Anacortes Whale Watch

Highlights

Bigg's Killer Whales: T49A2 & T49C
Steller Sea Lions
Harbor Seals
Marbleled Murrelets
So many birds!

September 26, 2026 | 1 PM Whale Watch

It was a stunning September day out on the Salish Sea. Sunny skies, placid seas and so much rich biodiversity right in our backyard. Our adventure started with a slow cruise north up Bellingham Channel. It was hard to pick up the pace with all the life showing itself! Bird mills gathered along the southern Cypress shorelines, and the calls of common murres rang across the still sea. Dainty marbled murrelet pairs dotted the coast from Cypress Head to Toehead Island, their little white tails contrasting the emerald waters beneath them. A flock of gulls showed off fish-laden bills in the currents off Cypress Head and belted kingfishers flitted from branch to branch above them. Harbor seals expertly camouflaged themselves against the rocky shoreline of the Cone Islands, with Pacific Madrona tree branches hanging above them. As we moved toward the reefs around Sinclair Island, harbor porpoises' dorsal fins broke the surface and the rowdy vocals of Steller sea lions carried towards us. Four Stellers were actively vying for position on the navigational marker, and their interactions were quite heated. Biting, growling, and shoving—all were intent on getting out of the water, as if they knew Bigg's lurked nearby...

A mile or so away, Bigg's duo Jude (T49A2) and Janet (T49C) were working the shoreline of Orca Island. We arrived in time to see them make quick work of a meal and celebrate with a dramatic spyhop that showed off the immense pectoral flippers of these grown males. They proceeded to lead us up and around Point Lawrence, and along the breathtaking and rugged shoreline of northern Orcas Island. The fall foliage and the steep stony cliffs, combined with the brilliantly illuminated blows of the orcas, made for some truly memorable visuals. What's more, Jude showed off two more spyhops!

Our cruise home was scenic, Captain Carl took us towards the slopes of Lummi Island and along the forest-rich shores of Vendovi Island. Here we found a mated pair of bald eagles, a rare sight at this point in the season when so many eagles have moved on with the salmon runs. It was a lovely finale to our incredible afternoon spent exploring the Salish Sea.

-Sam