Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

70 Nautical Miles of Search
Harbor Porpoise
Harbor Seals
Bald Eagles
Steller Sea Lions
Turkey Vultures
Mouflon Sheep

May 2, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

The sun was shinning, the boat was clean…and we set off on another grand adventure! We started with a peek around the corner of Guemes Island, scanning up towards Bellingham Bay for life. We found some charming pods of harbor porpoises, but not any larger cetaceans, so we pushed west through Guemes Channel. We continued towards Thatcher Pass, spying rhinoceros auklet pairs and pelagic cormorants. We enjoyed a beautiful cruise through the heart of the islands, spying an osprey next in Wasp Pass and the splashes of color created by wildflowers on Yellow Island.

We slowed at Spieden, stopping to visit with some massive Steller bulls, one of which had wrapped itself in bullkelp. On the hillsides were mouflon rams grazing amongst a few lingering wildflowers and gaggles of Canada geese. Bald eagles soared overhead, engaging in aerial acrobatics while turkey vultures flew by looking for their next meal.

We stopped to scan across Haro Strait, our height allowing for an optimal vantage point from which to spy any life that might have been present. No luck. So we turned back into Spieden and south down San Juan Channel. This brought us through Cattle Pass and to Whale Rocks. The Stellers were gathered in force today! Sea lions of all ages vying for their preferred spot on the sunbaked rocks. It was amazing to watch their antics!

We scanned the upwelling zones in Juan de Fuca as we worked our way east, cruising past growing flocks of birds and the occasional harbor porpoise. Unfortuantely we did not find whales in the area today, but certainly not for lack of effort! We covered around seventy nautical miles, enjoyed a stunning day on the water, and are looking forward to our next adventure tomorrow!

-Sam