Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's killer whales (T77C & E)
Steller sea lions
Bald eagles
Harbor seals & pups

July 23, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10 AM

What a wildlife packed morning! It was hard to decide which species stole the show today: the Bigg's killer whales, the darling harbor seal pups or the incredible bird encounters we enjoyed. We'd started our morning with reports of whales near Peavine Pass, so we divided the search with our friends to see if we'd get lucky.

Pointer Island was our first wildlife stop before we searched Thatcher Pass. The Glaucous-winged gull chicks are growing up so quickly, and seem to be multiplying each time we visit. Harbor seal pups were hauled out next to their moms atop the barnacles, double crested cormorants perched nearby.

We scanned the western coastline of Blakely, then heard word from our friends that they had found the whales in northern Rosario Strait. We popped through Peavine Pass, the hazy form of Kulshan barley visitble through the smoke layer, and pushed north with the tide. As we came on scene it became clear we were visiting with the T77C & E siblings "Neftali and Misneach". These two alternated between playing and traveling at speed through the current lines forming near Point Lawrence.

We visited the Peapods once we left the siblings, spying dozens of harbor seals hauled out amongst the rocky intertidal. Some black turnstones called from among the rocks and bull kelp flowed offshore. We hopped over to one of the Sinclair navigational markers where some Steller sea lions were thermoregulating and using one another as pillows. From here, we angled toward Vendovi, scanning the eastern shoreline for life. We spied harbor seals and bald eagles. At Guemes we found several more bald eagles, one of which had a flounder clutched within its talons! The pigeon guillemots were showing off, chasing each other in the air and the sea, flashing their red feet in the process. Belted Kingfisher soared amongst them, scanning the water for prey while the guillemots socialized. It was an epic birding finale!
- Sam

3 PM

We left the dock this afternoon with reports of the same oils from the morning in the area, but we weren’t sure which way they were going to turn, the south looked pretty bumpy and windy so thankfully, they made a turn through Thacher pass and we got to catch up with them just outside of obstruction pass! We followed the T 77 brothers almost all the way into East sound. A very popular spot on orcas Island! I had never gotten to view whales in that area and boy it was spectacular!

We got to spend quality time with this brother duo. Eventually, we got to the end of the sound and had to make a turn to head back towards the dock. We were able to stop and slow down around pointer Island, where we got to see a dozen harbor seals on the rocks and poking their heads up above the surface in the water checking out the boat! On top of Painter Island, we also saw lots of Cormorants and gulls! We continued our cruise back to the dock with beautiful views of Mount Baker in the start of a very early sunset. It was a beautiful afternoon exploring the inner San Juan Islands! - Clare