Clarks Nutcracker. Photo by Anita Merrigan, Audubon Photography Awards
Evergreen Birding in the Pacific Northwest
September 9 to 18, 2026
Varied Thrush, by Mick Thompson; Long-billed Curlew, by Richard Mittleman; Band-tailed Pigeon, by Rick Derevan. (Audubon Photography Awards winners)
Guides: Adam Betuel, Co-Executive Director, Interim, Birds Georgia & Steve Huggins, Red Hill Birding. An additional guide will be added depending on group size.
Group Size: 12 people
Member price: $6,030*
Non-member price: $6,090 * (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for non-shared hotel room: $890/person
*Based on double occupancy and 12 participants. See more details below if travelling solo
Lodging Note: Depending on group construction, single travelers may be asked to pay a single supplement if we are unable to pair you with another guest. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense, though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place to be in September. The tourist crowds are gone, the weather is dry, sunny, and lovely, and birds are pouring south along the Pacific towards their non-breeding grounds. This trip will feature some of the top resident birds and migrants in the region, during the peak of fall migration, and will also include a pelagic trip.
Among the beautiful scenery of the coastline, the Olympic rainforest, and the Cascade Mountains, the group will look for many classic Pacific coast birds. Along the coast, we will search for birds like Wandering Tattler, Pacific Loon, and Marbled Murrelet; in the forests we’ll effort for Sooty and Dusky Grouses, Pacific Wren, and White-headed Woodpecker; and we’ll scan for migrants like innumerable shorebirds, ducks, and seabirds.
Join longtime Birds Georgia guide, Adam Betuel, as well as Steve Huggins from Red Hill Birding, on this stunning and bird-rich itinerary.
Group Size: 12 people
Member price: $6,030*
Non-member price: $6,090 * (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for non-shared hotel room: $890/person
*Based on double occupancy and 12 participants. See more details below if travelling solo
Lodging Note: Depending on group construction, single travelers may be asked to pay a single supplement if we are unable to pair you with another guest. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense, though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place to be in September. The tourist crowds are gone, the weather is dry, sunny, and lovely, and birds are pouring south along the Pacific towards their non-breeding grounds. This trip will feature some of the top resident birds and migrants in the region, during the peak of fall migration, and will also include a pelagic trip.
Among the beautiful scenery of the coastline, the Olympic rainforest, and the Cascade Mountains, the group will look for many classic Pacific coast birds. Along the coast, we will search for birds like Wandering Tattler, Pacific Loon, and Marbled Murrelet; in the forests we’ll effort for Sooty and Dusky Grouses, Pacific Wren, and White-headed Woodpecker; and we’ll scan for migrants like innumerable shorebirds, ducks, and seabirds.
Join longtime Birds Georgia guide, Adam Betuel, as well as Steve Huggins from Red Hill Birding, on this stunning and bird-rich itinerary.
Leadership Giving Circle members receive exclusive benefits, including early access to our travel program registration, discounts on store purchases, and access to special Leadership Circle trips.
To learn more, visit our Leadership Giving Circle page.
To learn more, visit our Leadership Giving Circle page.
4 spots remain!
Please Note: Credit card processing fees are now included in the registration price.
Questions? Please contact Adam Betuel at via email.
Questions? Please contact Adam Betuel at via email.
Trip Overview
Click on each day for more information.
DAY 1 - SEP 9: ARRIVE IN PORTLAND, OR
Today is a dedicated arrival day in Portland, Oregon. The group will be staying near the airport and will meet for dinner to get ready to enjoy over a week of fall migration and fantastic birding in the Pacific Northwest.
DAY 2 – SEP 10: PORTLAND TO WESTPORT
Today will start with a bit of inland Oregon birding along our way towards the coast, where we will take a northward turn and head into Washington State for a two-night stay in Westport.
The birding will start with something of a long shot: looking for Mountain Quail in the foothills of the coastal mountains. Always a challenge to find, the birds are in the area, so we will take our chances and cruise along rural mountain roads, keeping our eyes peeled for this secretive quail. We will certainly see some other nice birds here, possibly including Varied Thrush, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Band-tailed Pigeon, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Stellar’s Jay, and if luck is truly on our side, maybe even Ruffed or Sooty Grouse or Northern Pygmy-Owl.
We will eventually cross through the mountains and drop down to the coast. Where we stop will depend on our timing, but we will spend some time birding the coast, including a stop in Tokeland, where we could see birds typical of the Pacific coastline like Heerman’s Gull, Elegant Tern, Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Wandering Tattler, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and possibly even a rarity like Bar-tailed Godwit.
The birding will start with something of a long shot: looking for Mountain Quail in the foothills of the coastal mountains. Always a challenge to find, the birds are in the area, so we will take our chances and cruise along rural mountain roads, keeping our eyes peeled for this secretive quail. We will certainly see some other nice birds here, possibly including Varied Thrush, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Band-tailed Pigeon, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Stellar’s Jay, and if luck is truly on our side, maybe even Ruffed or Sooty Grouse or Northern Pygmy-Owl.
We will eventually cross through the mountains and drop down to the coast. Where we stop will depend on our timing, but we will spend some time birding the coast, including a stop in Tokeland, where we could see birds typical of the Pacific coastline like Heerman’s Gull, Elegant Tern, Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Wandering Tattler, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and possibly even a rarity like Bar-tailed Godwit.
DAY 3 - SEP 11: WESTPORT PELAGIc
Today is our pelagic day! For those who choose to join the boat trip, we will head early to the dock and from there out into the Pacific. Late summer and fall is peak time for pelagic birding here. Over the course of the day, we’ll be looking for a wide variety of pelagic species, including Black-footed and Laysan Albatross, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Sooty, Pink-billed, Buller’s, and Flesh-footed Shearwater, South Polar Skua, Northern Fulmar, Sabine’s Gull, along with jaegers, alcids (possibly including Tufted Puffin), and phalaropes. We’ll also be looking out for whales and dolphins and the guides will be keeping a sharp eye out for rarities.
For those who opt out of the pelagic trip, you will spend the day birding the area, especially looking for shorebirds and waterfowl along the coast and in the coastal bays.
For those who opt out of the pelagic trip, you will spend the day birding the area, especially looking for shorebirds and waterfowl along the coast and in the coastal bays.
DAY 4 – SEP 12: WESTPORT TO FORKS
Our day will start with birding at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and the adjacent Hoquiam Sewage Treatment Plant. These places are tremendous for waterbirds, and we’ll spend the morning looking through flocks of ducks and shorebirds and gulls and terns. We’ll especially look out for western birds like Long-billed Curlew, Cinnamon Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Short-billed and Heerman’s Gulls. We may see Clark’s and Western Grebe, or a rarity like a Ruff or Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Golden-crowned Sparrows will just be arriving for the winter as the last Violet-green Swallows linger before their departure for more tropical climes.
After lunch, we will carry on up the coast to the Quinault Rain Forest. As we make our way along the loop drive, we’ll look and listen for rainforest denizens like Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, American Dipper, Steller’s Jay, and Ruffed Grouse. Eventually, we will make our way to Forks for the night.
After lunch, we will carry on up the coast to the Quinault Rain Forest. As we make our way along the loop drive, we’ll look and listen for rainforest denizens like Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, American Dipper, Steller’s Jay, and Ruffed Grouse. Eventually, we will make our way to Forks for the night.
DAY 5 & 6 - SEP 13 & 14: FORKS TO THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA
We’ll have two days to explore the Olympic Peninsula. This is an exciting place to be in September, the peak of fall migration, and we’ll spend time around the towns of Neah Bay and Dungeness looking for migrants like Townsend’s, Black-throated Gray, and Wilson’s Warblers, Sooty Fox and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Black Swift, Purple Finch, and Western Tanager.
We’ll check Cape Flattery to see if any Tufted Puffins are lingering and look for any Pacific Coast waterbirds that we haven’t seen yet, like Marbled Murrelet or Harlequin Duck. Wooded and wooded edge habitats here are home to Canada Jay, Band-tailed Pigeon, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Bushtit, and American Goshawk.
We’ll also spend time driving up Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park looking for Sooty Grouse and around Dungeness looking for Pacific Golden-Plover among the many shorebirds that will be present.
We’ll check Cape Flattery to see if any Tufted Puffins are lingering and look for any Pacific Coast waterbirds that we haven’t seen yet, like Marbled Murrelet or Harlequin Duck. Wooded and wooded edge habitats here are home to Canada Jay, Band-tailed Pigeon, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Bushtit, and American Goshawk.
We’ll also spend time driving up Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park looking for Sooty Grouse and around Dungeness looking for Pacific Golden-Plover among the many shorebirds that will be present.
DAY 7 & 8 - SEP 15 & 16: OLYMPIC PENINSULA TO WINTHROP
We’ll start our day with some brief last minute birding on the peninsula before crossing Puget Sound by ferry, driving over the Port Deception bridge, and heading well inland, clear across the Cascades, to the town of Winthrop. We’ll have the late afternoon and the following day to bird the mountains, looking for some of the rarer mountain birds like American Three-toed Woodpecker, Dusky Grouse, and American Goshawk along with more numerous birds like Cassin’s Finch, Clark’s Nutcracker, Canada Jay, and American Dipper. We will hope to find a lingering Black Swift or Hammond’s Flycatcher that hasn’t headed south yet.
DAY 9 - SEP 17: WINTRHOP TO SEATTLE
We’ll spend the day working our way towards the great Pacific Northwest city of Seattle. We’ll head south from Winthrop along the base of the Cascades, stopping in a rocky area to check for Rock and Canyon Wrens. We may get lucky with Chukar in this area and we’ll have a good chance of seeing California Quail (which, like Chukar, is introduced here). It’s also a good area to find Say’s Phoebe.
We’ll make it to the town of Leavenworth on the east slope of the mountains, where our main aim will be to find White-headed Woodpecker. We may also come across Pygmy Nuthatch, Red Crossbill, Band-tailed Pigeon, Purple and Cassin’s Finch, and Spotted Towhee.
We’ll finally head into the city of Seattle. If we haven’t seen California Scrub-Jay yet, we’ll see if we can make a quick stop near the airport to pick up one more lifer before settling in to our hotel for our final night.
We’ll make it to the town of Leavenworth on the east slope of the mountains, where our main aim will be to find White-headed Woodpecker. We may also come across Pygmy Nuthatch, Red Crossbill, Band-tailed Pigeon, Purple and Cassin’s Finch, and Spotted Towhee.
We’ll finally head into the city of Seattle. If we haven’t seen California Scrub-Jay yet, we’ll see if we can make a quick stop near the airport to pick up one more lifer before settling in to our hotel for our final night.
DAY 10 - SEP 18: DEPARTURE
Today is a dedicated departure day, so you can schedule your flight for any time.
Number of bird species expected: 100 to 130
Additional details
Chestnut-backed Chicadee, by Mick Thompson.
Price Includes:
Price does not include:
Payments:
1. $1,000.00 due to reserve a spot on the trip.
2. Full payment must be made by April 30, 2026
*The final payment would include your single supplement payment if applicable
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by January 2, 2026 a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between January 3, 2026 and March 31, 2026 a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given less any non-refundable payments made to local companies. Please contact Adam Betuel if you have any questions regarding the non-refundable payment schedule.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Birds Georgia Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.
- All meals and drinks (excluding alcoholic beverages) including tips from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 10
- All ground transportation
- Pelagic boat trip (if you are certain you do not wish to participate in this outing, let Adam know before the final payment and he can remove the cost of the boat)
- Hotel accommodations for 9 nights
- Expert guides from Birds Georgia and Red Hill
- Scopes and audio equipment
- All park entrance fees
- Paper trip checklist
- eBird checklists and final trip report
Price does not include:
- Airfare to Portland, OR, and back to your final destination from Seattle, WA
- Tips (for the local guide, boat captain and any crew, housekeeping, etc.)
- Alcoholic or specialty beverages
- Optional activities not specified on itinerary
- Snacks
- Laundry
- Travel insurance, strongly recommended
- Medical costs
- Souvenirs
- Other incidentals participants may wish to purchase
Payments:
1. $1,000.00 due to reserve a spot on the trip.
2. Full payment must be made by April 30, 2026
*The final payment would include your single supplement payment if applicable
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by January 2, 2026 a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between January 3, 2026 and March 31, 2026 a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given less any non-refundable payments made to local companies. Please contact Adam Betuel if you have any questions regarding the non-refundable payment schedule.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Birds Georgia Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.
Travel Information
Black Turnstone. Photo by Tim Bowman
Timing
Starts in Portland, OR | Ends in Seattle, WA
The trip will begin at 5:30 pm in the lobby of the Portland hotel on Tuesday, September 9, for a general introduction and dinner. It will end on the morning of Thursday, September 18 at the group’s Seattle hotel. We will try to arrange hotels at both ends of the tour that offer airport shuttles.
Physical Requirements & Pace
This trip is physically easy. While much birding will be done from roads and other easily accessible places, we will occasionally be walking on mountainous trails. None will be difficult, long, or steep, though there can be uneven or rocky ground in some places. We will always be walking at a birding pace (that is, very slowly). These walks could last up to a few hours and are always optional.
The pace of the trip is moderate. A typical day will have us up early to take advantage of early morning bird activity. We will sometimes take breakfast into the field with us. Some days will include a mid-day siesta before returning out in the cooler afternoon temperatures and finishing with time for a short rest before dinner. There are unlikely to be nighttime outings.
Lodging
Accommodations are good throughout. Generally, there will be free wireless internet. We favor local hotels that are convenient to our birding sites whenever possible. An exact list of hotels will be sent well ahead of the start of the trip.
Meals/Dietary Restrictions
When possible/convenient, meals will be from local restaurants, though packed or fast casual lunches are often necessary. At times, birding activities will dictate more basic meals or food in the field. All efforts will be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions within the confines described above. Please contact Adam Betuel by email to discuss your needs before registering if you think there could be an issue.
Photography
The photographic opportunities are very good. The open nature of the habitat lends itself well to bird photography, although it is more difficult in the forested habitats, which we will also be frequenting. Although this is primarily a birding tour and we will not be making special accommodations for photographers, this is an excellent part of the country for bird photography and any photographers in the group will go home with many excellent images.
Weather and Packing Considerations
The weather in Washington in September is generally quite comfortable. For example, in Westport, the average high temperature in September is 63° and low is 55°. In Winthrop, the average high is 77°F and low is 41°F. It will be cool in the early mornings on the coast and at higher elevations. It is likely to be even cooler on the pelagic trip. September is generally fairly dry, with low humidity, though occasional rain is possible. It is worth checking the weather forecast before departure.
You will generally want to wear comfortable, lightweight clothing. Long sleeves and long pants are recommended for sun protection. A mid-weight jacket is useful for cool nights and mornings as well as on the pelagic.
In terms of gear, you will want to bring the usual binoculars, field guide, hat, camera, and other gear you are accustomed to going birding with. Please bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and reduce plastic waste. For coffee drinkers, a travel coffee mug is a nice thing to have along in the morning. This is typically a sunny region in summer/early fall, so bring sunscreen and a hat as well.
Our guides will each have spotting scopes for our use. If you would like to bring your own, please reach out to Adam to discuss.
Seat Rotation/Vehicle
We will employ a seat rotation system on this tour. Participants will need to be flexible enough to maneuver to the back of the vehicles. Those who experience motion sickness will need to bring medication for the tour or find other ways to cope. We will not reserve forward seats for medical conditions. Contact Adam if you have any questions about this.
Bathrooms
All efforts will be made to stop at modern, comfortable restrooms. However, participants should be prepared to make a comfort stop in nature if they cannot wait until the next indoor facility.
eBird
Birds Georgia staff or a Red Hill Birding guide will be eBirding the entire tour. If you have an eBird account, we will collect your username/email address in order to share those lists, and will share them when it is convenient (often in real time). You are welcome to edit your lists to add/remove species, edit text, or change numbers as much as you would like, since any edits you make to your lists do not change others’ lists. And we love it when participants add photos and sound recordings to the checklists!
The leader will also provide an eBird Trip Report after the tour and will add participants who have an eBird account to the report; this way, you can see your own personal trip details and those of the whole group. These trip reports are accessible to anyone who has the link, so participants who do not have eBird accounts can still view the report to see the trip list, photos, and any added text.
Tipping
Red Hill is a great partner of Birds Georgia and they always aim to provide exceptional service, using guides that are knowledgeable, interesting, personable, and experienced. While tipping is never expected, we encourage participants to tip our Red Hill partners if you feel that they went above and beyond. Tips at restaurants are included in the tour price. You may want to have tips for housekeeping or porters or others you would like to recognize. You will also likely want to tip the boat captain and any other staff during the pelagic outing.
Starts in Portland, OR | Ends in Seattle, WA
The trip will begin at 5:30 pm in the lobby of the Portland hotel on Tuesday, September 9, for a general introduction and dinner. It will end on the morning of Thursday, September 18 at the group’s Seattle hotel. We will try to arrange hotels at both ends of the tour that offer airport shuttles.
Physical Requirements & Pace
This trip is physically easy. While much birding will be done from roads and other easily accessible places, we will occasionally be walking on mountainous trails. None will be difficult, long, or steep, though there can be uneven or rocky ground in some places. We will always be walking at a birding pace (that is, very slowly). These walks could last up to a few hours and are always optional.
The pace of the trip is moderate. A typical day will have us up early to take advantage of early morning bird activity. We will sometimes take breakfast into the field with us. Some days will include a mid-day siesta before returning out in the cooler afternoon temperatures and finishing with time for a short rest before dinner. There are unlikely to be nighttime outings.
Lodging
Accommodations are good throughout. Generally, there will be free wireless internet. We favor local hotels that are convenient to our birding sites whenever possible. An exact list of hotels will be sent well ahead of the start of the trip.
Meals/Dietary Restrictions
When possible/convenient, meals will be from local restaurants, though packed or fast casual lunches are often necessary. At times, birding activities will dictate more basic meals or food in the field. All efforts will be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions within the confines described above. Please contact Adam Betuel by email to discuss your needs before registering if you think there could be an issue.
Photography
The photographic opportunities are very good. The open nature of the habitat lends itself well to bird photography, although it is more difficult in the forested habitats, which we will also be frequenting. Although this is primarily a birding tour and we will not be making special accommodations for photographers, this is an excellent part of the country for bird photography and any photographers in the group will go home with many excellent images.
Weather and Packing Considerations
The weather in Washington in September is generally quite comfortable. For example, in Westport, the average high temperature in September is 63° and low is 55°. In Winthrop, the average high is 77°F and low is 41°F. It will be cool in the early mornings on the coast and at higher elevations. It is likely to be even cooler on the pelagic trip. September is generally fairly dry, with low humidity, though occasional rain is possible. It is worth checking the weather forecast before departure.
You will generally want to wear comfortable, lightweight clothing. Long sleeves and long pants are recommended for sun protection. A mid-weight jacket is useful for cool nights and mornings as well as on the pelagic.
In terms of gear, you will want to bring the usual binoculars, field guide, hat, camera, and other gear you are accustomed to going birding with. Please bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and reduce plastic waste. For coffee drinkers, a travel coffee mug is a nice thing to have along in the morning. This is typically a sunny region in summer/early fall, so bring sunscreen and a hat as well.
Our guides will each have spotting scopes for our use. If you would like to bring your own, please reach out to Adam to discuss.
Seat Rotation/Vehicle
We will employ a seat rotation system on this tour. Participants will need to be flexible enough to maneuver to the back of the vehicles. Those who experience motion sickness will need to bring medication for the tour or find other ways to cope. We will not reserve forward seats for medical conditions. Contact Adam if you have any questions about this.
Bathrooms
All efforts will be made to stop at modern, comfortable restrooms. However, participants should be prepared to make a comfort stop in nature if they cannot wait until the next indoor facility.
eBird
Birds Georgia staff or a Red Hill Birding guide will be eBirding the entire tour. If you have an eBird account, we will collect your username/email address in order to share those lists, and will share them when it is convenient (often in real time). You are welcome to edit your lists to add/remove species, edit text, or change numbers as much as you would like, since any edits you make to your lists do not change others’ lists. And we love it when participants add photos and sound recordings to the checklists!
The leader will also provide an eBird Trip Report after the tour and will add participants who have an eBird account to the report; this way, you can see your own personal trip details and those of the whole group. These trip reports are accessible to anyone who has the link, so participants who do not have eBird accounts can still view the report to see the trip list, photos, and any added text.
Tipping
Red Hill is a great partner of Birds Georgia and they always aim to provide exceptional service, using guides that are knowledgeable, interesting, personable, and experienced. While tipping is never expected, we encourage participants to tip our Red Hill partners if you feel that they went above and beyond. Tips at restaurants are included in the tour price. You may want to have tips for housekeeping or porters or others you would like to recognize. You will also likely want to tip the boat captain and any other staff during the pelagic outing.
