This is a question I get asked a lot. Without being too flippant, the best time to take a West Coast pelagic trip is… now! Day-to-day variations in bird numbers, location, and variety can be significant, often as pronounced as seasonal variation. On average the spring and fall migration periods have more variety, with fall often a bit better than spring. The spring peak is April and May. The fall peak is August to October. However, there are always numerous seabirds present. Right now there is some seabird out there for which now is the best time to see it.

Late August is better for Long-tailed Jaegers, Arctic Terns, Sabine’s Gulls, and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels.

Early October is better for Flesh-footed Shearwaters, South Polar Skuas, Short-tailed Shearwaters, and Cassin’s Auklets.

Spring is good for Black-legged Kittiwakes, Laysan Albatrosses, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, and Red Phalaropes. Deep water trips at this time of the year offer the possibility of Leach’s Storm-Petrels, Horned Puffins, or maybe even Murphy’s Petrels.

There are fewer typical pelagic species in January and February than in any other month. Nevertheless, this may be the best time for Laysan and Short-tailed Albatrosses. Early December is the best time for Short-tailed Shearwaters and Ancient Murrelets, and holds promise of rarities such as Mottled Petrels or Parakeet Auklets. Nearshore waters in winter are filled with gulls, loons, and sea ducks, and may harbor some other surprises, as well.

Debi Shearwater feels that July might be an “undiscovered” time to search for rarities offshore. Most birders prefer to plan their pelagic trips a little later in fall when there are more regular migrant seabirds. It is hard to argue, though, with the numerous rarities that have come from July off northern California. The list includes Salvin’s Albatross (twice), Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Great-winged Petrel, Bulwer’s Petrel, and Dark-rumped Petrels. These and other rarities are also possible off Oregon.

“What do you call the first sunny day that follows 3 days of rain in Oregon?” Monday. No discussion of pelagic trip timing in the Pacific Northwest is complete without discussing the weather. Actually, showers do not cancel a trip--large waves from strong winds do. Strong winds can be associated with either stormy weather or clear weather. Debi Shearwater says that only one in a thousand pelagic trips have canceled in fall (July to October) from Monterey Bay, California. However, along the rugged and wind-swept shores of Oregon the ratio is much higher. Trips can cancel or go out any time of year. July and August are the calmest months, on average. Strong winds start some time during October and continue through February; one-third to one-half of our trips may cancel during this time. The end of November and beginning of December are our worst weather. Looking at buoy records for this time shows that 75% of trips would cancel during this time. March and April are about 50% successful. Even in August and September, the traditional pelagic trip season, up to 15% of the trips may “weather-out."

Winter may have more cancellations, but we don’t go out if the seas are very rough. Thus if we do go out in winter, the seas won’t necessarily be any rougher than at other times of year. Water temperatures year round stay in the 50s (F), so winter trips usually aren’t bitterly cold. And winter is the charter boat's main whale watching season. So trips do go out regularly in winter.

If I only take ONE trip this year, when is best?

It all depends on your goals. Do you want to see the most species (the most "bang for your buck")? Then you want to hit one of the migration peaks. There are 3 to choose from: end of September-beginning of October, end of August-beginning of September, and mid April through May. Do you want to see the largest number of total birds? Then early September is probably best. Do you want to see the largest number of species? Then early October is for you. Do you want the best weather possible, regardless of the birds? Then July or August will please, more often than not. Do you want to see the most species possible and have the best weather? Then late August is best. Again, on average--any one particular trip could be calm or windy, smooth or rough, clear or foggy, have amazing numbers of birds or relatively few.

On the other hand, if your goal is to see a particular species, then go to the abundance checklist and annotated checklist and choose a time when your target species is listed as Common. That gives you the best chance. Even a species listed as Uncommon should probably be seen, though often in lower numbers. Species listed as Rare do occur regularly, but in small numbers and not every trip. The longer the trip, the more birds encountered. But you have to balance that against sea conditions and your own susceptibility to motion sickness.

What trips would I, personally, not want to miss?

The first weekend in October has been very good to us. Several rarities have appeared then, including Shy Albatross (twice), Xantus’s Murrelet a couple of times, Manx Shearwater, Brown Booby, and Wedge-tailed Shearwater. It is also an ideal time for Flesh-footed Shearwaters and South Polar Skuas.

I always look forward with anticipation to our early spring trips. March has high numbers of Black-legged Kittiwakes and Rhinoceros Auklets, with Ancient Murrelets and Short-tailed Shearwaters expected through March. The target bird during the entire spring is Laysan Albatross, which is found on about 75% of spring trips. Other trips have rewarded us with Leach’s Storm-Petrels, Horned Puffins, and Short-tailed Albatrosses. Weather is a bit of a worry, but the lure of possible rarities like Mottled and Murphy’s Petrels, Red-legged Kittiwakes, Thick-billed Murres, or Parakeet Auklets is a strong incentive.

The last weekend in August is one I hate to miss. Often the weather is pleasant and the birds abundant. This is the time for Long-tailed Jaegers, Arctic Terns, and lots of phalaropes. If seas are calm sharks will be at the surface and Humpback Whales and Orcas often join the other dolphins and porpoises on our list.

Our-mid-May trips have lots of birds, and the excitement of spring migration is felt at sea as on land. Thousands of loons are still streaming north nearshore. Common Murres are flying back and forth to their breeding colonies. Red Phalaropes and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels are often common. Arctic and Common Terns join Sabine’s Gulls and Black-legged Kittiwakes in the skies. Jaegers are generally rare in spring, but in their breeding finery when seen. And the Black-footed Albatrosses seem attracted even more aggressively to our chum in spring.

So any time of year is a good time to take a West Coast pelagic trip. Each season offers a different selection of unique seabirds and memorable adventures.