The Reserve has had the greatest abundance of Pelagic cormorants that I [Ryan] have seen in my 3 years here. The NW corner of Great Race is coated in guano and is a very different sight and smell! From 1/3 to 1/2 of the Pelagics are adult in beautiful breeding plumage. Adam and I have noted groups of 50 or more feeding in the channel between Great Race and Middle Rocks (photos on file). Abundance peaked early this week at ~120 individuals. There are a few Brandt\’s around and equal numbers of juvenile and adult Double-crested (~20).

The vessel “Servus”, license 14K3162 passed E to W through the Reserve at high speed. There were 0 visitors to the island today.