Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Humpback whales (Zephyr & Scratchy)
Harbor seals & pups
Steller sea lions
Bald eagles & turkey vultures

July 20, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10 AM

We set out west this morning through Guemes Channel and aimed for Thatcher Pass. Calm seas made it easy to sight every rhinoceros auklet and gull gathered near bait balls at the surface while crossing Rosario. We slowed at Pointer Island to gush over the glaucous-winged gull chicks that are growing up far too quickly and the harbor seal pups snuggled next to their mothers.

We pushed through the inner islands, taking Wasp Pass and Spieden Channel towards Haro. Just off the western coastline of Henry Island, we met up with two mature humpback whales! The water was glassy, with rich emerald hues contrasting beautifully with the madrona lined shorelines. Every breath of these two giants was brilliantly illuminated in the morning light, making for the most breathtaking encounter. One of the two repeatedly showed her tail, allowing us to determine it was Zepher (CRC-15970), the granddaughter of the Legend herself: Big Mama. It was a delight to see Zepher, but her traveling companion stubbornly refused to reveal their flukes until our very last interval with them. What a finale! Hey there Scratchy (CRC-16455), it's good to see you.

We enjoyed a Spieden shoreline cruise on our journey east, spying a handful of mouflon sheep and fallow deer, and some soaring turkey vultures. Along the shoreline, more harbor seal mom-pup pairs were gathered. What a lovely morning spent with the Salish Sea's largest giants. - Sam

3 PM

With reports of whales to the northwest, we set a course for the inner islands once again, cruising through Thatcher, Wasp and Jones Passes on our journey to Boundary Pass. Near Java Rocks, we met up with humpback whale duo Zephyr and Scratchy! These two had once again chosen the most stunning setting for the encounter, the rugged slopes and sculpted sandstone of Saturna Island provided the backdrop. Their blows hung in the still afternoon air, suspended as they gracefully arched their backs to lift their flukes high. We left them at Monarch Head, making our way east towards the outer island chain.

We stopped to admire the charming Patos Island Lighthouse, the peak of Kulshan barely visible through the smoky haze. She looked like a ghost of herself, pale snowpack catching the sun just enough to make out her 10,000+ foot peak. As we continued east, she emerged amidst the smoke, guiding us back towards home.

We stopped at Clements Reef to visit an assortment of pinnipeds hauled out and snoozing. Massive Steller bulls dwarfed the harbor seals and new pups nearby. At Ewing Island, a bald eagle dramatically took flight, diving to the surface with talons extended towards a school of small fish. We encountered more bald eagles high atop the trees along the eastern coastline of Guemes Island, where silvery forage fish leaped amongst the bull kelp forests beneath them. We also encountered more Steller sea lions hauled out on a navigation marker near Sinclair Island, with Pelagic cormorants perched above.

It was a hot afternoon, so we were grateful to be on the water enjoying the natural air conditioning the Salish Sea provides. - Sam