Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Delaware · Northeast

EasyOfficial Site

Habitat

MarshWetlandCoastal

Best Seasons

FallSpring

Difficulty

Easy

Best Months

October-November

Entrance Fee

$4 per vehicle

Hours

Dawn to dusk daily

About This Location

Bombay Hook NWR encompasses vast tidal salt marshes along the Delaware Bay, serving as a crucial stopover for shorebirds and waterfowl on the Atlantic Flyway. The 12-mile auto tour route provides easy access to observation towers and impoundments.

Location

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Notable Species

Snow Goose Red Knot Bald Eagle Blue-winged Teal Dunlin

Live Bird Data

Notable Sightings

Ross's Goose

Anser rossii

3/4/2026Old State Road, Townsend, Delaware, US (39.439, -75.645)1 observed

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

3/4/20261065 Duck Creek Rd, Smyrna US-DE (39.3270,-75.6282)1 observed

Lark Sparrow

Chondestes grammacus

3/3/20264269–4537 Mud Mill Rd, Camden Wyoming US-DE (39.0683,-75.6678)1 observed

King Rail

Rallus elegans

3/3/2026Prime Hook NWR--Fowler Beach Rd./Fowler Beach1 observed

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

3/3/2026Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge1 observed

Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

3/3/2026Bennett Yard B13 observed

Willet

Tringa semipalmata

3/3/202614187–14199 Oyster Rocks Rd, Milton US-DE 38.78743, -75.213697 observed

Pine Warbler

Setophaga pinus

3/2/2026516 Murphys Ln, Hockessin US-DE 39.78472, -75.703242 observed

Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

3/2/2026Prome Hook Beach Rd1 observed

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

3/2/2026Massey Church Rd1 observed

Green-winged Teal (Eurasian)

Anas crecca

3/2/2026Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge1 observed

Green-winged Teal (Eurasian)

Anas crecca

3/2/2026Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge1 observed

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

3/1/2026First State NHP--Brandywine Valley Unit2 observed

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

3/1/2026First State NHP--Brandywine Valley Unit1 observed

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

3/1/2026Indian River Inlet South Oceanside1 observed

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

3/1/2026Prime Hook NWR--Headquarters area1 observed

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

3/1/2026Prime Hook NWR--Headquarters area1 observed

Willet

Tringa semipalmata

3/1/2026Prime Hook NWR--Dike Trail (formerly Observation Point Trail)1 observed

Green-winged Teal (Eurasian)

Anas crecca

3/1/2026Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge1 observed

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

3/1/2026Indian River Inlet2 observed

Recent Observations

Northern Cardinal

Fairthorne Backyard

3/4/2026

1 birds

Pileated Woodpecker

Fairthorne Backyard

3/4/2026

1 birds

Bald Eagle

Becks Pond

3/4/2026

1 birds

Canada Goose

Old State Road, Townsend, Delaware, US (39.439, -75.645)

3/4/2026

22 birds

Snow Goose

Old State Road, Townsend, Delaware, US (39.439, -75.645)

3/4/2026

Fish Crow

Old State Road, Townsend, Delaware, US (39.439, -75.645)

3/4/2026

1 birds

White-breasted Nuthatch