Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T49As)
Bald Eagles
Harbor Porpoises
Steller Sea Lion

March 29, 2026 | 1 PM Whale Watch

The T49As stuck around overnight, and were found working the shorelines of the San Juan Islands this afternoon. We met up with Nan and her five youngest offspring south of the Lopez Island ferry terminal. As we arrived on scene, they were finishing up lunch, prey sharing at the surface in a close-knit group. Little T49A7 was rolling amongst them, perhaps getting a meal from mom directly while their siblings shared a seal. After lunch, they appeared to take a post-meal nap, lining up side by side and occasionally logging at the surface.

We left them near Frost Island and continued our search for wildlife. We ventured back through Thatcher Pass, south past Bird Rocks and onwards to Castle Island. It was here that we found a Steller sea lion swimming amongst the currents, and so many pairs of vocal Canada geese! A stoic pair of bald eagles perched atop the cliffs of Castle while common loons displayed their fishy catches at the surface. We gave a good scan for whales around Iceberg Point and McArthur Bank, having heard a report of a pod in the area an hour or so prior. We never did find them, but we were able to visit with the T49As one more time before heading for home.

The pod had worked their way down to James Island, where they were circumnavigating the glassy emerald waters, vibrant madrona trees hanging down from the cliffs above them. We held our breath as a few harbor porpoises passed in close proximity to these apex predators, but it seems they lived to swim another day. Eagles perched in the treetops above the whales, and misty clouds rose from the forests of the surrounding islands. It was a truly breathtaking end to a serene day.

- Sam