Anacortes Whale Watch
Highlights
Bigg’s killer whales (T65Bs)
Harbor seals
September 6, 2026 – 10 AM & 3 PM Whale Watch
10 AM
There’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush you get when you’re the first to sight the whales, and today Captain Tyson got to ride that high all morning long. We’d heard rumors of whales to the north early in the day, and were hopeful that we could find the reported group. Calm seas greeted us upon leaving Cap Sante Marina and remained throughout our cruise to Barnes and Clark Islands. Almost two hours had passed since the last report came in, so we scanned diligently from Southern Lummi Island to Puffin Island. As we neared the current lines just north of Clark State Park, Captain Tyson spied inky dorsal fins slicing through the water. Whooohooo!
Some quick ID work revealed them to be the T65Bs, Chunk and her sons, Birdsall, Corvus and Rook. I was delighted to see them together and seemingly well, as I hadn’t encountered this pod since Corvus stranded on Minor Island on July 16th of this year. The pod meandered through the current lines, ultimately working their way to the sculpted sandstone shorelines of Puffin Island. Here we played peek-a-boo with the whales, as they kept popping in and out of view while circling the shallows around the island. Meanwhile, they played peek-a-boo with the harbor seals along the reef… I don’t think the seals were enjoying the game much, as it appeared the whales made a successful hunt.
We continued our search for life at the Peapod National Wildlife Refuge. Harbor seals were hauled out along the limited rocky slopes available to them at this higher point in the tidal cycle; gulls, great blue herons, and black turnstones were also visible among them. One harbor seal in the shallows had scored a salmon, and we watched as it tore into the pink meat of its prey. We cruised over to Eagle Bluff next, its towering cliffside shadowed the emerald waters below. Forage fish leapt amongst the bullkelp while pigeon guillemots crash landed nearby. We passed the Cone Islands, Cypress Head and Deepwater Bay before ultimately turning for home. – Sam
3 PM
Afternoon reports led us north again today, taking us along the eastern coastline of Guemes, past Sinclair, over to Point Lawrence, along the top side of Orcas and over to Skipjack Island. The sculpted sandstone shorelines here glowed in the afternoon light, dozens of harbor seals perfectly camouflaged themselves against the tan, red and gray hues of the island. The only indication that so many pinnipeds were present was the occasional shifting of their body weight on the rocks, and the lifting of their heads as we drifted by.
We turned south toward Minke Lake, admiring the striking layers of Point Disney as we cruised past the western edge of Waldron Island. Thousands of birds were gathered in the glassy waters, gulls, cormorants, murres and other alcids amongst the flocks. As we neared Spring Passage, the water erupted. The T65Bs had crossed paths with a massive Steller bull who quickly sought shelter against the slopes of western Orcas Island. The pod gave up the hunt as quickly as it started, continuing towards Jones State Park. They were so incredibly surface happy as they explored the shorelines of Jones, their blows illuminated against the Pacific Madronas overhanging the bull kelp forests. At times, a tail slap or quick maneuver made us suspect they may have found prey, but we never saw clear evidence of a successful hunt. It was a truly beautiful encounter that highlighted the stunning coastlines for which the San Juan Islands are famous.
We waved goodbye to Chunk and her boys and continued south towards Turn Island. Here we visited with our little sea otter friend. They were all wrapped up in bull kelp and snoozing above the reef. Our sailing home was smooth, and we enjoyed clear visuals of the foothills around Kulshan above which dramatic storm clouds were forming. We passed pelagic cormorants on the Guemes Channel marker, then made our way back to our slip in Cap Sante. – Sam
Bigg’s killer whales (T65Bs)
Harbor seals
September 6, 2026 – 10 AM & 3 PM Whale Watch
10 AM
There’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush you get when you’re the first to sight the whales, and today Captain Tyson got to ride that high all morning long. We’d heard rumors of whales to the north early in the day, and were hopeful that we could find the reported group. Calm seas greeted us upon leaving Cap Sante Marina and remained throughout our cruise to Barnes and Clark Islands. Almost two hours had passed since the last report came in, so we scanned diligently from Southern Lummi Island to Puffin Island. As we neared the current lines just north of Clark State Park, Captain Tyson spied inky dorsal fins slicing through the water. Whooohooo!
Some quick ID work revealed them to be the T65Bs, Chunk and her sons, Birdsall, Corvus and Rook. I was delighted to see them together and seemingly well, as I hadn’t encountered this pod since Corvus stranded on Minor Island on July 16th of this year. The pod meandered through the current lines, ultimately working their way to the sculpted sandstone shorelines of Puffin Island. Here we played peek-a-boo with the whales, as they kept popping in and out of view while circling the shallows around the island. Meanwhile, they played peek-a-boo with the harbor seals along the reef… I don’t think the seals were enjoying the game much, as it appeared the whales made a successful hunt.
We continued our search for life at the Peapod National Wildlife Refuge. Harbor seals were hauled out along the limited rocky slopes available to them at this higher point in the tidal cycle; gulls, great blue herons, and black turnstones were also visible among them. One harbor seal in the shallows had scored a salmon, and we watched as it tore into the pink meat of its prey. We cruised over to Eagle Bluff next, its towering cliffside shadowed the emerald waters below. Forage fish leapt amongst the bullkelp while pigeon guillemots crash landed nearby. We passed the Cone Islands, Cypress Head and Deepwater Bay before ultimately turning for home. – Sam
3 PM
Afternoon reports led us north again today, taking us along the eastern coastline of Guemes, past Sinclair, over to Point Lawrence, along the top side of Orcas and over to Skipjack Island. The sculpted sandstone shorelines here glowed in the afternoon light, dozens of harbor seals perfectly camouflaged themselves against the tan, red and gray hues of the island. The only indication that so many pinnipeds were present was the occasional shifting of their body weight on the rocks, and the lifting of their heads as we drifted by.
We turned south toward Minke Lake, admiring the striking layers of Point Disney as we cruised past the western edge of Waldron Island. Thousands of birds were gathered in the glassy waters, gulls, cormorants, murres and other alcids amongst the flocks. As we neared Spring Passage, the water erupted. The T65Bs had crossed paths with a massive Steller bull who quickly sought shelter against the slopes of western Orcas Island. The pod gave up the hunt as quickly as it started, continuing towards Jones State Park. They were so incredibly surface happy as they explored the shorelines of Jones, their blows illuminated against the Pacific Madronas overhanging the bull kelp forests. At times, a tail slap or quick maneuver made us suspect they may have found prey, but we never saw clear evidence of a successful hunt. It was a truly beautiful encounter that highlighted the stunning coastlines for which the San Juan Islands are famous.
We waved goodbye to Chunk and her boys and continued south towards Turn Island. Here we visited with our little sea otter friend. They were all wrapped up in bull kelp and snoozing above the reef. Our sailing home was smooth, and we enjoyed clear visuals of the foothills around Kulshan above which dramatic storm clouds were forming. We passed pelagic cormorants on the Guemes Channel marker, then made our way back to our slip in Cap Sante. – Sam
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