The Best Birding in Cape May and Lewes
Birdwatching from the Ferry and Beyond
The Twin-Capes, on Delaware Bay, are situated on the Atlantic Flyway. The Delaware and southern New Jersey capes offer some of the best birdwatching opportunities in the country, making them premier ecotourism destinations year-round. Expect to spot various seabirds, songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors. Since the end of the pandemic, some rare and first-ever sightings have occurred from the Ferry.
On the Ferry
Bring your binoculars and hop aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry for a front-row seat to one of nature’s most captivating shows—bird watching on the Bay! From gulls and gannets to rare sightings like the first-ever Atlantic Ocean appearance of a Streaked Shearwater, spotted from the Ferry, and it made big news, our route is a hotspot for avian activity.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious nature lover, the crossing offers a unique vantage point to observe migratory birds, dolphins, and other wildlife. Bring your binoculars and sense of wonder—every trip across the Bay is a chance to see something extraordinary. Nature awaits on the water.
Cape May
Cape May Bird Observatory and the Nature Center of Cape May
An array of ocean, Bay, and other habitat types attracts scores of species to the Cape May Bird Observatory at Cape May Point and the Nature Center of Cape May, operated by New Jersey Audubon. At CMBO, expert-led weekly walks are great for birders of all experience levels. Keep those eyes to the skies as you traverse the trails and set yourself up for sightings at the Nature Center of Cape May bird blinds.
One of the largest birding events happens in Cape May every October. For 2025, the event is October 16th to the 19th for the Cape May Fall Festival. You can register on the Cape May Festival site and find more information. If you’re a bird watcher, this is a MUST-attend event.
Location:
- Cape May Bird Observatory at Cape May Point - 701 E. Lake Drive, Cape May, NJ
- Nature Center of Cape May - 1600 Delaware Ave., Cape May, NJ
Info:
- Cape May Bird Observatory at Cape May Point - 609-884-2736, njaudubon.org
- Nature Center of Cape May - 609-427-3045, njaudubon.org
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area
Follow the sounds of songs to Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, where a host of warblers (observers have reported spotting 20 different species) come to roost. The 2.9-mile loop trail includes two viewing platforms, educational signage, and a lake and dune habitats. Please note that portions of the area are closed through December 2026. Check the New Jersey State Fish and Wildlife website before visiting.
Location: New England Road, Cape May, NJ
Info: (609) 628-2103, njfishandwildlife.org
Birding By Boat on the Osprey
Birding By Boat on the Osprey offers three-hour naturalist-led cruises and two-hour wetlands wildlife safaris that take you to migration and nesting places in the salt marsh, harbor and tidal wetlands. They also offer a "Sunset Safari." Please visit the Osprey Cruise website for scheduling, tickets and more information.
Location: 1212 Wilson Drive, Cape May, NJ
Info: (609) 898-3500, ospreycruise.com
Miss Chris Kayaks and Paddleboards
Paddle the local waterways searching for seasonal species in a kayak from Miss Chris Kayaks and Paddleboards. Single kayak rental is $28, plus $5 for each additional hour, double kayaks are available at $40, plus $10 each additional hour. Or you can join a naturalist-led two-hour morning or sunset kayak tour of Cape Island Creek (prices begin at $45), and you might even spot an elusive clapper rail. Check Miss Chris Kayaks website for all offerings and additional pricing information.
Location: Miss Chris Marina,1212 Wilson Drive, Cape May, NJ
Info: (609) 884-0997, capemaykayaks.com
Lewes
Cape Henlopen State Park
All year, Cape Henlopen State Park teems with birds in its fields, pine and maritime forests, beaches, freshwater ponds, and miles of bay and ocean coastlines. The best place to start is the Seaside Nature Center, where bird feeders attract many species. Then ensure you hit the Point, Herring Point, the Dune Overlook, Saltmarsh Spur, and Gordon’s Pond.
In the summer, piping plovers populate the beaches, common nighthawks nest in the ocean dunes, and Chuck-Will’s-Widows inhabit the pine forest. Walking anywhere in the park will likely yield some delightful surprise sightings.
Location: 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE
Info: (302) 645-8983, destateparks.com
Delaware Seashore State Park
Over 200 bird species inhabit or pass through Delaware Seashore State Park in Rehoboth Beach. The best places to break out the binoculars are on the hiking trails at Indian River Inlet and Burton Island Nature Preserve.
Location: 39415 Inlet Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Info: (302) 227-6991, destateparks.com
Silver Lake
In summer, Silver Lake (in the middle of a residential neighborhood two blocks from the ocean in Rehoboth Beach) is home to a small, cheerfully chattering group of vivid green South American monk parakeets that nest in telephone poles around the water.
Location: Lake Drive, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Burton Island Nature Preserve/Assawoman Wildlife Area
Book a tour with Coastal Kayak of Burton Island Nature Preserve or the Assawoman Wildlife Area to seek out the nesting places of bald eagles, blue heron, great egrets and red-bellied woodpeckers. $55/per adult, $45 for Children.
Location: 36840 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, DE
Info: (302) 539-7999, coastalkayak.com
This listing originally appeared in the Summer/Fall 2021 edition of Twin Capes Traveller, a joint travel digest produced by Today Media, Today Media Custom Communications, and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Referenced places, facilities, and opportunities can change year over year, and items noted were available during print publication. When on board or at any of our terminals, pick up the latest edition to see more ideas of places to go and things to do while in the Delaware Bay region.