Black-footed Albatross— Photo: Barry Zimmer

Early September means superb birding in western Washington and nearby British Columbia. Migration is underway in nearly all habitats. Wandering Tattlers, Black Turnstones, and Surfbirds forage over rocky shorelines, and this is one of the best points in the year 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 at their only North American stronghold. A full day along Boundary Bay south of Vancouver, B.C. puts us at one of the best shorebirding spots in the Pacific Northwest, with often spectacular numbers of shorebirds and ducks.

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

Starting in Seattle, we 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; and Willow Flycatcher. Sooty Grouse, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Varied Thrush, Evening Grosbeak, and Red Crossbill are often seen in Olympic National Park or elsewhere on the tour.

Harlequin Ducks and Red-necked Grebes have returned to the protected bays, as have scoters and mergansers, and Pacific and Red-throated loons are often seen. The Strait of Juan de Fuca shorelines promise Black Oystercatchers, Brandt's and Pelagic cormorants, and Pigeon Guillemots. Thousands of migratory ducks are arriving, sometimes among them a Eurasian Wigeon.

Very good to excellent accommodations and cuisine; 1-2 miles of steady, level walking on most days; one full-day pelagic trip; comfortably moderate weather conditions.