Bombay Hook, Delaware X-Trip – August 8, 2026

On a warm, sunny morning the club gathered in the parking lot of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. With high humidity and a soft southwesterly breeze rolling over the mudflats, we organized into a small convoy of cars to tackle the refuge’s famous wildlife loop. Right out of the gate, the first freshwater impoundment delivered a breathtaking sight: a massive, elegant flock of roughly 200 American Avocets wading through the shallow water. As we scanned the mudflats, we met a daunting ID challenge in a dense gathering of around 500 Short-billed Dowitchers. Patience paid off as we carefully picked out three elusive Long-billed Dowitchers tucked within the crowd, while thousands of tiny Semipalmated Sandpipers filled the mudflats throughout the day.

While our spotting scopes were trained on the distant shorebirds, the nearby vegetation proved just as lively. Curious Marsh Wrens popped up from the tall marsh grasses, chattering away while dozens of Snowy Egrets flashed their iconic, bright-yellow feet nearby. Amidst a sprawling carpet of 250 Semipalmated Plovers, the true highlight of the day stole the show: exceptionally long, unobstructed looks at a notoriously secretive Clapper Rail bravely giving the group fantastic looks along the marsh edge. Watching this cryptic bird step out into the open brought a collective thrill to everyone in the convoy.

We wrapped up our three-hour trek having tallied 68 distinct species—a fantastic summer outing that perfectly captured the magic of coastal Delaware.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S381339067