Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Two Humpbacks (CRC-15313 Split Fin and CRC-17724 Scuttle)
Bigg's Killer Whales (T100s)
Harbor Seals
Steller Sea Lions

May 22, 2026 | 1 PM Whale Watch

Two species of whales in one trip!! What a day! We started our journey crossing Rosario strait and stopped briefly at Bird Rocks to check out a few harbor seals hauled out as well as a quick fly by from some chattering oyster catchers. From there, we continued pushing south to McArthur bank where we came on scene with our first whale of the day, famous summer time resident CRC-15313 Split Fin! We discussed humpback migration routes, social structures, and feeding techniques as we watched Split Fin circle in the area, feeding.

Then, with new reports coming in from the west, we said goodbye to Split Fin and pushed towards San Juan Island. In the distance, white water caught our eye. It turned out to be another humpback, CRC-17724 Scuttle, who was in the mood to make some noise. Scuttle tail slapped repeatedly as we got on scene. This was the first explosive surface activity I've seen this season from a humpback, so I was so excited to see Scuttle showing off!! Scuttle sports a few rake marks on his flukes-- scars from failed killer whale attacks most likely when he was a young calf-- so he might have been in an ornery mood because a short distance away a family of Bigg's killer whales were swimming up the shoreline.

After our visit with Scuttle, we cruised over to these orcas and quickly confirmed we were on scene with the T100s! This group is led by T100 Hutchins. Traveling with her was her son, 24 year old T100C Laurel, as well as her youngest daughter, 12 year old T100F Estrella. This trio cruised in a tight knit swimming formation down San Juan Island, coming up for some absolutely beautiful breaths in placid, calm water. What a delight!

After our visit with this family, we pushed back east and made a stop at whale rocks where we spotted a few rowdy Steller sea lions hauled out and more swimming around in the currents. We ended our trip discussing our orca identification process and even got to practice identifying Laurel and Estrella's eye patches as well as Hutchins's dorsal fin. We also discussed humpback whale conservation and the story of Split Fin's very successful mother, Big Mama, who is well documented as the first humpback to regularly return to the Salish Sea after a nearly 100 year species absence. We couldn't ask for a better day!

-Amy