Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T46Bs)
Harbor Seals
Steller Sea Lions
Tufted Puffins

July 13, 2025 | 9 AM and 1 PM Whale Watch

Being one of the first boats out on the water searching this morning, we decided to look up around the back side of Guemes Island to see if any of the orcas from yesterday were still hanging around Lummi. After making a big search arc, stopping along the way for some sea lions resting on a navigational marker, we pushed south down Rosario Strait. At. Bird Rocks, we spotted a large haul out of harbor seals, including two pups, as well as cormorants, gulls, and pigeon guillemots. While continuing south and planning to search the Juan de Fuca next, a report came in of unidentified killer whales at Smith Island, just 20 minutes away! We rushed down, getting on scene as this family began to circumnavigate the small island most likely scouting for seals. It didn’t take long to figure out that we were on scene with the T46Bs, a very well known family led by matriarch T46B Raksha. As we circled the island, we noticed that one member of the family had what looked like what was once a harbor seal balanced on their rostrum, indicating that this group had found themselves a meal and were pray sharing! Once the T46Bs had made their way all the way around smith, they began to push west. After an amazing encounter with this family, we made our way slowly off scene and headed for home. It was another gorgeous morning exploring the Salish Sea!

This afternoon we pushed straight out into the Juan de Fuca. The whales we were with this morning were gunning for the west and we needed to catch up. Just west of Hein bank, we slowed up and met back up with the T46Bs. This group was in full on travel mode with a slight split in the family. T46B3 Sedna and her new calf T46B3A Munro trailed slightly behind Matriarch T46B Raksha and the rest of the family. Sedna was intent to catch up though, moving at fast speeds with her calf right beside her. Being only a few months old, Munro impressed all of us with their speed and ability to keep up easily with mom. We traveled with this group for as long as we could, and finally saw Sedna reunite with her mother and sisters, before we had to slip off scene. These whales were taking us quickly in the wrong direction and now we were quite a ways from home. Passing back over Hein bank on our return route, we stopped for a few brief looks at a sly minke whale feeding on baitfish among the gulls and auklets. Moving further east, we checked out a sea lion on a navigational marker and a couple seals as well as a mature bald eagle on Colville Island. Cruising up Rosario Strait, we recapped the day and talked a little bit more about this iconic family of Biggs Killer Whales. It was a fantastic afternoon adventure!

-Amy