Category Archives: Marine Vessels

Another Changing of the Guardian

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I have had the privilege of visiting Race Rocks several times over the years, and have boated near the ecological reserve many times while birding with friends. I have to admit that I was very jealous of those who actually spent days, weeks or months here. Thanks to a series of unrelated events, I now find myself here as a relief eco-guardian for a week. It’s a dream come true!

The reports of calm seas this morning turned to more active weather just around the time that Greg Dickinson, Garry Fletcher and I headed out from the Pearson College dock. Pleasure craft were all heading the other way, into the shelter of Pedder Bay.

Approaching Race Rocks, my home for the next week.

As the wind continued to pick up, I was given a whirlwind tour of the facilities, a book of standard operating procedures, and specific instructions on how to operate certain important equipment. Then, before things got too rough, the previous week’s relief eco-guardian and company, Greg, and Garry were headed back to Pearson, leaving me with the gulls and guillemots!

Bye for now!

Ecological Notes:

1 Male Elephant Seal (continuing)

Still molting. Apparently has lost several hundred pounds.

3 Californian Sea Lions on the main island, many more on middle island

Small group of California Sea Lions checking out the island

10+ Steller’s (Northern) Sea Lions on the middle island

This is what attracts the eco-tourism vessels

10 Harbour Seals close in, many more on surrounding islands

Three species of gulls noted today:
Many Glaucous-winged Gulls, including young of various ages. Some were testing their wings in the heavy wind.

Glaucous-winged Gull chicks looking for lunch

The youngest Glaucous-winged Gull I saw today

3 California Gull

California Gulls

2 Heermann’s Gull

Heermann’s Gull

80 Pigeon Guillemot spread over much of the rocky shoreline of the island. Frequent forays into the surrounding waters.

Pigeon Guillemots were still in breeding plumage

4 Black Oystercatcher (although I suspect more out of sight) including the youngster that hatched about a week ago

Black Oystercatcher amongst other shorebirds

74 Black Turnstone

Many nestled in the rocks

Black Turnstones

11 Surfbird

Surfbirds

2 Western Sandpiper

Western Sandpipers foraging in the grass

No raptors or songbirds (passerines)

Vessel Traffic: 4 ecotourism vessels between 1500 and 1600 today.  Most fishing and pleasure craft had retreated as wind and seas increased.

Weather Events:  Wind picked up from the west shortly after noon and continued 30+ km/hour into the night.  Seemed to drop off after 2200, but still gusty.

 Weather – Current: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

Weather – Past: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Pigeon Guillemot

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Ecological Notes:

  • Large Male Elephant Seal is still spending most of his time in the water by the ramp
  • The young Female Elephant Seal pup that left the reserve last week of April had returned for daily haulouts in the ramp area. She is very plump, indicating she has been feeding well, but has lots of little sores and scars. She was very ragged when she left in April as well, but you can see healed scars from them, with new ones around them. Also look like maybe an out of regular season molt.

  • Have noticed many more Pigeon Guillemots return to shore and entering dens with fish!

Gunnel for dinner

  • Nature being what it is, I did find a few Gull chicks that did not make it with the extreme heat.

Visitors:

  • Pearson College instructors and family left Sunday evening.

Facility Work:

  • Hot weather limited outside work to early morning and late evening. Mostly stuck with basics – cleaning windows, cleaning solar panels, check battery fluid levels and such.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Several Ecotourism vessels and private vessels sightseeing.

 Noted Infractions:

  • Private Vessel fishing in the reserve. They did not respond to my hails on the VHF. I mentioned checking regulations on Rockfish Conservation Areas. Another private vessel went over to them and mentioned it to them ( I think). as they altered course to leave in a straight line outbound.

Weather Events:

  • Hot and clear most of the day, slight haze in the evening. Winds from East/Southeast during the day, 10-15 Knots.

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Hot Days

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Ecological Notes:

  • The Male Elephant Seal has been spending most of his time in the water near the pier. Its a great way to balance the warmth of the sun and the cooling of the water.

In and out of the shallows all day

  • Definitely a Cetacean day in and around the reserve! Over 8 Humpback whales between Race and Victoria, and then 15 Biggs (Transient) Orca approached from the east. 10 or so entered the reserve and conducted at least 3 separate successful hunts!
  • Most Gulls seem to be dealing well with the heat, but did find a couple chicks, and 2 goslings that didn’t make it through the day unfortunately.

Visitors:

  • 2 Pearson College Instructors were visiting with family.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Several Ecotourism vessels, all waiting as/per the guidelines until there were no whales present in the reserve before entering
  • 2 Paddle boarders, in the main channel, then in the rocks to the north.
  • Several Private vessels passing through, and sightseeing

 Noted Infractions:

  • Paddle boarders at first were doing well, maybe a bit close to the elephant seal at the pier, but they were just out of the current, getting a little break (spoke with them, they misjudged the current levels). But when the Orca entered the reserve, the paddlers went directly to them, getting very close, even during the hunts. They made every effort to follow the Orca even well out of the reserve
  • C-Tow Vessel blasted through center channel, was intercepted by an ecotourism vessel, and told to slow down before I could get the camera out.
  • 3 private vessels entering and exiting the reserve at full speed.

Full speed almost right to the pier ….. eventually slowed as we were waving to them

  • 5 different private fishing vessels fishing in the reserve today. 2 of which were “educated” directly by ecotourism operators.
  • I attempted to contact others by radio, planning to suggest they brush up on the rules in a Rockfish Conservation Area. In each case, they did not respond, but quickly raised lines and left …. suggesting they knew where they were.

Weather Events:

  • Very hot and clear all day. Mostly southerly winds of 5 knots during the day, switching to westerly winds of 15 – 20 knots in the evening.

 ** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Gulls not deterred

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Ecological Notes:

  • 2 Elephant Seals, 1 Female, 1 Juvenile Male
  • No Oyster Catcher or Gull hatchlings noted yet
  • Heard lots of extended ruckus over by the helipad last night, found the feathery remains of a gull there this morning.

Facility Work:

  • Firewood cutting
  • Redid mount for Camera 5, cleaned and fixed mount, new screws
  • Repairs to the gas powered pressure washer

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 1 EcoTourism vessel
  • 1 coastguard type Zodiac, appeared to be sightseeing
  • Both followed proper viewing procedures and speeds
  • 1 private vessel did not

 Noted Infractions:

  • Small private vessel(set up for fishing), raced through the main passage, close to the pier

 Feature Event:

  •  A couple of days ago, I scrubbed and cleaned the east deck on the house. It’s normally out of the wind, and a nice place to sit for sunrises as well. I mounted a couple plastic Owls there, hoping to discourage the gulls.

  • Interestingly, 3 or 4 Eagles flew by quite close to check the “owls” out.
  • ………….Today, when I went to the deck, there were 2 Gulls, sitting between the owls.

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds, 5 – 10 knots all day. Calm seas with good visibility, some haze across the strait towards Port Angeles  Sunny skies in the morning, giving way to overcast and clouds late afternoon. Then back to mostly clear skies in the evening.

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Caspian Terns

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Ecological Notes:

  • 4 Elephant Seals still in the grass area, including 2 adult females, 1 juvenile male, and the last male pup from this season.
  • 6 Caspian Terns did a few flyovers today making their distinct screeches, upsetting the gulls to no end! Try as I might, I could not get a good photo though.
  • The oldest of the Canada Goose goslings are very large now, larger than the gulls, so they just meander through without worrying

Facility Work:

  • Stripped down and cleaned chainsaw.
  • Sweeping and cleaning out buildings to prepare for good scrub down when water supply permits.

DND events:

  • At least 6 extra loud blasts today. Noted Sea Lion disturbance, most moved off the rocks by the pier and to the outside rocks to the south. Most Steller Sea Lions headed to the water and haven’t hauled out again yet today.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 3 private vessels, sightseeing
  • 1 dingy size sailboat with an outboard, entered the channel and tried to exit against the current, a couple close calls when the current caught them, but they eventually turned and exited with the current.

Weather Events:

  • Shifting winds most of the day, variable from west to north to east then back to westerly in the evening. 5 knots, rising to 15 knots late afternoon. Warm, clear skies and calm seas with a really nice sunset.

 

** All photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Nest Building

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Ecological Notes:

  • 4 Elephant Seals still in the grass area, including 2 adult females, 1 juvenile male, and the last male pup from this season.
  • This one was napping at the junction of 4 pathways. Normally not a big deal, but right now there are gull nests everywhere!

You can leave the cart and wheelbarrow alone for now.

  • While there are too many Gull nests to count, other pairs are still courting and nest building.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 6 Ecotourism Vessels
  • 4 Private vessels sight seeing

 Noted Infractions:

  • As usual, private vessels coming up to speed while still well within the reserve.

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds 10-15 knots most of the day, with a shift to southerly winds for 2 hours mid day. Overcast and warm, basically calm seas.

 

** All photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Nesting Everywhere

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Ecological Notes:

  • Looking like just 5 Elephant Seals left in the main area. (although I like to give it a couple days to confirm)
  • This group is now 3 Adult Females, 1 Juvenile Male, and 1 male “pup”. Both males are really gaining strength and I give them an extra wide margin when moving around.
  • 9 Oyster Catcher nests mapped. Lots of Pigeon Guillemots darting in and out of the rock crevices, assuming they are nesting now as well.  So many Glaucous Wing Gull nests it’s hard to keep count. Many of them now have 3 eggs, so they are starting to incubate now.

Hard to not take all the Black Oyster Catcher pictures I can!

Variations in Gull egg colouring

  • Large group of yearling Glaucous Wing Gulls on one of the rocks, looking very much like a different species until their mature plumage comes in.

Facility Work:

  • As mentioned, everything takes longer when the paths and doorways are blocked!

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 1 large Government vessel through the main channel, with a small vessel in tow.

 Noted Infractions:

  • The above mentioned vessel went through very close to the pier, at very high speed! Documented and reported to superiors at Pearson College, and they are following up with those involved.

Weather Events:

  • Westerly 10 knot winds most of the day, easing to 3 knots in the evening. Mostly cloudy skies and calm seas.

 

** All photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

New Decks!

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Ecological Notes:

  • Most Elephant Seals nearing the end of their molt, still moving to and from the water, but not venturing too far from the pier, the larger ones seem to be tolerating the pups getting closer to them now. I thought one was missing, but found it on my evening walk about, behind the water tank building.

“All good, nothing to see here”

  • New visitor today ( at least since I got here) ….  a Greater White Fronted Goose!

Greater White Fronted Goose

 

Facility Work:

  • An overdue shout out to the last Ecoguardian, Rod King, and his friend, Colin Baird for the incredible new main house stairs and decks completed last month! Colin came out as a volunteer to help complete this project.

     

DND events:

  • 5 Detonations throughout the day, starting at noon, some animal disturbance noted

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • small private vessel went through the channel rather fast, but stayed centered, no visible animal disturbance, but collision potential

Weather Events:

  • Light winds from the southeast earlier, switching to northerlies later in the day. calm and overcast, with only a hint of rain the never really materialized.

** All photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Antenna Re-mount

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Ecological Notes:

  • 5 female Elephant Seals, 1 juvenile male (about female size)
  • Elephant Seal pups: 2, 1 is a young male
  • Many big old California Sealions tried to take over the pier today
  • Can see several paired up Black Oyster Catchers, but no “nests” visible from the angles I could view from a distance. Also didn’t note any defensive behavior.

Facility Work:

  • Moving beach wood, cut some to stock up firewood
  • Remounted VHF antenna, ONLY because the deck builders ran out of time. First I tried the hard ways, then just dismantled it on the bench and cut the wood away from the mount.

 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 1 Sailboat, doing it the right way! Motor on, sail in centered position and loose, straight down the center of the channel slowly, without disturbing the wildlife.

 

Feature Event:

  • Learning to use the chainsaw, but having to pause when an elephant seal wanted to pass.

 

Weather Events:

  • Medium Winds from the west, rising in the evening. Clear skies all day, good for Solar Power generation. Light cloud moving in the evening after sunset.

 

** All photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Killdeer

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Ecological Notes first Killdear spotted today.
Animal Tracking and Injuries: California sea lion with fishing gear around neck
Elephant seal pups:moving around the island.
Vessel Traffic.Sooke SAR vessel speeding in the park
Weather Events:spring flowers on island.
Weather– Current: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72
Weather–Past:  http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72