Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Humpback whale (Monsoon & Bandit)
Bigg's killer whales (T100s)
Harbor seals & pups
Steller sea lions
Bald eagles

July 27, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10 AM

We love leaving the dock with word of whales nearby, and this morning a friend had reported some whales from shore that had us excited to start the search. As we entered Rosario Strait, we carefully scanned the horizon for activity. Amidst all the recreational fishing boats out for the salmon opener, we spied a misty blow. It was a humpback whale! Or was it two? This would be the debate throughout our encounter as we watched this/these rorquals swim against the tide along the eastern coastline of Blakely Island. We were betting there was only one whale, just swimming in a rather peculiar rhythm. Our friends Captain Drew and Naturalist Becca were betting there were two, just staggering their surfacing. The debate was becoming quite comical, and the stakes were rising, when suddenly two humpbacks of nearly identical size and dorsal fin shape surfaced in synchrony! Damn...you win this one Drew. While we only ever saw one whale show tail (Monsoon, CRC-21573) we would learn much later that day from friends that the second mystery whale was "Bandit" CRC-19830.

Between whale encounters, we enjoyed visiting with the rich biodiversity of the Salish Sea. A wake of turkey vultures was gathered amongst the driftwood at North Peapod, several bald eagles nearby made us suspect carnage had attracted all these raptors. One of the eagles took flight and caught a talon full of fish before our very eyes. Harbor seals were hauled out by the dozens, some darling mom-pup pairs amongst them. Bonapartes gulls are back following the nesting season, and black turnstones quickly flitted amongst the rocks. Nearby, some sleepy Steller sea lions were hauled out on a navigational marker while pelagic cormorants nested above them. At Vendovi Island, more eagles soared from branch to branch while belted kingfishers yelled at the top of their lungs. Some early arriving guests also had the chance to sight a mama river otter and her two pups actively feeding on Dungeness crabs in the marina. It was a rich morning amidst the stunning setting of the San Juan Archipelago. - Sam

3 PM

IT'S A BOY!

Sometimes it takes a long time to gender an orca, and for T100F "Estrella" their gender had remained unconfirmed for twelve years. At this point, we were just waiting to see if their dorsal fin would begin to sprout or not as the clock ticked closer to the typical age range for sprouting. But last night, following a seal hunt, T100F became very playful at the surface, repeatedly showing off their ventral side. With no mammary slits in sight, it seems clear that T100 has another growing boy on her hands.

A group of Bigg's was sighted far north in Canadian waters late this morning, and we were so hoping that they would make their way south this afternoon and into our range. You never know with whales, there are no guarantees regarding their direction or pace of travel. However, our hopeful wishing seemed to pay off; by the time our afternoon adventure left the dock we were optimistic about our odds. We worked our way up the eastern shoreline of Guemes Island, spotting many pigeon guillemots flying around the rocky shorelines. We slowed to visit with four cuddled up Steller sea lions on a navigational marker, pelagic cormorants perched above them with wings spread wide. We neared Clark Island next, marveling at the Pacific madrona trees contrasting so brilliantly with the glassy emerald waters lapping along the shore beneath them. Pigeon guillemots dive bombed into the mirror-like conditions and little harbor seals hauled out on what little exposed reef was aceessible at the high tide. Two bald eagles perched high above the scene, their white plumage gleaming in the afternoon light.

Not far from here, between Clark and Matia Islands, a family of Bigg's killer whales was hunting harbor seals. We arrived in time to see the coordinated strategy between Hutchins, Laurel and Estrella, as they circled and subdued their prey. Following the family hunt, T100F was extra surface active, repeatedly tail slapping, inverted tail-lobbing, dorsal-slapping, and breaching. Matriarch T100 spyhopped beautifully several times, and mature son T00C's towering dorsal fin dramatically sliced through the surface.

We ventured over to Puffin Island between whale sightings, where we saw turkey vultures, bald eagles and dozens of harbor seals swimming amongst the sculpted sandstone reef. Our final looks at the T100s took place along the stunning coastline of the Sisters, National Wildlife Refuge land just south of Clark State Park. Their blows were glowing in the evening light, and every water droplet sent ripples radiating out from where it fell. It truly was a stunning end to an incredible day. - Sam