Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Humpback Whale
Harbor Seals
Sea Lions
Tufted Puffins

August 10, 2025 | 1 PM Whale Watch

This afternoon, we ventured out to Rosario Strait to begin our journey with a short stop at Bird Rocks. Here, we spotted a massive congregation of harbor seals, a few sea lions, lots of gulls, and plenty of double crested cormorants nesting along the rocky shore. Continuing south, we cut between Colville and Castle Island to break into a glassy Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Olympic mountains rose high and mighty to the south, and the august sun provided a nice, warm ride. At the beginning of the flood tide, with the strait so calm, we could make out every current and tideline along the surface.

Plunging further west, Captain Tyson and Deckhand Sam found us a humpback whale right in between Hein and McArthur Banks. This whale was intent on feeding, and it was clear by the amount of common murres and rhinoceros auklets in the area that the waters were packed with baitfish. We hung with this individual as it made slow circles, taking a few breaths in a row before committing to a shallow dive. Although this whale didn't give us any flukes to help us ID them, we still got some absolutely gorgeous views. As a grand finale, this whale swam up to a large congregation of glaucous-winged gulls and sent them flying as it dove down to swallow up some more bait fish!

After spending a good while visiting with this whale we ventured off to continue our journey. Making it down to Smith Island, we spotted more gulls, massive forests of bull kelp, an impressive view of Mt. Rainier in the distant south, a few more rhinoceros auklets, and even a hand full of tufted puffins, an absolute treat! After our visit at Smith, we ventured back up Rosario Strait. To end our day, we got great looks at the Burrows Island Lighthouse as well as glorious Mt. Baker before rounding back into Guemes Channel. What a lovely afternoon exploring the Salish Sea!

-Amy