Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Humpback whale
Minke whale
Steller sea lions
Harbor seals & pups
Bald eagles

July 26, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10 AM

We were spoiled by the weather today, the heart of the Salish seeming more like a lake than a sea. The flood tide was kicking in as we left the dock, filling Rosario Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Knowing that this was the most haul out space we'd find on our adventure, we started at Bird Rocks to see what pinnipeds would be utilizing the intertidal zone as a napping site. Sure enough, dozens of harbor seals were gathered, some darling pups amongst them. Two massive Steller bulls looked like they were bros hanging in a jacuzzi, with only their heads showing, their foggy breath seeming like steam rising from the surface of the water. A harbor seal pup laid nearby, eye them with suspicion. The size difference between these two pinniped species was staggering. Bird Rocks lived up to its name, with Brants, double-crested and pelagic cormorants present. Glaucous-winged and Hermanns' gulls were gathered, with many fuzzy little chicks among them. Harlequin ducks, black oystercatchers and black turnstones were blending in amongst the seals, and little pigeon guillemots whistled nearby.

As we pushed out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, we searched the banks for activity. Our timing with the flood tide perfectly aligned for maximum action on Hein Bank. Thousands of birds were gathered and actively feeding, gulls, cormorants and alcids all present. We were hoping that rorquals would join the fun, and we weren't disappointed. A very cooperative minke whale bounced between bait balls, its dark dorsal ridge contrasting nicely with the mirror-gray look of the water on this glass-calm day. You could just make out its forceful exhalations amongst the cries of the gulls gathered.

We continued the search for wildlife to the west, scanning Coyote and Middle Banks. We spied what we suspect were Dall's porpoise, but they were intent on their feeding. As we neared Salmon Bank, the activity picked up again. Thousands of birds feeding amongst the schools of gathered forage fish, rhinoceros auklets and common murres were plentiful. At times we could see the silvery prey dangling from the beaks of the birds present.

We visited Castle Island, where bald eagles and turkey vultures were perched high atop the rocks while little pigeon guillemots fed amongst the bull kelp. Harbor seals hauled out on the little exposed shoreline left to them with the rising tide. A bustling wildlife stop for our finale of the morning. - Sam

3 PM

The incredible calm persisted into the afternoon, and misty clouds blanketed the Salish Sea. Venturing out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca looked like sailing into a work of art. The horizon where sky met sea blending in gentle shades of blue and gray. We stopped at the westerly Lawson Reef navigational marker to visit with some snoozing Steller sea lions. The smaller of the two using the larger as a living pillow. As we cruised past Iceberg Point, rhinoceros auklets and common murres swam past, and sharp-eyed passengers sighted harbor porpoise dorsal fins break the water.

We received word from friends of a whale sighted in San Juan Channel, so we turned into Cattle Pass and worked our way north. Little humpback whale "Bandit" CRC-19830 was quite literally circling Jones Island State Park. The setting was serene, and their misty breath hung in the air, illuminated by the evening light. The backdrop of pacific madrona lined shorelines and the layered Canadian Gulf Islands was breathtaking.

The return trip home included belted kingfisher sightings in Pole Pass, glaucous-winged gull chicks on Pointer Island in addition to harbor seals, cormorants and pigeon guillemots. Nearby, on Black Rock, we visited with a bald eagle perched above a flowing bull kelp forest. - Sam