Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T49A2 and T51-- The Barnes Lake boys!)
Steller Sea Lions
Harbor Seals
Bald Eagle

April 23, 2026 | 1 PM Whale Watch

With reports of orcas just outside our backyard we cruised over to Pointer Island to start our day. The island was covered with dozens of cormorants and a nice bob of harbor seals. Departing from there we headed through Thatcher Pass and joined up with two male Bigg's killer whales known as the Barnes Lake boys. T51 and T49A2, who had been stranded in Barnes Lake in 2023 were hanging out just outside of East sound on Orcas island.

We hung with them for some time before making our way back to the east. Cruising south outside of Thatcher Pass we arrived at Bird Rocks which lived up to its name. We spotted an adult bald eagle, harlequin ducks, black turn stones, Bonapartes gulls, dozens of cormorants, and a couple black oyster catchers. Another bob of harbor seals rested on the rocks and a huge Steller sea lion sat nearby. He was sunning himself halfway out of the water as another Steller sea lion splashed in the growing ebb tide. We headed up Rosario Strait and Bellingham Channel after that before wrapping around Guemes Island and returning to Cap Sante Marina.

-Tyson