Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T75Bs)
Bald Eagles
Harbor Seals
Steller Sea Lions
Harbor Porpoises

July 18, 2025 | 1 PM and 5 PM Whale Watch

With fog and wind to the south, we opted for a northern journey this morning, and enjoyed glassy seas throughout our adventure. Our wildlife stops started with a regal bald eagle perched high in the treetops of Cypress Island. Beneath them two belted kingfishers flitted from branch to branch. We spied pigeon guillemots swimming amongst the emerald waters too.

We continued north from there, slowing at a red navigational marker to visit with a couple of beautiful Steller sea lions and some pelagic cormorant chicks! We continued through the Outer Islands, taking the north side of Clark and Matia and cutting south at Sucia. There were so many harbor porpoises at the intersection between Boundary Pass and Presidents Channel. Likely at least 50 within a mile radius. We made a stop at White Rock where two beautiful bald eagles were perched, beneath them were dozens of seals including a number of pups! It was so charming to see them snuggled up next to their moms.

We stopped at Spieden Island next, finding a chonky Steller bull posing at Green Point and a lone harbor seal diving him space. We lucked into a herd of female and juvenile mouflon sheep too!

We angled back east, searching hard through the heart of the islands. Sadly whales were not in the cards for us this morning, but it was certainly not for lack of effort. We sincerely hope today’s guests return in the future for another chance at whales with us.

With renewed hope upon departing the marina, we headed north up Bellingham Channel in search of whales. We slowed to admire a stunning mature bald eagle whose feathers were fluffed up against the rain. We also found a nest in the area. As we cruised up the Cypress shoreline we spied active pigeon guillemots and got quick looks at harbor porpoises.

We ventured all the way to Sucia Island, where the T75Bs were busy taking down lunch in the form of a harbor seal. Pebbles and her kids were showing off their coordinated hunting techniques in dramatic fashion, Pebbles herself leaving her kids to finish off the hunt on their own. She ventured over to a large gathering of Bonaparte’s gulls, sending them soaring as her kids raced over to join her. Spyhops, cartwheels, tail slaps, we were spoiled by surface behaviors today.

We ventured down to the northern end of President’s Channel next, where the T123s and T36As were just meeting up. It was a flurry of excitement, little Darcy (T123D) showing the most energy with repeated tail slaps, breaches and spyhops. A fantastic finale to a trip packed with Bigg’s killer whales.

We stopped to visit with some Steller sea lions hauled out on a navigational marker on the way home, also noting the Pelagic Cormorants nesting above them.

-Sam