean City and the Southern Delaware beaches. Perfect for beginning birders, this trip will include stops at local hotspots at 76th Street in Ocean City, Fenwick Island, South Bethany, Conquest Beach, the Indian River Inlet, Tower Road, and 3R’s in Delaware. Additional stops may be added if time allows.

  • Cost: Some stops require no entry fee. Access to sites located in Delaware State Parks is granted with a day-use fee of $5/vehicle with DE tags or $10/vehicle with out-of-state tags, or with an Annual Pass. For more information, please click here.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include sand, dirt/grass, and asphalt. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Indoor restrooms and portable toilets will be available at several locations.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Cape Henlopen State Park is situated at the mouth of the Delaware Bay. The “Point” of Cape Henlopen, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, shaped the history of this landscape. For millenia, native people lived off the land’s abundant and rich resources and in the late 1600s, William Penn granted the land and allowed citizens to harvest many of the same resources. The area’s strategic position led to the construction of Fort Miles during World war II with its iconic fire control towers along the Atlantic coast. A diverse collection of habitats makes up the coastal ecosystem of the park, including barrier dunes, coastal beaches, and maritime forests that are home to many species of plants and animals. Read more here.

  • Cost: Access is granted with a Delaware State Parks Annual Pass, or with a day-use fee of $5/vehicle with DE tags or $10/vehicle with out-of-state tags. For more information, please click here.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include sand, dirt/grass, boardwalks, asphalt and compact gravel paths. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area encompasses 2,769 acres of prime land in southern Worcester County. Managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, it is a showcase for habitats that used to dominate the bayside areas of Worcester County. The WMA has three main areas (North, Central, and South) with different access points. From the 1940s to the 1960s, E.A. Vaughn WMA was a game farm where a number of pheasant species were raised and released. It was also an area where wildlife biologists experimented with plants and planting arrangements that would most benefit wildlife. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass, mud/marsh, asphalt and gravel roads.Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are unavailable on site, but portable toilets should be available at nearby Taylor and George’s Island Landings.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Figgs Landing and Truitt’s Landing are located on the western shore of the Chincoteague Bay in Worcester County. Figgs Landing features man-made impoundments that can be viewed from the shoulder of the road. Truitts Landing stands out because the road passes through agricultural fields, woodlands, and marshes before arriving at the bay waters. Pull-offs at some spots afford the chance for extended viewing. Early morning visits are particularly rewarding, with views of large flocks of wintering ducks. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include sand, dirt/grass, mud/marsh, asphalt and gravel roads. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are unavailable at Figgs and Truitt’s Landings, but portable toilets should be available at nearby Public Landing and Taylor Landing.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Heron Park (formerly known as Berlin Falls Park) is a 62-acre park on the north edge of the town of Berlin. The park, with three ponds and a small strip of woodland, attracts wintering waterfowl, shorebirds and waders in summer, and passerines all year-round. Many of the same waterfowl species can be seen at other spots in and around Ocean City, but the primary reason for birders to visit Heron Park is that the ponds are small enough, and the water calm enough, that viewing is close-up and easy.   This is a good place to practice your ducks identification skills. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Marsh, Ponds
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass, asphalt and gravel roads. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: A portable toilet should be available at Heron Park, and there are other nearby restroom facilities in Berlin.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Indian River Inlet & Burton Island, located at Delaware Seashore State Park. The dynamic Indian River Inlet connects the Indian River and Rehoboth Bays with the Atlantic Ocean and is the epicenter of the park’s many activities. The Indian River Life-Saving Station, built in 1876 for use by the United States Lifesaving Service to respond to shipwrecks, now pays homage to its maritime heritage while doubling as a coastal event space and educational center. The barrier beach, Burton Island (closed due to hunting on Friday and Saturday) and the inland bays provide the perfect salt marsh habitat for birds. More than seven miles of trails welcome hikers, bikers and birders. Read more here.

  • Cost: Access is granted with a Delaware State Parks Annual Pass, or with a day-use fee of $5/vehicle with DE tags or $10/vehicle with out-of-state tags. Please note that Burton Island is closed due to hunting on Friday and Saturday. For more information, please click here.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include sand, dirt/grass, boardwalks, asphalt and compact gravel paths. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

The Ocean City Inlet and Sunset Park are located at the south end of Ocean City. The Ocean City Inlet is a channel where water flows into and out of the Sinepuxent Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. The Inlet was formed during a massive storm in August of 1933; prior to that time, the fledgling town of Ocean City was connected by land to what is now Assateague Island. Now, the Inlet separates Ocean City on the north side of the Inlet from Assateague Island on the south side. The Inlet is bounded by rock jetties on both the north and south sides. Sunset Park is a city-owned pocket park right around the corner from the Inlet, fronting on the Sinepuxent Bay. This tiny park, about 0.7 acres, is a long narrow strip sandwiched between a US Coast Guard Station and a commercial property. Most of Sunset Park is paved or boardwalked, but there are some tiny beds of native plants, and there is a platform providing a good view of a sandy beach (underwater at high tide) and the water of Sinepuxent Bay. Here you can get close views of loons, diving ducks, and maybe Brant. Read more here.

This field trip will be offered four times during the convention. The field trips on Friday and Saturday afternoons will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. In the afternoon, we will not be strolling on the sand and jetty rocks. The field trips on Saturday and Sunday mornings will be mostly accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. In the morning, there may be some strolling on the sand and jetty rocks. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include boardwalk, asphalt, concrete sidewalks, and some sand. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are located nearby on the Ocean City boardwalk.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Pemberton Historical Park, owned by Wicomico County, is a 262-acre former plantation that includes a historic home built in 1741 by Isaac Handy, one of the founders of the town of Salisbury. The home and surrounding 2 acres are maintained by the Pemberton Hall Foundation, which restored the once-crumbling structure and now offers public tours. Don’t let the name “historical park” dissuade you from birding here. Pemberton is the #1 eBird hotspot in Wicomico County and it has a lot to offer. The park is located on the Wicomico River west of Salisbury.The larger part of the grounds offer a system of natural-surface trails, which are thoughtfully arranged in loops that allow exploration of all the different habitats on the property. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, River
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass and gravel roads. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are located at Pemberton Park.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act for use as a sanctuary for migratory birds. Situated along the marshes of the western Delaware Bay, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 10,000 acres of valuable habitat for wildlife of all kinds. Roughly 80% of the refuge is a mix of fresh and saltwater wetlands stretching from Slaughter Beach in the north to the Broadkill River in the south. The refuge was created to safeguard and enhance the pristine wildlife habitat of coastal Delaware, to protect threatened  and endangered species, and to provide feeding, nesting, and roosting areas for migratory birds. Today, the refuge provides important habitat to over 245 species of birds. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass, boardwalk, asphalt and compact gravel paths. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are located in the Prime Hook NWR Visitor Center.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Schumaker Pond and the Salisbury City Park in the City of Salisbury combine to create a vibrant birding hotspot. The pond was formed by damming Beaverdam Creek, a tributary of the Wicomico River. The pond is easily accessed from Schumaker Park, an 11-acre recreation park owned by Wicomico County and located on the south shore of the pond. Waterbirds are the stars of the show at the pond. Schumaker Pond has hosted more than 25 species of ducks and geese over the years. The 95 acres of the Salisbury City Park stretch along Beaverdam Creek. There is a network of trails through the forested area of the park, and a public pathway in the open area that borders the creek. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Ponds, Creek
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include asphalt, dirt/grass, and crushed gravel. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: If needed, restrooms are available at the Salisbury Zoo, located in the City Park. Portable restrooms may be available at other locations.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

The South Point & Bayside Ponds field trip will feature stops along Route 611 and South Point Road to search ponds and marshes for waterfowl and other species. Planned stops include Castaways Campground, the pond at Bayside, and the South Point boat ramp. Additional stops may be added if time allows. South Point offers one of the best wide-open views of the waters of Sinepuxent Bay south of Ocean City. South Point is, as its name implies, at the southern tip of a peninsula of land: the waters of Newport Bay lie to the west of South Point, and on the east side, Sinepuxent Bay joins Chincoteague Bay at the Point. Across Sinepuxent Bay is Assateague Island. This is an area that offers rich feeding grounds for a wide assortment of water birds and shorebirds as well as hosting interesting land birds. Read more here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include asphalt, dirt/grass, and sand. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: If needed, restrooms are available at the Assateague Island Visitor Center. Portable restrooms may be available at the South Point boat ramp.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

West Ocean City to Berlin: Search the waters of Isle of Wight Bay and freshwater ponds at hotspots in West Ocean City and Berlin, MD. This trip will begin with a stop at Hooper’s Crab House to scan the coastal bay waters and flats around Skimmer Island. From there, the caravan will proceed to nearby Golf Course Road to scope Elliott’s Pond for waterfowl and roosting Black-crowned Night-Herons. The final stop will include a walk around the ponds at Heron Park in Berlin, MD. Additional stops may be added if time allows.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include asphalt, dirt/grass, sand and gravel paths/parking lots. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: If needed, restrooms are available nearby gas stations and fast food restaurants. Portable restrooms may be available at Heron Park.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

BOAT TRIPS

Both boat trips will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as walkers and rollators. Assistance will be provided when boarding and disembarking the boat. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

The Delaware Bay/Cape Henlopen Boat Trip will be a 2.5-hour cruise of the waters around the mouth of the Delaware Bay with Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes, DE. The boat features a heated cabin, benches along the lower deck rail, and a top deck for open-air viewing. There is a head/toilet on the boat. This field trip will cruise by the two stone breakwaters, lighthouses and icebreakers in search of waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds. There is also a chance of spotting Harbor and Gray Seals that winter here, although late November is a bit early for seals.

Please note that this boat trip will only be offered on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 23, 12:30 – 3:00 pm. You should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to find parking and line up to board the boat. If you are planning to sign up for a Saturday morning field trip, you may want to select a nearby field trip in Delaware, such as Cape Henlopen State Park or Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. You may also want to purchase the 6-meal plan from the Grand Hotel and pick up a box lunch on Saturday morning before leaving the hotel, or make plans to grab a quick lunch after your morning field trip.

  • Cost: $50 per person.
  • Maximum # participants: 80
  • Habitat: Forest, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay, Canal
  • Difficulty: Although not physically demanding, boat trips do require participants to board and disembark with assistance. Once on board, participants can sit or stand. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available on the boat and at the dock.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

The Sinepuxent Bay Boat Trip will explore the coastal bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island. Many migratory species make their way here to spend the winter in Sinepuxent Bay. The 2-hour tour with the OC Bay Hopper will begin in the West Ocean City Commercial Harbor. From there, the cruise will investigate the bayside Ocean City docks from M.R. Duck’s south to the inlet (there are usually good shorebirds hiding out there!), then it will cruise by the Assateague jetty for sea ducks. From there, the boat will cruise the backside of Assateague south towards Castaways campground, then back to the harbor. More information will be available soon.

Please note that this trip will be offered several times throughout the weekend. The boat is open-air with a cover and does not have a heated cabin or restroom. Please use the restroom prior to departing the hotel.

  • Cost: $35 per person.
  • Maximum # participants: 14
  • Habitat: Forest, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Mud Flats, Open Ocean, Beach, Bay
  • Difficulty: Although not physically demanding, boat trips do require participants to board and disembark with limited assistance. Once on board, participants will mostly sit. Standing to view of photograph wildlife is permitted when the captain allows it. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: There is no head/toilet on the OC Bay Hopper, so please use the public restroom in the harbor prior to departure. The restroom is located next to the boat ramp.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON “ON THE WAY HOME” TRIP

Cambridge Waterfront – Great Marsh Park and Oakley Street: Great Marsh Park (aka Gerry Boyle Park) is a city-owned park in Cambridge, situated on a point of land that juts out into the Choptank River from the south shore. To the north of the park, the sheltered waters of Hambrooks Bay often hold flocks of waterfowl and gulls. Gulls may also be found on the jetty that stretches along Hambrooks Bar, visible jutting into the river at the north end of Hambrooks Bay. Read more here. Oakley Street is a public road in a residential area of downtown Cambridge that comes to a dead-end at the waterfront on the south shore of the Choptank River. The view from the end of Oakley Street offers the best close-up looks at wintering waterfowl in the area because the public regularly feed ducks at this location; hence ducks, geese, and swans can be viewed as close as 15 feet away at times. Often there are more photographers than birders. Read more here.

The Cambridge Waterfront field trip will be mostly accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. There may be some strolling in areas with sand, mud and rocks. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Marsh, River
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike up to one mile over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include asphalt, dirt/grass, and compact gravel paths. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.

Pickering Creek – Meadows, Wetlands and Birds: Pickering Creek Audubon Center began converting the 270 acres of agriculture on the Center’s 450-acre property to wildlife habitat in 1997. During this field trip, we’ll be exploring over 150 acres of those former agricultural lands at Pickering Creek that have become freshwater wetlands and meadows. Our exploration is a great opportunity to learn about the process of creation and management of these habitats. Learn about which birds benefit from these landscape changes and how it might pertain to your yard. During our walk we’ll visit four wetland areas created at different times over the last twenty years as well as over 30 acres of emergent meadows. Four viewing platforms will give us elevated views and a chance to absorb the size of these wonderful additions to the landscape. This is a great chance to become acquainted with this hidden gem. Expect early waterfowl, hawks and owls as well as resident grass/shrubland birds.  Guests can stay after the program to observe woodcock who often pass over the parking lot at dusk at this time of year. Read more about Pickering Creek here.

  • Cost: Free.
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Habitat: Forest, Fields, Shrubby Meadows, Marsh, Ponds, Mud Flats, Creek
  • Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass, boardwalk, and compact gravel paths. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.
  • Meeting location: Please see the Field Trip Schedule for up-to-date meeting locations.