It is good to be back on Race Rocks after a winter on the road in Mexico. It seems I am not the only one returning as the Pigeon Guillemots have been returning over the last few days as well. I am planning a special entry focused on them in the next week so stay tuned!

Surfbird (Aphriza Virgata) in breeding plummage

These birds usually eat invertebrates so this picture of one eating Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is a bit unusual.

For now I think a census of the last few days is in order:

Steller (Northern) Sea Lions: 30

Harbour Seals: 100

Elephant Seals: 10

Orca: 6

River Otter: 1

Mergansers: 2

Pigeon: 1

Cormorants: 40

Glaucous-winged Gulls: 200

Pigeon Guillemots: 60

Northwestern Crow: 2

Raven: 2

Rufous Hummingbird: 1

Black Oyster Catchers: 20

Bald Eagle: 10

Harlequin Ducks: 10

Black Turnstones: 30

Sanderlings: 4

Song Sparrow: 6

Canada Geese: 14

Surfbirds: 40