Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T36A1s & T99B)
Humpback Whale (Victory)
Harbor Seals

September 15, 2025 | 12 PM Whale Watch

It was a crisp, sunny September day filled with whales! We began our cruise through Guemes Channel and made our way into Rosario Strait towards some early morning reports. We slowly cruised by Bird Rocks, where we noted a variety of bird species, including double-crested cormorants, Brandt’s cormorants, glaucous winged gulls, and Heermann’s gulls. A group of bull Stellar sea lions were hauled out on the rocks and in the water, and several harbor seals dotted the shoreline, thermoregulating in the September sunshine!

We made our way through Rosario Strait to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, marveling at the incredible bird activity! Thousands of various bird species, including common murres, rhinoceros auklets, gulls, and cormorants formed numerous bait balls at the surface. Near McArthur bank, we began scanning for any larger whale species who might be feeding in the area, and soon, we spotted a lone humpback whale! After some photo identification work, we determined that this humpback was Victory (CRC-16262) who was actively lunge feeding and disrupting the thousands of birds at the surface.

After spending some time witnessing this incredible feeding and surface activity, we ventured on through Cattle Pass to Griffin Bay, where we met up with the T36A1s (Tierna and her calf Drift) and T99B (Holly). We quickly noticed some splashing, oil slicks, and hungry gulls at the surface, and received confirmation from a nearby research boat that the whales had just made a kill, likely a harbor seal! We cruised with them as they preyshared and as they began to travel South. It was a smooth sail back home through Upright Pass, Thatcher Pass, and Guemes Channel. What a breathtaking journey!

-Juna