What Is Changing for Westport Seabirds in 2026?

Updated

Westport Seabirds will continue running its all-day pelagic bird-watching trips in 2026, but under new management: Todd and Ann Sawin are taking over operations. The 2026 season is also dedicated in memory of Scott Mills, a long-time trip leader, and the organization has moved to new booking and payment methods. If you have booked with Westport Seabirds before, the main practical change is that you now reserve and pay through a new automated system rather than the old process.

New management

After the 2025 season, Phil and Chris Anderson stepped away from Westport Seabirds after 40 years with the organization. Todd and Ann Sawin now run the operation and say they look forward to serving the birding community by continuing the tradition of offshore trips on the Pacific.

For customers, this means the people behind the trips have changed, but the core offering—all-day pelagic bird-watching trips to deep-water submarine canyons—continues.

2026 season dedicated to Scott Mills

The 2026 season is dedicated in memory of Scott Mills, who led over 300 trips for Westport Seabirds over 25 years. The organization describes him as a pillar of strength for both Westport Seabirds and the wider birding community, known for his passion for ocean wildlife and his drive to educate passengers about what they were seeing.

New booking and payment system

The most concrete change for anyone planning a trip is how you reserve a spot:

  • New booking and payment methods are now listed on the Reservation page.
  • The 2026 Schedule page contains new contact information along with an automated reservation and payment system.
  • You reach the schedule by clicking “2026 Schedule” on the left-hand side of the site.

So instead of the previous reservation process, you should expect to use the automated system for both booking and payment. The site does not publish specific prices or payment platforms in the material available, so check the Reservation page directly for current details.

What stays the same

The trips themselves continue as before:

  • All-day pelagic bird-watching trips to one of several deep-water submarine canyons about 30 nautical miles from the mouth of Grays Harbor, at the edge of the North American continental shelf.
  • Regular species such as Black-footed Albatross and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel.
  • Seasonal species including Laysan Albatross, Flesh-footed, Short-tailed, and Buller’s Shearwaters, and South Polar Skua, among many other offshore species.
  • Marine life watching for whales, dolphins, porpoises, fur seals, and other animals in this nutrient-rich environment.

The underlying trip program also has deep roots: Terry Wahl initiated offshore trips to Grays Canyon in September 1966 and began systematic censusing in September 1971, producing what the organization describes as the longest running database of birds counted at sea in the world.

What to do if you want to book for 2026

  1. Go to the Westport Seabirds site and click “2026 Schedule” on the left-hand side.
  2. Use the new contact information there if you have questions.
  3. Book and pay through the automated reservation and payment system linked from the Reservation page.

If you are comparing 2026 with past seasons, the key differences are the new managers, the memorial dedication, and the new booking and payment process—not the trips themselves.