Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales (T123s)
Gray Whale
Harbor Seals
Bald Eagles
Steller Sea Lion
Sea Otter

April 5, 2026 | 1 PM Whale Watch

The sun was shining, the mountains were out, we couldn’t have asked for a nicer spring day to spend exploring the Salish Sea. We visited Bird Rocks just as the tides were shifting from ebb to flood. The intertidal zone was very exposed, the rockweed creating a cushion on which dozens of harbor seals were hauled out and dozing. Higher on the island, a large Steller bull was napping in the sunshine. We saw some harlequin ducks swimming amidst the currents and two bald eagles soaring past. It was a great start to the journey.

We continued south, letting the Olympic peaks guide us. Colville Island was bustling with seal activity, and a couple flocks of white-winged scooters flew by. At Swirl Rock, we enjoyed a brief visit with a sea otter! It seemed to be breaking into some food amidst the bull kelp. Not five minutes after leaving the otter, we slowed to try and catch a glimpse of a gray whale just off Iceberg Point. We caught one look before this sleepy gray sunk back beneath the surface.

With more reports of whales coming in from out west, we continued on. Just northeast of the Discovery Islands, the T123s were traveling close together. It has been a while since we’ve seen this family of four Bigg’s killer whales, Sidney, Stanley, Lucky and Darcy. Sidney took our breath away with a dramatic spyhop, and Captain Tyson lined us up perfectly for views of Kulshan with the orcas in the foreground. It was a wonderful encounter.

Our journey home was smooth sailing, soaking in the mountain views and crisp spring air as we cruised through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Rosario Strait to Cap Sante.

-Sam