June 19, 2025
Anacortes Whale Watch
Highlights
Bigg's Killer Whales (T99s)
Harbor Seals
Pigeon Guillemots
June 19, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch
What a wonderful afternoon full of diverse wildlife sightings! Our adventure started with bald eagle sightings near the Burrow’s Island lighthouse. A pair were sitting high in the treetops watching a group of kayakers passing beneath them. We continued on to Williamson Rocks, where we saw nesting double crested and pelagic cormorants, dozens of pigeon guillemots, glaucous winged gulls, hauled out harbor seals and beautiful flowing bull kelp. We continued south to the Deception Pass bridge. The currents were swirling, and pigeon guillemots were fishing amongst the upwelling patches.
Earlier that morning a pod of Bigg’s killer whales had passed beneath the bridge and out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We caught up with this family, the T99s just south of NAS Whidbey. Bella, Holly, Barakat, Puck and qwinn qwinn oo qwinn la were all traveling closely together when we arrived, timing their surfacing's in near perfect synchrony. As the encounter progressed, they spread out and transitioned into a hunting mode. It was beautiful to see the transition.
The cruise home was smooth and pleasant. We stopped at Lawson Reef to visit with a sleepy Steller's sea lion.
-Sam
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Island Adventures Whale Watching provides the best opportunity to explore the Salish Sea and the wildlife beneath the waves.
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