Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales: T49As (minus A1 &2)
Steller sea lions
Bonapartes Gulls
Pigeon Guillemots

August 24, 2026 | Time Whale Watch

We went the distance for Bigg's today, and it paid off with a beautiful encounter in the dynamic currents of Boiling Reef.

Reports from out west had filtered in this morning, so upon leaving the dock we set a course for Thatcher Pass. As we cruised through the heart of the islands, we spied little pigeon guillemots and their ruby red feet. We admired the Pacific Madronas along the shorelines of Shaw as we cruised through Wasp Pass and Orcas as we cruised through Spring Pass. We were grateful for calm seas all the way to East Point, where the T49A family was working the roiling waters of Boiling Reef. The eddies pushed and pulled us, giving us a true appreciation for the power behind the tidal exchanges within the Salish Sea. The family was very rhythmic and diligent in their search for prey. With a dramatic spyhop from Nan, I suspected they had made a kill. Sure enough, a closer look at the photos revealed that the family was sharing something meaty. Little Nimbus celebrated with some playful behavior, rolling over top of mom while all the siblings prey-shared nearby. We captured photos of a female rolling at the surface, but can't be sure if it was Nebula or Nimbus. I'm secretly hoping Nebula finally has a little sister.

On the journey back east, we covered entirely new waters. We slowed at the barely visible Clements Reef, where a gang of Steller bulls shared what limited land was left to them at this high point in the tidal cycle. A tornado of Bonapartes and Glacous-winged gulls soared around the reef, and a few harlequin ducks swam amongst the bull kelp. We explored the southern side of Matia and Barnes & Clark Islands, then crossed Rosario and aimed for the eastern coastline of Guemes Island.

Sam