A Day Trip to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Bombay Hook NWR is a special place during fall migration. Shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl are stopping here to rest and feed, and will be our birding targets for this trip. However many other migrants and year-round resident birds will be present as well. On last year’s trip to Bombay Hook, 80 different species of birds were observed. (See the list here: Bombay Hook August 2025 – eBird Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/404729?continue)

We will meet at the visitor’s center, where restrooms are available, at 9:30 am. We will then drive the 12-mile auto tour loop, stopping to bird along the way. We may also explore a few very short trails and observation towers. Carpooling around the refuge will be encouraged. Our trip will last 3-4 hours, so pack water, snacks, and a lunch. (No food is available on or near the refuge.) Bring binoculars if you have them; we will have spotting scopes to share but if you have your own bring that too.

Make sure you have sun and insect protection – a sunhat, lightweight pants and a long-sleeved shirt is recommended. There is a $4 per vehicle entrance fee. This trip is ideal for those with mobility limitations.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic region. The refuge, located along the coast of north-central Delaware, is mostly marsh, but also includes freshwater impoundments and upland habitats that are managed for wildlife. It is an important stop on the Delaware Bay for migrating shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl, which are our targets for this trip. Read more about the refuge here: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bombay-hook