Washington: September Migration in the Pacific Northwest: Sep 03—11, 2008

Black-footed Albatross — Photo: Barry Zimmer

We follow autumn migration's wealth of seabirds, shorebirds, and songbirds along the rugged Pacific Coast, through stunning evergreen forests, and across scenic marine waters to charming Victoria, British Columbia.

Early September means superb birding in western Washington and nearby British Columbia. Migration is underway in nearly all habitats. Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, and Wandering Tattlers forage over the rocky shorelines. This can also be one of the best points in the fall to catch up with such North American rarities as Pacific Golden-Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruff, or Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. We will journey to scenic Victoria in British Columbia to search nearby for Sky Larks. A full day along Boundary Bay south of Vancouver, B.C. puts us at the best shorebirding spots in the Pacific Northwest.

On a pelagic trip out of Westport we should encounter scores of Black-footed Albatross, four or five species of shearwaters (including Buller's and Pink-footed), Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, Northern Fulmars, all three species of jaegers, alcids including Cassin's Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Common Murre, plus beautiful Sabine's Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwakes. South Polar Skua is seen on many trips, and both Laysan Albatross and Flesh-footed Shearwater are possible.

Starting in Seattle, we will bird the Puget Sound lowlands for a fine cast of migrants and Northwest specialties including Red-breasted Sapsucker, Rufous Hummingbird, Hutton's Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and Golden-crowned Sparrow, among others. A host of departing nesting species are possible such as Townsend's, Black-throated Gray, and Wilson's warblers; Vaux's Swift; Western Tanager; Willow Flycatcher; and Warbling Vireo. Sooty Grouse, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Varied Thrush, and Red Crossbill are often seen in Olympic National Park or elsewhere on the tour.

The Strait of Juan de Fuca shorelines promise flocks of shorebirds, Black Oystercatchers, masses of sea ducks, and all sorts of diving birds including five species of grebes. Thousands of migratory ducks are arriving, sometimes among them a Eurasian Wigeon. Harlequin Ducks have returned to the protected bays, as have scoters and mergansers, and Pacific and Red-throated loons are often seen.

Very good to excellent accommodations and cuisine; easy, non-strenuous walking; one full-day pelagic trip; comfortably moderate weather conditions.