Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T65Bs)
Steller Sea Lions
Bald Eagles

April 27, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

Overcast skies did not put a damper on our day as we headed west into the San Juan Islands. Our boat, the Island Explorer 5, was built for pacific northwest weather and whale watching. Although there were no spring showers today, the IE5 has you sheltered with outdoor covered areas and indoor heated cabins. It's great to have both options throughout our journey!

We first passed a large bait ball and then spotted 3 mature bald eagles spread along the Blakely Island shoreline. From there we continued to Pole Pass where we found a belted king fisher perfectly perched on a sculpture of a cormorant.

We soon joined the T65B pod of Bigg's killer whales at Point Disney on Waldron Island! They had just finished prey sharing and had begun scouting the shoreline for some more food. Swimming tight to shore and splashing as they went, we enjoyed a marvelous show from these amazing orca whales. We departed the whales and made our way around Orcas Island, cruising south in the Strait of Georgia before stopping near Sinclair Island to watch a group of Steller sea lions goofing around on a navigation Buoy. It was a fantastic day and by the time we neared the marina, the overcast skies had disappeared and the sun was out.

We're looking forward to the sunshine that is forecast for our upcoming 12 PM whale watch on Wednesday!

-Naturalist Tyson