Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T65As)
Steller Sea Lions
Bald Eagles

June 21, 2025 | 1 PM and 5 PM Whale Watch

What a placid morning! It was truly the calm after yesterday’s storm, and Mother Nature was at her most serene. A gentle blanket of clouds settled in over the sea, the water reflecting its gray hue in the most beautiful way. We started the day with a circumnavigation of Bird Rocks. It lived up to its name today, as birds seemed to be covering every surface. Double crested cormorants nested at the peak, glaucous winged gulls were busy sitting on nests too! Pigeon guillemots, harlequin ducks, black oyster catchers, you name it, they were there. Very quiet on the mammal front, with the high tide it wasn’t too surprising.

We continued south, down to McArthur Bank where the T65As were spread. This family of Bigg’s were peacefully scouting the bank, Artemis, Callisto and Indy close together, Elli trailing behind them, Ooxjaa further north and Amir way off to the south. It was good to see Indy back with the family, and sticking close to his mom.

We visited with a couple of sleepy Steller sea lions on one of the Lawson Reef navigational buoys. Pelagic cormorants were nesting above them. We saw more nesting cormorants on Williamson Rocks, both pelagic and double crested. We also found bobbing harbor seals, chatty black oyster catchers, pigeon guillemots and more! We made a final wildlife stop near the Burrow’s Island Lighthouse, where two bald eagles were perched high in the trees. It was a well rounded morning adventure.

-Sam

During our 5PM departure, we caught back up with the T65As in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This family was slightly spread, and we got to spend time with three of the siblings of this group, T65A3 Amira, T65A4 Elli, and T65A6 Callisto. This triad traveled through placid, glassy water in serene afternoon light. It's always such a pleasure to get to spend time with this very well known group!