This late-summer program is designed first and foremost around shorebird and seabird identification during migration, when coastal Washington offers some of the most dynamic birding on the Pacific coast. The week emphasizes repeated exposure to key habitats—tidal flats, beaches, estuaries, and offshore waters—combined with structured afternoon or evening workshops to reinforce field skills.
Learning objectives for the week focus on improving confidence with migrating shorebirds and pelagic seabirds, including aging and molt patterns in sandpipers and plovers, separating similar peep species under real field conditions, understanding tide- and weather-driven movements, and developing a stronger grasp of structure, flight style, and seasonal status in shearwaters, alcids, and gulls. The goal is practical, transferable identification skill rather than checklist-driven birding.
Quick overview
Dates
31 August – 6 September 2026
Number of days and nights
7 days / 6 nights
Start and end point
Starting: 31 August 2026 at the Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) airport, Washington. Plan to arrive by 1pm.
Finishing: 6 September 2026 at the Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) airport, Washington. Tour concludes before lunch.
Group size
Minimum number of participants: 6
Maximum number of participants: 12
Brief itinerary
Terms and Conditions for ABA Travel and Events
Price in shared room
Single supplement
Included
Excluded
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 ⎸ Monday, August 31: Arrival in SEA & Transfer to Westport
After a midday arrival and meet-up at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, we drive west toward the Pacific coast. Birding along the way introduces the region’s coastal avifauna, often including Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Sanderling, Whimbrel, Black-bellied Plover, and Marbled Godwit, with Brown Pelican and Heermann’s Gull frequently visible along coastal stretches.
The evening features a focused shorebird identification workshop, setting the foundation for the intensive fieldwork to follow.
Day 2 ⎸ Tuesday, September 1: Westport, Tokeland & Bottle Beach
This full day is devoted almost entirely to shorebirds and planned carefully around the tides. Bottle Beach and adjacent estuarine flats regularly host large concentrations of migrants, allowing close study of Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Red Knot, Dunlin, and Long-billed Dowitcher, with the possibility of scarcer species such as Baird’s Sandpiper or Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
An afternoon pelagic birding workshop prepares participants for offshore conditions, emphasizing structure, flight style, and seasonal occurrence of expected seabirds.
Day 3 ⎸ Wednesday, September 2: Westport Pelagic or Seawatching
We head out early for a full-day pelagic excursion (approximately 6 a.m.–3 p.m.) if sea conditions permit. Early September is prime time off the Washington coast, with strong chances for Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Buller’s Shearwater, Sabine’s Gull, Cassin’s Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Tufted Puffin, with occasional Black-footed Albatross farther offshore.
If weather or sea state prevents a pelagic, we instead devote the day to concentrated seawatching from productive coastal vantage points around Westport.
Day 4 ⎸ Thursday, September 3: Bowerman Basin & Ocean Shores & Transfer to Olympia
The day begins with shorebirding along the Bowerman Basin Sandpiper Trail near Hoquiam, one of the region’s most reliable migration sites. Mudflats and lagoons often support Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, and Wilson’s Snipe, frequently in mixed flocks ideal for comparative study.
We continue south toward Ocean Shores before driving inland to Olympia in the afternoon.
Day 5 ⎸ Friday, September 4: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Nisqually’s extensive tidal flats and estuarine habitats offer another excellent opportunity to refine shorebird identification, often with subtly different species mixes from day to day. Shorebirds are accompanied by a diverse assemblage of gulls, making this an ideal setting for careful observation.
In the evening, we hold a gull identification workshop, addressing one of the Pacific Northwest’s classic challenges, including California Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, and hybrids.
Day 6 ⎸ Saturday, September 5: Tacoma Area & Museum Collections
We spend the morning birding around Tacoma and Puget Sound, focusing on coastal and nearshore species such as Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, and Brandt’s Cormorant, along with a range of gulls in various plumages.
In the afternoon, we visit a natural history museum with access to teaching skin collections, providing an invaluable opportunity to reinforce shorebird and seabird identification through direct comparison of structure and plumage.
Day 7 ⎸ Sunday, September 6: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge & Departure
We return to Nisqually for a final early morning of birding, taking advantage of overnight movements and any new arrivals. Migration remains fluid at this time of year, making repeat visits especially instructive.
We then drive back to the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport for departures. The tour concludes before lunch.
Highlights
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Birds |
Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Red Knot, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Buller’s Shearwater, Black-footed Albatross, Sabine’s Gull, Cassin’s Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Tufted Puffin, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, California Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, and a variety of hybrids and age classes. |
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Habitats |
Open ocean, sandy beaches, tidal flats, estuaries, coastal lagoons, and sheltered Puget Sound shorelines. |
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Learning & experience |
Repeated exposure to key sites, structured evening workshops, a full pelagic day, and hands-on museum study combine to deliver practical, transferable identification skills rather than checklist-driven birding. |
Guides
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Charlie Wright Charlie Wright is a highly respected member of the Pacific Northwest birding community whose interest in birds began at a young age and developed into a strong focus on field identification, research, and data quality. He has been involved with eBird since its early years, submitting his first checklist in 2006, and later became one of the first regional eBird reviewers for Washington, helping refine filters, hotspots, and regional standards. Charlie’s field experience includes work on research vessels, passerine banding on Alaskan islands, and research on Kittlitz’s Murrelet. He also serves as a data reviewer for COASST, contributing to long-term coastal bird monitoring. |
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Katinka Domen Katinka has always been guided by a deep curiosity for nature, languages, and cultures—a passion she’s explored through extensive travel and a dynamic career. Originally from Belgium, she began as a conference interpreter before shifting to a more hands-on, outdoor life. Since 2015, she has organized and led birding tours across the Americas, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia, sharing her love of birds and wild places with travelers from around the world. Since 2021, she has also coordinated the American Birding Association’s travel program, crafting journeys that connect people to birds and landscapes in meaningful ways. Through all her work, Katinka strives to make birding enriching, inclusive, and beneficial for local communities and conservation alike. |
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Difficulty & physical strain
Comfort
Focus
Practical details
Climate & weather
Expect cool to mild conditions, with daytime temperatures typically ranging from 55°F to 70°F (13–21°C). Coastal weather can change quickly, with wind and occasional rain. Layers and waterproof outerwear are essential, especially for pelagic and seawatching days.
Health
Consult the Government of Canada for up-to-date health information.
Bring any personal medications and motion-sickness remedies if you plan to participate in the pelagic.
Passport and visas
US and Canadian citizens do not require a visa for short tourism-related visits to the United States; other nationalities should consult appropriate government sources.
Money
The U.S. Dollar (USD) is the only currency used. Credit cards are widely accepted.
