Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's killer whales (T65Bs)
Humpback whale (Gretzky)
Gray whale (CRC-2702)
Steller sea lions
Harbor seals
Tufted puffins

July 5, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10AM

What a wildlife-packed morning on the water! As we cruised west out Guemes Channel and south down the Washington Park shoreline, we took in stunning views of the Olympic Mountain range and glassy seas that awaited us. Slowing at Williamson Rocks, we marveled at the bustling rookeries of double-crested cormorants, pelagic cormorants, glaucous-winged gulls and pigeon guillemots. There were also some harbor seals hauled out onshore, at least one pup amongst them.

At Lawson Reef we stopped to visit with several sleepy Steller sea lions and nesting pelagic cormorants when guests sighted a blow on the horizon! Hello Gretzky. This humpback whale has been frequenting eastern Juan de Fuca this season, and today appeared to be feeding along the contour of Lawson Reef. We spent some quality time with this Salish Sea regular, and then continued south in Juan de Fuca.

We slowed at Smith Island next, scanning hard for tufted puffins. We found a pair at the edge of the ever-growing bull kelp forest, seemingly bonded. They took flight in synchrony, showing off their bright orange feet, before landing together and diving down for prey.

We worked our way back to the north, slowing near Castle Island to bask in the sunshine and stunning setting. Dozens of pigeon guillemots were gathered and socializing, their tiny red feet beautifully contrasting with the emerald waters beneath them. A bald eagle sat above in the trees, watching the movement of the potential prey below. Another eagle soared nearby, setting off a black oyster catcher parent tending to their fledgling.

As we rounded the southeastern corner of Lopez Island, we took in the views of Kulshan peaking above the clouds, and worked our way north. We spied many more eagles along the way, and slowed as we neared Lopez Pass when Captain Tyson sighted a blow on the horizon…

It was gray whale CRC-2702! This new visitor to the region this season was busy feeding amongst the shallows. Its blows beautifully illuminated with every surfacing, and its mottled gray dorsal ridge so distinct in the late morning light. A perfect finale to an incredibly rich morning spent exploring the Salish Sea.

3PM

We truly never know when new information will roll in, and today was a prime example of this. As we left the dock for our afternoon adventure, sightings of whales near Guemes Island were brought to our attention. We set off up the eastern coastline, scanning vigilantly for any sign of cetaceans. As we neared Jack Island, we got word from a friend that the pod had been found! We met up with the T65Bs as they were approaching Washington Park. They were traveling side by side, slowly against the barely flooding tide. It was a serene encounter, with backdrops of Kulshan, the Burrows Island Lighthouse and even Tahoma sprinkled in.

We left the pod to continue their southbound travels and went to visit Bird Rocks. We found nesting double crested cormorants, juvenile Brant’s cormorants, glaucous-winged and Heermann’s gulls, black oyster catchers and sleepy harbor seals.

We ventured down to Lawson Reef next. The eastern navigational marker was bustling with activity. Three Steller sea lions were resting on the buoy, while a fourth scoped out the space and tried to join them. We watched their repeated attempts to launch onto the marker, only to be bullied off by the already dry Stellers. Eventually, they made it on, pushing another sea lion off in the process! The drama was real, and continued when that sea lion was once again chased into the sea. Nearby, Gretzky the humpback was busy feeding (and pooping)! The seas were so glassy, it was easy to spot every surfacing. We’d been drifting about 600 yards from Gretzky’s last surfacing, as they’d just been doing loops on the reef, when a heart-stopping sound broke the placid silence. Gretzky had decided to repay our curiosity with some of their own, choosing to surface right beside us, their forceful exhalation echoing across the water. Whale snot rained down on the lucky guests on the bow and a rainbow formed in the mist. What a moment!

Excited chatter could be heard all around the boat on our cruise back to the dock.

- Sam