Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales
Harbor Seals
Mouflon Sheep

June 28, 2025 | 9 AM and 1 PM Whale Watch

With early morning rumors of whales to the west, we cut through Thatcher Pass, continued on through Wasp, and cruised past Spieden. We scanned hard in Haro Strait, grateful for the calm seas and clear skies as we searched for blows and dorsal fins. Pete, a sharp-eyed passenger, spotted black dorsal fins on the horizon! Sure enough, five Bigg’s killer whales were working their way north against the ebb tide. It was T49A1 “Noah” and the T65Bs! Chunk and her two littlest, Covus and Rook, were traveling side by side while Noah and Birdsall socialized with one another, slightly trailing behind.We left them to continue pushing against the currents, and made the turn east. We cruised close to the southern coastline of Spieden Island, spying mouflon sheep and many pigeon guillemots as we went. We cut back through the islands, slowing to maneuver through Pole Pass at low tide. Bull kelp was glimmering in the sunlight and jellies drifted by. In Rosario Strait we crossed paths with many rhinoceros auklets, a fun end to a good morning on the water.

The wind was picking up a bit from the southeast, and the tides had flipped to flood as we began our afternoon search. New reports of whales had filtered in from near Waldron Island, so we once again made our way through Thatcher Pass. Our journey took us to the western entrance of Wasp Pass, where we saw a tall dorsal fin on the horizon. It was Stanley! The T123s were working their way south down San Juan Channel. We joined them, marveling at their grace. They spoiled us with ample surface time, and little Darcy was being silly with her surfacing, likely playing with kelp.We left them near the entrance to Friday Harbor, and worked our way back to the east. We stopped at Pointer Island to visit with darling harbor seals and nesting glaucous winged gulls.

Sam