Yesterday, January 5, was officially designated as National Bird Day. But the bucolic beauty behind birding can really be enjoyed any time of year. And if you happen to make your home in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, then you know firsthand about the plentiful possibilities for spotting amazing avians, great and small, seemingly wherever you go. Of course, the featured regional callouts may vary depending on where your treks take you. Seasonal shifts in temperatures and weather patterns may also play a significant role in determining which feathered friends are out and about at a given time and in a specific terrain. We’ve even had the rare honor of seeing flamingos up in these parts!
Birding can be a versatile, low-key, and motivational pastime that appeals to people of all ages and interests, even transcending generational gaps. Furthermore, it is non-competitive and engaging, welcoming all levels of expertise, from novice beginners to avid, seasoned pros alike.
You don’t need to join any official clubs to get into birding; it can even be done as a leisurely hobby from your own backyard or even by peering through a kitchen window! But many folks do find getting together with fellow birders to be cathartic. Plus, being with like-minded birdwatchers seems to stir up sentiments of camaraderie as well. Birds of a feather flock together, right?
Many localized birding clubs and associations exist throughout the immediate region. But don’t feel pressured to join as many outings and activities are open to the public to participate in. Delmarva Birding Weekends provide the perfect example.
Delmarva Birding Weekends are made possible by the Conservation Community Consulting, LLC, along with various other sponsors and partnerships throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. The activities and events they provide differ by outing type, season, duration, and the form of recreational pursuit being offered. This makes for many options and an abundance of opportunities to pick and choose from, all ongoing throughout the year. From hiking on foot to paddling by boat on from of Delmarva’s most scenic waterways and everything else in between, here’s a look into upcoming Delmarva Birding Weekend events for the 2026 season.
Scoters and Seals Cruises
The first Scoter and Seals Cruise of the year took place this past weekend, on January 3. If you did not make it, do not fret. Registration is now open for their upcoming January 17 cruise and is set to open shortly for others.
These 2.5-hour cruises, always timed in conjunction with low tide, depart from Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes, Delaware. You will ride aboard the Thelma Dale V., which features a heated cabin, benches along the lower deck rail, and a top deck for open-air viewing. Restrooms are available on board, and coolers are welcome too.
The journey takes you to two stone breakwaters and the ice breakers, where you will have the opportunity to spot common and rare waterfowl and seabirds alike. Possibilities include gulls, cormorants, gannets, loons, scoters, eiders, and even white-winged scoters or razorbills. Don’t be surprised if you see harbor and gray seals while out and about.
Learn more about these cruises on the website link.
Birding By Boat on the Baltimore Water Taxi
Offered select Saturday afternoons between January and March, these Baltimore, Maryland-based water taxi-led excursions take folks on convenient, hour-and-a-half intervals along the Patapsco River and around the Baltimore Peninsula and Fort McHenry. Departure is from the Port Covington Marina and the Baltimore Water Taxi dock. You will be riding in a private charter that is not being used for public transport at the time of your afternoon outing.
Birds you can hope to spot on your trip range from common to rare species alike, gulls to waterfowl (migratory and native to the locale), as well as recognizable raptors. Your guides will help you locate and identify all the species at hand.
The next trip is slated for January 10, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visit the website to reserve your spot or to find out about all other scheduled future dates.
Winter Delmarva Dogfish BirdINNg Weekend
Running from January 16 to 18, this weekend-long event has been a tradition for 11 years and counting. It’s made possible by Dogfish Head and Dogfish INN and features ongoing fieldtrips, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Lewes, Delaware.
A host of weekend activities and endeavors will be part of the ongoing event lineup. Maybe even consider booking accommodations at the inn for extended opportunities to last all weekend. And as always, you can pair the perfect beverage with your birding. Prospects range from such winged wonders as ducks and geese to cormorants, sandpipers, razorbills, and more. Click here to learn more.
Birding the Harriet Tubman Byway Tours
Discover the delights of birding in Dorchester County, Maryland, along the 20-mile, four-hour driving and walking tour comprising the one and only Harriet Tubman Byway. The starting point is at the Brodess Farm Site, with several interesting featured stops along the way. Aside from their historic appeal, these natural havens host migratory and native birds alike, offering myriad possibilities on what to see.
The first of these tours will take place on January 29, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Following this, registration will open for the one slated for February 26, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. March and April offerings will follow. Read all additional details on the website.
Chincoteague Birding Weekend
Two outings based in Chincoteague, Virginia, are set for Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. The first will head to the otherwise publicly restricted Wallops Flight Facility, followed by a Saturday afternoon boat trip with Daisey’s Island Cruises. The total duration will be from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Sunday’s outing will be to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Meet up is at Chincoteague Bay Field Station (CBFS). Click the link to find out more.
Smith and Tangier Island Birding Cruise
Take a twice-as-nice outing to explore the heart of the Chesapeake Bay and small island community life and nature on April 11. From Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, Maryland, you will board the Elizabeth Joy II at 8 a.m. for a visit to the state’s scenic Smith Island. Lunch will be provided at Drum Point Market & Eatery before the scheduled departure for Tangier Island, Virginia, to pursue a birding-based afternoon. Return time to Crisfield is 4:30 p.m.
Explore the natural wonders of the Chesapeake, discovering and rediscovering familiar and novel feathered friends alike. Some are even neighborly pets to the locals, and you can see a vast range by boat as well as on foot.
Plan to arrive at the pier between 7:15 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. before the 8 a.m. departure to use restroom facilities, check in, and load any equipment. There aren’t any restrooms located on board. Visit the website for more.
30th Annual Spring Delmarva Birding Weekend
Now with 30 years to its credit and still going strong, the Annual Spring Delmarva Birding Weekend is one of the most beloved seasonal traditions among regional birders. While established initially as a way to celebrate warblers, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and other aquatic-nesting avians, the weekend rejoices in the winged wonderfulness of all birds.
This year’s event is set to take place from April 23 to April 26, 2026. Featured fieldtrips, which include guided boat trips, paddling treks, and hiking on foot, will be included as part of the special events to sign up for. These will run all four days, Thursday through Sunday, at select times and locations. Details will be added to the sign-up links by March 1. Click here to check back or to stay updated.
Songbirds of the Swamp
Head to Snow Hill, Maryland, the weekend of June 13 and 14, for two days of birding and paddling along the Bald Cypress Swamps of the Potomac River. You will also venture into the upland forests and take to the Nassawango Creek by kayak, canoe, and on foot. Venturing into the nearby Chincoteague Bay watershed is also on the itinerary.
Along the way, you will seek out warblers, vireos, flycatchers, tanagers, and so much more. Then sample some Chincoteague Bay oysters from Baywater Seafood. Registration opens April 1. Follow the site link for all other details.
In addition to the events listed, there are many TBA and tentative options on the radar to look out for in the upcoming months. Some of these include the 10th Annual Baltimore Birding Weekend and 78th Annual Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) Convention in Solomons (both in May) and summertime Smith Island Pelican Tours. Stay current and up to date on these and other opportunities on the website at www.delmarvabirding.com.