Wildlife Seen From the Ferry

One of the great things about a Ferry trip is the ability to see Delaware Bay wildlife from a new vantage point. On any journey, it’s not unusual to spot Shore Birds such as Osprey, Red Knots, Gannets, and Egrets, and the ferry is a favorite among Birders for spotting many of the East Coast migrating birds. In addition, the Ferry is a great way to spot whales and dolphins. Here a just a few you might frequently see:

Osprey

• When You See Them: Spring & Summer 
• Where You See Them: Close to shore along the Delaware Bay
• Color: Brown and White 
• Favorite Food: Fish 
• Fun Fact: A family of ospreys builds their nest by the Lewes Terminal every year, and you can say hi to them as you sail by!

Bald Eagle  

• When You See Them: Year round! 
• Where You See Them: Nests in trees near the bay 
• Color: Brown, with a white head 
• Favorite Food: Fish 
• Fun Fact: Bald Eagles can sometimes be seen swooping down by the bay and catching fish with their powerful talons.

Dolphin

• When You See Them: Spring & Summer 
• Where You See Them: In the bay, alongside the ferry 
• Color: Grey
• Favorite Food: Small fish & crustaceans 
• Fun Fact: Dolphins can sometimes be spotted swimming alongside the ferry, and they are excellent synchronized swimmers!

Egret

• When You See Them: Summer
• Where You See Them: In the marshes near the ferry
• Color: White
• Favorite Food: Fish, insects, and shrimp
• Fun Fact: To look for food, Egrets stir the water up with their long skinny legs!

Gannet

• When You See Them: Spring  
• Where You See Them: All Around the Boat! 
• Color: White, with Orange and Black 
• Favorite Food: Small fish and squid 
• Fun Fact: Gannets love following behind the Ferry, and diving in to eat up the small fish in our wake!

Horseshoe Crab

• When You See Them: Late Spring & Summer 
• Where You See Them: Along the shoreline 
• Color: Brown
• Favorite Food: Clams and Mussels 
• Fun Fact: Horseshoe crabs aren’t actually crabs! In fact, they are more closely related to spiders than they are to actual crabs.

Piping Plover

• When You See Them: Summer 
• Where You See Them: Scurrying along the shoreline 
• Color: Light brown & White 
• Favorite Food: Small insects 
• Fun Fact: If a predator comes near their nest, adult plovers pretend to have a broken wing in order to distract the intruder away from their young.

Red Knot

• When You See Them: Spring & Summer 
• Where You See Them: On the shore and beaches 
• Color: Red and light brown 
• Favorite Food: Insects and horseshoe crab eggs 
• Fun Fact: Red Knots take a very long trip every year, migrating from Northern Canada to the southern tip of South America.

Seal

• When You See Them: Spring 
• Where You See Them: In the bay and by the rocks 
• Color: Grey or Tan
• Favorite Food: Fish & Squid 
• Fun Fact: There are three different types of seal in the Delaware Bay: Grey Seals, Harp Seals, and Harbor Seals.

Whale

• When You See Them: Year Round! 
• Where You See Them: In the bay, alongside the ferry 
• Color: Black or Dark Grey 
• Favorite Food: Krill & small fish