Birding by Boat around the Baltimore Peninsula

Ahoy, birders! Join us for a birdwatching boat trip aboard the Baltimore Water Taxi as we cruise the Patapsco River and Inner Harbor to search for waterfowl, gulls, raptors and more!

We tallied 28 species on our March 16th tour. There are still a few spots open on our Saturday, April 6, 2:30 – 4:00 pm tour. Read more below!

Saturday, April 6

Birding by Boat around the Baltimore Peninsula
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Cost: $45/person ($5 increase from March 16 due to an increase in the water taxi charter fee)
Guides: Jim Rapp & Guide TBD
Meeting Location: the Port Covington Marina, located at 321 E Cromwell St, Baltimore, MD 21230. Meet at the dock for the Baltimore Water Taxi. GPS Coordinates for meeting location: 39.264381, -76.604892
Parking: There is metered parking on nearby streets for $2/hour. The 250 Mission Garage is a 6-minute walk from the boat dock, and parking there will be ~$12.00 for four hours. Click here to reserve your parking space in the 250 Mission Garage.

Visit the Sagamore Spirit Distillery before your afternoon birding cruise

Our journey begins at 1:00 pm with a spirited (pun intended) pre-tour at the Sagamore Spirit Distillery, located at 301 E Cromwell Street. Taste award-winning rye whiskies while touring Baltimore’s only waterfront distillery.

Please note: The distillery tour is not included in the cost for the boat trip. If you wish to book your Sagamore Spirit Distillery tour, please click here and reserve the 1:00 pm tour on April 6. You’re also welcome to visit the Nineteen O’ Nine whiskey cocktail bar, located right inside the Sagamore Spirit Visitor Center!

Bring your binoculars for a birding boat tour from 2:30 – 4:00 pm

At 2:30 pm, we’ll embark on our Water Taxi voyage, departing from the Port Covington Marina. We’ll cruise around the Baltimore Peninsula and Fort McHenry while enjoying scenic views of the city skyline and scanning the Baltimore waterfront for birds.

March and April are great months for Baltimore birding! Your guides, Jim and Russ, will help you locate and identify the birds as we ply the waters of the Patapsco. Check out the eBird lists in March for Fort McHenry and Winans Cove to get an idea of the species we may encounter. Target species include:

  • Lesser Scaup
  • Bufflehead
  • American Coot
  • Ruddy Duck
  • Horned Grebe
  • Bonaparte’s Gull
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Bald Eagle
Ruddy Duck, Bald Eagle and Horned Grebe. Photos courtesy of Frode Jacobsen.

Tally Rally and Birder’s Social

After the Water Taxi returns to the marina at 4:00 pm, we’ll host a brief Tally Rally at the dock to document the species observed along our voyage. An eBird checklist for the tour will be shared with you soon after.

You’re invited to cap off the day with a social gathering at Nick’s Fish House, located at 2600 Insulator Drive, less than a mile from the marina. Their outside deck will be open by April 6, so we may spot a few more birds on the Patapsco!

Check out this Google Map of meeting locations

Some common sense approaches to make your birding trips more enjoyable:

  • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for March and April weather near the water.
  • Although the Water Taxi is covered, bring rain gear as this trip will run rain or shine.
  • Arrive with enough time to park and arrive at the dock at least 15 minutes before the trip departs so that we can check you in.
  • Use the restroom before the boat departs. There is no head on the water taxi.
  • Bring your own binoculars. Loaner optics are not available.
  • Small coolers with snacks, wine and/or beer are welcome!

Please note:

  • No cancellations are accepted after March 29, 2024.
    For a further explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
  • The Sagamore Spirit Distillery tour and food and drink at Nick’s Fish House are not included in the cost for the boat tour.
  • Trips will go in the rain or fog, unless torrential downpours prevent us from viewing wildlife.
  • If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions (typically storms or strong, gusting winds), we will notify you as soon as possible via email. Please note that the email will be sent to all participants BCC, so you may need to check your email spam folder. A full refund will be provided within 15 days.