Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales
Gray Whale
Bald Eagles
Harbor Seals
Sea Lions

July 5, 2025 | 9 AM, 1 PM, and 5 PM Whale Watch

Today’s group was wonderfully punctual, so we got off the dock early in hopes that the early bird would catch the worm. With the last known sightings of yesterday’s pods heading northbound, we started by searching the eastern side of Guemes Island and up into Bellingham Bay. It was a bit breezy this morning, with southerly winds rolling up the straits, and the ebb tide lent to the chop that formed. We knew the waters would calm to the north, so we worked our way towards the Outer Island Chain. Not before stopping at Vendovi Island for some wildlife viewing though! Dozens of harbor seals were hauled out along shore, with many new pups in the mix. Eagles flew by overhead, and pigeon guillemots dive bombed the water all along shore. It was a lovely amount of activity, and a fun slow cruise past a stunning coastline.

We worked our way up to the Patos Island Lighthouse, admiring this iconic landmark as we crossed into Canadian waters. Scanning hard, we searched the Straight of Georgia for blows and dorsal fins, but came up empty. We turned east to try our luck along the back side of Sucia and Matia Islands. We found bald eagle nests, the owners of said nests, and many chatty pigeon guillemots! We continued along the western coastline of Lummi Island, admiring the rugged souther coastline and then slowed to visit with a very rowdy group of Steller sea lions. They were trying to all fit on the navigational marker with mixed success. We watched as a larger Steller assessed the remaining space from the water, peeking up and upsetting those already dry on the buoy. Eventually they did manage to find space and joined the cuddle puddle, though their peers seemed less than thrilled. The pelagic cormorants nesting on maker above them watched over their eggs as the marker listed and tilted with the continued shift in weight.

We gave southern Bellingham Bay a final search, noting how much the shift of the tides had mellowed the conditions. Sadly, we did not find whales this morning, but it was certainly not for lack of effort and we enjoyed many wonderful wildlife sightings along the journey.

If our crew knows anything about searching for whales in the Salish Sea, it’s that a lot can change in an hour. Every time we leave the dock it’s a fresh start with new possibilities, and we were ready to see what Mother Nature had in store for us this afternoon.

We started the search in Rosario as we worked our way towards Thatcher Pass. Flocks of birds were gathered in the strait, rhinoceros auklets, cormorants and gulls all mingling at bait balls. Conditions had calmed since the morning, and we enjoyed smooth sailing (apart from all the Fourth of July weekend boat wake) as we passed through Cayou and Pole passes. We admired flowing bullkelp in Pole and watched for jellies drifting by.

We continued to push northwest, turning towards Skipjack once we’d reached Boundary Pass. It was at this National Wildlife Refuge that we stopped to admire the harbor seals hauled out and sunbathing, several mom/pup pairs in the mix. The pigeon guillemots were certainly active today! They were flying all around us and dive bombing into the water. We pushed towards the Patos Island Lighthouse from here, enjoying a line-up with Koma Kulshan on the horizon. Through the outer islands we cruised, and on towards Alden Bank. Upon reaching the southern navigational marker, we found some snoozing Steller sea lions with cormorants perched above them.

Just as we were starting to get nervous, Captain Carl sighted a blow on the horizon! Lo and behold, a beautiful gray whale was cruising north towards Alden Bank from Clark Island. We were honestly surprised to see a gray whale, as most of them have migrated further north where they will complete their summer feeding season. This was such a welcome and unique sighting! We cruised along with it, and it came to say hello a time or two, its powerful exhalations taking our breath away.

Thrilled by how our adventure ended, we worked our way down the east side of Guemes Island and back into Cap Sante Marina just in time to board our final trip of the day.

We left the dock with new reports of whales filtering in from our friends around the Salish Sea, so we blazed a new trail this evening, opting for a route we had yet to explore that day: the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Winds were howling from the southeast and west, stacking against the ebb tide, meaning we were going to earn our whale sightings tonight. Up for the adventure of it all, we cut through the swell, angling towards the last known sighting of a group of Bigg’s killer whales. Our crew was focused, scanning hard amongst the sea spray and surf for black dorsal fins and subtle blows. “I see a blow!” One of the best feelings in the world.

We spent the evening with no fewer than twelve Bigg’s killer whales:

T35s: Lester, Opal, Topaz, Garnet, Agate
T36A1s: Tierna & Drift
T38As: Dana & 2 un-nicknamed offspring
T125A & T128: brothers Flotsam & Jetsam

They were spread out and surfing the swell when we found them, Flotsam & Jetsam’s massive dorsal fins dramatically slicing through the waves. Conditions felt remarkably calm given because we got to ride the swell with them, and they gradually led us back east towards Iceberg Point. Koma Kulshan set a stunning backdrop for the whole scene.

With that phenomenal end to the day, we meandered back home, enjoying the sights at Castle Island and southern Lopez as we went. We found a pair of black oyster catchers, harbor seals swimming amongst the kelp, pigeon guillemots flying around, chatty belted king fishers, and many swallows. It was a beautiful end to the day, and we enjoyed the golden hour lighting as the sun sunk lower on the horizon.

-Sam