Wildlife Seen From the Ferry

Spot Whales, Dolphins, Birds and More from the Cape May - Lewes 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