Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's killer whales (T35s & T38As & new calf!)
Stellers on can near Sinclair
Epic eagle battle catching fish
Pigeon guillemots

July 22, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10 AM

Bigg's in our backyard, what more could we wish for? The T30A & C siblings, Sequoia and Salix were cruising north up Rosario Strait this morning. Sequoia's fin towered above his sister's, slicing through the glassy waters along the Orcas Island shoreline. They led us up to the Peapods, part of the San Juan National Wildlife Refuge. We sighted a bald eagle tearing into some prey while Bonaparte's gulls hazed it. Harbor seals swam amongst the bull kelp and hauled out on North Peapod, with pups among them. A trio of turkey vultures were sunning their feathers on the beach, and a flock of black turnstones took flight off the bow! We met back up with the orcas as they rounded Point Lawrence, and bade them farewell as they continued up the northern shoreline.

On our return trip east, we took a new route to expand the search. We slowed at a navigational marker to admire some sunbathing Steller sea lions. A big bull was showing off his belly while a little Steller used him as a pillow. He adjusted his position, rolled a little too far and splashed into the sea! We thought he might haul back out, but it seems he enjoyed cooling off in the 57 degree water on this hot summer day. We slowed again on the backside of Guemes Island, where dozens of pigeon guillemots were chasing each other through sky and sea. - Sam

3 PM

With word of Bigg's to the west, we set off with haste through the inner islands. We cruised through Thatcher and Wasp passes, turning north towards Waldron Island where a group of Bigg's killer whales were working their way up President Channel. It quickly became clear that there was a new little one amongst them, a very new one. This orange little bundle stuck close to Opal "T35A1" throughout the encounter, leading us to suspect it may be her first calf! We'll have to wait for several encounters by researchers before an ID is assigned and parentage is confirmed. Whoever this little calf belongs to, we were over the moon to be able to welcome them to the Salish Sea, and wish them safe swimming in the years to come.

The group of orcas consisted of the T35As (no T35 present) and T38As, nine whales in total. We left them under the gaze of Kulshan, and continued our exploration north along the shoreline of Orcas Island. As we neared Point Lawrence, Captain Tyson spied eagles in the treetops. As we approached, a juvenile eagle circled the water in search of prey, sighting something that motivated it to plummet to the water with talons outstretched. It grabbed a fish! But just as it secured its prize, a mature bald eagle plummeted towards the young eagle and a mid-air battle ensued. It was incredibly dramatic, and we're not sure what happened to the fish. Shortly after this altercation, the mature bald eagle swooped back and caught prey of its own. They weren't the only birds successfully fishing tonight, many little pigeon guillemots also had prey clutched in their bills.

After crossing northern Rosario Strait, we visited with some showy Steller sea lions on a navigational marker, then worked our way home along the eastern shoreline of Guemes Island. What a truly memorable evening out on the Salish Sea. - Sam