Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T65Bs)
Harbor Seals

August 23, 2025 | 9 AM, 1 PM, and 5 PM Whale Watch

With early morning reports filtering in of whales sighted near Friday Harbor, we set off for Thatcher Pass to search the inner islands. It was smooth sailing, with ferries passing everywhere we looked. As we approached the eastern coastline of Shaw Island, we noted the ferry had slowed and so decided to take a closer look. Success! A beautiful pod of Bigg’s killer whales were working their way from Shaw to the Orcas shoreline. We enjoyed a blissful encounter with the T65Bs, slowly cruising with them as they explored the nooks and crannies along the Orcas shoreline. Pacific madronas hung over the water and bull kelp flowed in the current. It’s not every day it’s just us and the whales, and we reveled in the serenity of it all. Chunk and her kids led us over to the windy waters of East Sound where we parted ways, but not before they surprised us with an intimate farewell surfacing.

We slowly continued through Obstruction Pass, picking up speed as we entered Rosario Strait, Eagle Cliff acting as a beacon guiding us east. We explored the Cone Islands, admiring dozens of harbor seals hauled out amongst the rocks before angling towards Kulshan. We peeked into Bellingham Bay, crossing paths with a cheery group of open water swimmers who were circumnavigating Vendovi Island. We cheered them on before turning south, admiring the coastline of Guemes before returning to port.

The T65Bs had worked their way to Reef Point off Cypress Island by the time we embarked on our afternoon adventure. We met up with them along the rugged southern coastline and watched as they pushed their way through the whitecaps churned up by the wind in Bellingham Channel. They let the flood tide carry them north, scoping out the Cone Islands as they passed, much to the dismay of dozens of harbor seals hauled out on shore. We watched Chunk’s fin glide within ten feet of some watchful pinnipeds. Not far behind them was Chunk’s nephew Indy (T65A5). This curious little orca also chose to look for a meal around the Cone Islands, encircling the eastern-most island twice before moving on. It was like playing hide and go seek with a whale, we never knew where Indy was going to surface next.

We had another brief visit with the T65Bs north of Sinclair, before working our way towards Guemes Island and enjoying a scenic cruise home to Cap Sante. It was a lovely afternoon with some quality time with Bigg’s killer whales.

It was our final 5PM trip of the season, and already it was shaping up to be a beautiful one. Reports of whales led us up the eastern coastline of Guemes Island. We spied many pigeon guillemots along the way, their little red feet so vibrant in the evening light. We met up with the T65Bs just west of Barnes Island. After an active afternoon, it appeared the family was ready for some rest. They were grouped up and synchronized in their surfacings as they swam beneath the watchful gaze of Koma Kulshan.

We ventured up to Puffin Island at one point, finding some charming harbor seals hauled out and swimming along the sculpted sandstone coastline. We also marveled at an impressive bald eagle’s nest in the treetops. Its owners were not home, and likely won’t be back until next winter as their eaglets have now fledged. We said some final goodbyes to the pod as they worked their way towards Parker Reef. They’d spread out, mama Chunk and little Rook traveling side by side while Birdsall and Corvus explored together in the placid waters north of Orcas. It was a serene end to our whale time, followed by a gorgeous cruise home via northern Bellingham Channel as the sun sunk below the horizon.

Sam