Have you purchased your 2023-2024 Federal Duck Stamp? Nearly every penny of the 25 dollars you spend for a duck stamp goes toward habitat acquisition and improvements for waterfowl and the hundreds of other animal species that use wetlands for breeding, feeding, and as migration stopover points. Duck stamps aren’t just for hunters, purchasers get free admission to National Wildlife Refuges all over the United States. So do something good for conservation—stop by your local post office and get your Federal Duck Stamp.
![2023-2024 Federal Duck Stamp 2023-2024 Federal Duck Stamp. Your Federal Duck Stamp is your free pass to visit the nation's National Wildlife Refuges including Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge on Delaware Bay near Smyrna, Delaware.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Duck-Stamp-2023-IMG_0789-Copy.jpg)
Still not convinced that a Federal Duck Stamp is worth the money? Well then, follow along as we take a photo tour of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Numbers of southbound shorebirds are on the rise in the refuge’s saltwater marshes and freshwater pools, so we timed a visit earlier this week to coincide with a late-morning high tide.
![Northern Bobwhite Northern Bobwhite](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Northern-Bobwhite-IMG_0281-Copy.jpg)
![Shearness Pool at Bombay Hook N.W.R. Shearness Pool at Bombay Hook N.W.R.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sign-IMG_0425-Copy.jpg)
![Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Great-Blue-Heron-IMG_0365-Copy.jpg)
![Semipalmated Sandpipers Semipalmated Sandpipers](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Semipalmated-Sandpipers-IMG_0296-Copy.jpg)
![Semipalmated Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitcher Semipalmated Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitcher](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Semipalmated-Sandpipers-and-Short-billed-Dowitcher-IMG_0352-Copy.jpg)
![Short-billed Dowitchers Short-billed Dowitchers](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Short-billed-Dowitchers-IMG_0390-Copy.jpg)
![Sandpipers, Avocets, Egrets, and Mallards Sandpipers, Avocets, Egrets, and Mallards](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mixed-flock-IMG_0354-Copy.jpg)
![Short-billed Dowitchers Short-billed Dowitchers](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Short-billed-Dowitchers-IMG_0377-Copy.jpg)
![Semipalmated Sandpipers Semipalmated Sandpipers](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mixed-shorebird-flock-IMG_0414-Copy.jpg)
![Semipalmated Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, and Forster's Terns](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mixed-flock-IMG_0539-Copy.jpg)
![Semipalmated Sandpipers, Forster's Terns, and Short-billed Dowitcher Semipalmated Sandpipers, Forster's Terns, and a Short-billed Dowitcher](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mixed-flock-closeup-IMG_0539-Copy.jpg)
![Short-billed Dowitchers Short-billed Dowitchers](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Short-billed-Dowitchers-feeding-IMG_0403-Copy.jpg)
![Short-billed Dowitchers, American Avocets, and a Snowy Egret Short-billed Dowitchers, American Avocets, and a Snowy Egret](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Short-billed-Dowitchers-and-avocets-IMG_0386-Copy.jpg)
![Stilt Sandpiper among Short-billed Dowitchers Stilt Sandpiper among Short-billed Dowitchers](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Short-billed-Dowitchers3-IMG_0386-Copy-1.jpg)
![American Avocets American Avocets](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/American-Avocets-IMG_0369-Copy.jpg)
![Dunlin and Short-billed Dowitchers Dunlin and Short-billed Dowitchers](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dunlin-with-Dowitchers-IMG_0424-Copy.jpg)
![Least Sandpiper Least Sandpiper](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sandpiper-IMG_0519-Copy.jpg)
![Lesser Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Lesser-Yellowlegs-IMG_0527-Copy.jpg)
![Lesser Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Lesser-Yellowlegs-IMG_0533-Copy.jpg)
![Greater Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Greater-Yellowlegs-IMG_0549-Copy.jpg)
![Caspian Tern Caspian Tern](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Caspian-Tern-IMG_0407-Copy.jpg)
![Marsh Wren Singing Marsh Wren singing](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Marsh-Wren-IMG_0295-Copy.jpg)
![Marsh Wren Nest Marsh Wren Nest](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Marsh-Wren-nest-IMG_0757-Copy.jpg)
![Seaside Dragonlet Seaside Dragonlet](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Seaside-Dragonlet-IMG_0348-Copy.jpg)
![Red-winged Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Red-winged-Blackbird-IMG_0435-Copy.jpg)
![Bobolink Bobolink](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Bobolink-IMG_0397-Copy.jpg)
![Mute Swans and Canada Geese Mute Swans and Canada Geese](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mute-Swans-and-Canada-Geese-IMG_0430-Copy.jpg)
![Trumpeter Swans Trumpeter Swans](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Trumpeter-Swans-IMG_0630-Copy.jpg)
![Great Egret Great Egret](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Great-Egret-IMG_0431-Copy.jpg)
![Snowy Egret Snowy Egret](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Snowy-Egret-IMG_0532-Copy.jpg)
![Wood Ducks A hen Wood Duck (second from right) escorts her young.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Wood-Ducks-IMG_0571-Copy.jpg)
![Black-necked Stilt and Young Black-necked Stilt and young.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Black-necked-Stilt-with-young-IMG_0565-Copy.jpg)
As the tide recedes, shorebirds leave the freshwater pools to begin feeding on the vast mudflats exposed within the saltwater marshes. Most birds are far from view, but that won’t stop a dedicated observer from finding other spectacular creatures on the bay side of the tour route road.
![Tidal Marshes](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sign-IMG_0426-Copy.jpg)
![Atlantic Horseshoe Crab Atlantic Horseshoe Crab](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Horseshoe-Crab-shell-IMG_0460-.jpg)
![Boardwalk Trail](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Fiddler-Crab-Habitat-IMG_0707-Copy.jpg)
![Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crabs Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crabs](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Fiddler-Crabs-IMG_0709-Copy.jpg)
![Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crabs Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crabs](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Fiddler-Crabs-IMG_0705-Copy.jpg)
![Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Fiddler-Crab-IMG_0692-Copy.jpg)
![Great Egret Great Egret](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Great-Egret-IMG_0349-Copy.jpg)
![Green Heron Green Heron](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Green-Heron-IMG_0503-Copy.jpg)
![Clapper Rail Clapper Rail](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Clapper-Rail-IMG_0762-Copy.jpg)
![Glossy Ibis Glossy Ibis](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Glossy-Ibis-MG_0612-Copy.jpg)
![Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, and possibly other species feed on the mudflats exposed by low tide.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Great-Black-backed-and-Herring-Gulls-IMG_0765-Copy.jpg)
![Osprey Ospey](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Osprey-IMG_0738-Copy.jpg)
No visit to Bombay Hook is complete without at least a quick loop through the upland habitats at the far end of the tour route.
![Indigo Bunting Indigo Bunting](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Indigo-Bunting-IMG_0667-Copy.jpg)
![Blue Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Blue-Grosbeak-IMG_0609-Copy.jpg)
![Trumpet Creeper and Poison Ivy Trumpet Creeper and Poison Ivy](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Trumpet-Creeper-IMG_0722-Copy.jpg)
![Pileated Woodpecker in Sweet Gum Pileated Woodpecker in Sweet Gum](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pileated-Woodpecker-IMG_0582-Copy.jpg)
![Red-bellied Slider and Painted Turtle Red-bellied Slider and Painted Turtle](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Red-bellied-Slider-and-Painted-Turtle-IMG_0477-Copy.jpg)
![White-tailed Deity White-tailed Deity](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/White-tailed-Deity-IMG_0623-Copy.jpg)
![Fowler's Toad Fowler's Toad](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Fowlers-Toad-IMG_0664-Copy.jpg)
![Turk's Cap Lily Turk's Cap Lily](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Turks-Cap-Lily-IMG_0652-Copy.jpg)
![Wild Turkey Wild Turkey](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Wild-Turkey-IMG_0485-Copy.jpg)
We hope you’ve been convinced to visit Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge sometime soon. And we hope too that you’ll help fund additional conservation acquisitions and improvements by visiting your local post office and buying a Federal Duck Stamp.