Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg’s killer whales (T46Bs, no B3s)
Harbor seals & pups
Glaucous winged gull chicks!
Mouflon sheep
Steller sea lions
Bald eagles

July 9, 2026 | 10 AM and 3 PM Whale Watch

10AM

Reports out west drew us through the inner islands this morning. We were grateful for the opportunity to hide from the wind and swell down south, weather we got a taste of when crossing Rosario Strait.

We slowed at Pointer Island, spying newly fledged glaucous-winged gull chicks amongst the rocks! Below them were dozens of harbor seals hauled out on the limited rocky shoreline available to them, basking in the morning sun. As we pushed through Thatcher Pass, Captain Tyson spied bald eagles in the treetops and as we passed through Wasp Passage pigeon guillemots flew all around us.

We met up with whales near Flattop Island, and quickly identified them as the T46Bs (minus the B3s). This group was zigzagging all over the place, and appeared to have snagged some lunch in the process, as the water changed color around Quiver (T46B4). There was so much social activity amongst the family, the three littles showing off flukes at the surface, and one little getting head lobbed out of the water by an older member of the pod. It was a very lovely and memorable encounter.

We visited Spieden Island before turning back to the east, spying gaggles of Canada geese amongst bull kelp and bald eagles perched within the shade of the trees. Mouflon sheep were everywhere, from the hill tops to the salty shorelines, and little pigeon guillemots dive bombed into the water. We reminisced about all these wonderful wildlife sights all the way home, taking Wasp and Thatcher passes once again. -Sam

3PM

Reports to the north led us through the glassy waters off the eastern coastlines of Guemes and Sinclair Islands. Pigeon guillemots danced through the skies and the little gray fins of harbor porpoises sliced through the calm. We slowed at a navigational marker to observe some snoozing Steller sea lions and nesting pelagic cormorants. They peeked at us through half opened eyelids before drifting back to sleep.

We slowed to admire the striking sculpted sandstone coastline of Matia Island. Just offshore, a small reef hosted dozens of harbor seals, including a couple of pups! The mature seals blended well with the tans of the sandstone, but the silvery little pups stood out amongst the group. The emerald waters lapping around the island and the towering green evergreens created an iconic Pacific Northwest backdrop. Above the seals, an eaglet sat perched within an impressive nest. The size of a mature bald eagle, this not-so-little eaglet will likely fledge soon.

We continued west to the Sucia archipelago where we met up with the T46Bs! This pod of seven was weaving around the reefs that guard the northern side of Sucia, little Pi bounded next to Raksha while Akela and Takaya lagged behind a bit. The foothills around Mount Baker were just visible beneath a blanket of clouds, setting a beautiful backdrop for this lovely afternoon whale encounter.

On our cruise back to the east, we enjoyed the rugged coastline of Lummi Island, scanning for bald eagles in the treetops. We found several, one had just caught dinner and carried its catch back to the treetops. We encountered more birds at Viti Rocks, where double-crested and pelagic cormorants have rookeries, with glaucous-winged gull nests dispersed around them. - Sam