Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T137s & T123s)
Gray Whale (CRC-2552)
Harbor Seals
Bald Eagles

April 13, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

We left Cap Sante Marina and headed up past Huckleberry Island to start our search today. Watching cormorants and pigeon guillemots flying around, we stopped at Vendovi Island to check out some harbor seals and a mature bald eagle. As we watched, the eagle made a call and a juvenile eagle flew by, disappearing around the corner. Shortly before we left the adult eagle called again and we watched as the juvenile eagle came flying back in.

We left Vendovi Island and headed to Elisa Island where we joined up with the T137 pod of Biggs orca whales. We got some great close-ups of Loon and her big first born son Jack, and watched Tempest and Wright traveling a little further out. Once we reached Samish Island we waved goodbye and headed to Portage Island outside Bellingham Bay where we were joined by gray whale #2552 and lucked out with some amazing looks. A report of more orcas near Samish Island had us return to the waters we had just left, this time joining the T123s. We joined these Biggs orcas just in time as they were just engaging in a hunt and teaching their young. We got to have an amazing encounter as the whales chased a harbor seal and we sat in awe at the power of these orca whales.

Watching for some time it was clear the harbor seal was not yet ready to be lunch and it shook itself back to life, time and time again. With the clock running out on our amazing journey, we slowly departed and made our way back to Anacortes.

-Naturalist Tyson