September 9, 2026
Anacortes Whale Watch
Highlights
Bigg's killer whales
Tufted puffins
Steller sea lion eating a skate
September 9, 2026 | 1 PM Whale Watch
We were lucky enough to witness several full breaches from the T60 family this afternoon, including an epic display from Yelnats (T60C). This 25-year-old male's pectoral flippers were massive, and the resulting splash was incredible! This appeared to be a post-hunt celebration, as the gulls and whales were circling a very distinct slick on the water when we arrived. Following this celebration, the family quickly transitioned back into hunting mode, slinking through the shallows along the Smith Island spit where harbor seals warily watched the inky fins slide by their haulout. The family of four (T60D & T60E were not present) worked back and forth between the bull kelp forest stretching south of Smith Island and the spit stretching to the east. It was pretty wild to see how subtle and silent these massive dolphins could be when they wanted.
Between watching the orcas, we enjoyed several tufted puffin sightings. These alcids are quickly transitioning to their winter plumage, the black feathers are replacing the white and their beaks are shrinking. We also sighted common loons, grebes, rhinoceros auklets, common murres, pigeon guillemots and more! We stopped by Minor Island before departing, where double-crested cormorants were perched atop their nests, Brants cormorants were gathered at the waterline, a diverse array of gulls were mixed in and a surprise flock of black-bellied plovers was well camouflaged amongst the pebbles!
Other highlights included:
- Catching a Steller sea lion bull tearing into a massive skate in Guemes Channel.
- Stopping at Bird Rocks where we found harbor seals, black turnstones, harlequin ducks, cormornats and gulls.
- Slowing at the Lawson Reef navigational marker where some Stellers were hauled out and snoozing
- Cruising beneath the Deception Pass Bridge where harbor seals were swimming, cormorants were flocking and the currents were churning.
Such a stunning September day out on the Salish Sea!
-Sam
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