Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg’s T37Bs & T37A + T37A2
Fog
Great birding in Swinomish Slough
Seals and shorebirds at Seal Rocks
Harbor porpoises

September 22, 2026 | 1 PM Private Whale Watch

Autumn is here, and today's adventure was rich with fall colors, crisp air, and some moody fog to really set the mood. As we angled west in Guemes Channel, a thick fog bank greeted us. We watched Washington State Ferries dramatically emerge from the swirling mist as the banks slowly crept over both Fidalgo and Cypress Islands. Once we entered the blanket, our visibility was limited to 100-200 yards until we passed beneath the Deception Pass Bridge. Yes, we could not even see the bridge until we were nearly beneath it! It was a such a wild and unique experience, that left us with much appreciation for mariners and seafarers in the age before Radar and GPS...

Fortunately, once we were east of the bridge, the fog cleared and blue skies greeted us. We enjoyed beautiful color pops of fall foliage along the shorelines of Whidbey and Hope Islands, and truly placid conditions all the way south to Saratoga Passage. We'd slowed at Seal Rock to visit with dozens of these darling pinnipeds and were delighted to encounter a large murmuration of dunlins/western sandpipers (one of the two, or possibly both in the mix)! The little shorebirds mesmerized us with their coordinated aerial display, while flocks of double crested cormorants swam in the waters beneath them.

As we neared the Cama Beach State Park, blows appeared on the horizon. There were five Bigg's killer whales spread across the channel. The trio of the T37Bs (Harald, Lance, and Slice) were working the Camano Shorelines and successfully executed two hunts while prowling the shallows. Mother-son duo "Volker" and "Inky" (T37A & T37A2) were spread out and seemingly searching for prey of their own near Whidbey Island. The autumn colors reflected beautifully on the still waters of the pass throughout the encounters.

The fog still had not burnt off by the time we made it back north, so we opted for an alternative route back to Cap Sante. The high tide allowed for us to traverse the Swinomish Slough and enjoy a lovely scenic cruise complete with views of the Skagit River Delta, Goat Island, and the Skagit Valley. We spied bald eagles, great blue herons, belted king fishers, cormorants and gulls as we made our way through this birding hotspot. We enjoyed passing beneath the iconic Rainbow Bridge and then the Twin Bridges, completing our circumnavigation of Fidalgo Island.

Sam