Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T123s)
Humpback Whale (BCY0458 "Raptor")
Steller Sea Lions
Harbor Seals
Bald Eagles
Mouflon Sheep

May 17, 2025 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

Heading out of Cap Sante this morning we took a northerly route around Guemes Island and cruised its northern shore as the fog creeped through the trees. Guemes proved to be a great spot for bald eagles and an active eagles nest as we cruised along. We also saw a few harbor seals fishing near the shoreline and violet green swallows buzzing all around

We headed up to the #4 Sinclair Buoy and checked out some Steller sea lions. Three were on the Buoy and one was very persistent yet unsuccessful at joining its friends. We continued our search from there to Aldin bank where we found a few marble murrelets, some Pacific and common loons and a bunch of rhinoceros auklets. Some reports came in, to the west of us and after making a brief stop at Patos Island we headed to Pender Island and joined up with a humpback whale known as Raptor BCY0458. She gave us some great looks and a lot of flukes. We headed through the islands after that and enjoyed a beautiful cruise home.

This afternoon, the rains came in and gave us a quick blessing before we left Cap Sante marina and headed west. Stopping at Pointer Island to check a nice bob of harbor seals. We continued a little ways from there to Lawson Rock and found an adult bald eagle. This felt like a good sign and we turned to make our way quickly through the San Juan islands. Stopping at Spieden Island we found a big haul out of Steller sea lions before continuing down the shore. Along the shore we found a few more bald eagles and just before leaving the island we started to see many herds of mouflon sheep. We pushed deep into Canada and joined the T123s Bigg's killer whales near coal island. We hung out with them for some time and even watched them take down some prey. It was likely a harbor porpoise but the evidence only supported a successful hunt and no sure identity of the prey. After that we headed back to the east, as blue skies began to come out over the Salish and a breeze began to build. Making our way back into Cap Sante we completed a very successful day on the water.

-Tyson