Snowy Owl Prowls

Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winters past, these owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge. Join us as we hike the dunes in search of these magnificent birds. Unlike most owls, snowy owls are diurnal—they hunt and are active during the day – so we can take advantage of the sun and early afternoon warmth as we prowl the dunes!

These hikes are approximately 3 miles through soft sand. We will have some binoculars for use, but bring yours if you have them!

Crane Beach Safaris

Winter on Crane Beach offers us a unique opportunity for a brand new adventure. Now through March, we are excited to be offering open-air, over-sand safaris along the beach. This will be a fun and educational adventure as we explore the winter landscape of Castle Neck and Crane Beach. You will learn all about the natural history of the barrier beach as we keep a look out for winter wildlife including snowy owls! Bundle up in one of our thick, cozy blankets, grab a hot beverage, and get ready to see the beach as you never have before.

These adventures are 2 hours in the open air and may involve stopping to hike into the dunes a short ways, depending on group interests. We will have some binoculars for use, but bring yours if you have them!

Space is limited to 10 seats on each safari, so online pre-registration is required.

Specialty Safaris

Specialty safaris are led by experienced professionals and geared toward the particular interests of the group. These trips happen once a month and space is extremely limited!

In our Birding offering of the Crane Beach Safari, you will be joined by a seasoned birder who will know the best spots to find birds, and will be on hand to offer identification and ecological information. As a birding safari, expect to be able to spend time sitting/standing and watching a bird or group of birds longer than would be possible on a safari geared towards a more general audience.

In our special photography offering of the Crane Beach Safari, we will be prowling the beach at prime photo time: one hour before sunset (golden hour) through the last glimmer of sunset, possibly getting into blue hour. You will be joined by a professional photographer who will be on hand to guide composition and offer advice on camera settings. The fact that we’ll be on wheels means that we’ll be able to travel to seek out spectacular locations while not wasting time on foot that could be spent behind the lens!