Weekly Whale Watch Report: 04/01/26 - 04/05-26

Introducing T49A7, the newest member of the T49A Biggs Transient pod. Photo Credit: Naturalist Sophia Madden

Whales in Anacortes WA: Who We Saw

What an exciting week. Along with spotting a feeding gray whale, guests aboard our Anacortes whale watching tours were treated to quite the orca experience. The first week of April bring us the most orcas recorded in one week so far this season - and two of the orcas were newborn calves identified for the first time!

T90B, Piglet, surfacing in the Salish Sea. Photo Credit: Naturalist Megan MacGregor

Species Seen This Week

Killer Whale - Total: 33

Gray Whale - Total: 1

A gray whale exhaling in the Salish Sea. Photo Credit: Captain Trevor Derie

Individual Whales Seen This Week

Killer Whale:

We encountered orcas 4 times and identified 33 individuals across 8 matrilines.

These included:

• T19s

• T49As

• T49Bs

• T71Bs

• T117A/T117Bs

• T123s

• T124Ds

• T172

  
  

Gray Whale:

We encountered gray whales 1 time. We did not get an identification on this whale.  

Highlights from Anacortes Whale Watching Tours

In addition to whales, our guests also enjoyed sightings of several other iconic Pacific Northwest species, including:

• Stellar sea lions

• Dexter the sea otter

A Stellar Sea Lion taking over a channel marker in the Salish Sea. Photo Credit: Naturalist Megan MacGregor

Baby alert! This week guests were lucky enough to encounter 2 newborn transient calves from 2 different matrilines.

• T71B, Hood, a 26-year-old female, was spotted with a newborn calf, her 3rd baby.

• T49A, Nan, a 40-year-old female, was spotted with a newborn calf, her 7th baby.

  
  

Matriarch T49A, Nan, welcomes her seventh baby, (third from the right) newborn T49A7. Photo Credit: Naturalist Megan MacGregor

The birth of new orcas is always a celebration here in the Salish Sea! What other surprises will April bring? We're excited to find out!

If you want to see more photos and videos from our tours, check out our social media accounts! Find us on Instagram @outerislandx, TikTok @outerislandexcursions, and Facebook as "Outer Island Excursions".