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Weather
Visibility: 10 miles, later 15
Wind: 0-5 knots West, later 5-10 knots NE
Sky: overcast, mist in the morning and evening
Water: calm
Ecological
The ten elephant seals were joined by an eleventh. He is very big!
Maintenance
Did a bunch of goose work.
Sprayed 30 second spray on one side of the main house and then pressure washed it. Not very effective against lichen compared to algae.
Boats
Several eco-tours came by.
Noticed the HMCS Regina in the mouth of Pedder Bay.
Weather
Visibility: 15 miles
Wind: 15-20 knots North East
Sky: overcast
Water: 1′ chop
Borderline fog in the evening.
Ecological
The same ten elephant seals on Great Race today.
Through the window I saw a small flock of black songbirds perched in the bushes, but they had flown away before I could take a photo.
I went outside to try and find them, but by then they were gone.
Perhaps they were red-winged blackbirds? That’s the only predominantly black songbird that has previously been recorded in these parts that would fit what I saw.
Maintenance
Finished up and submitted the April report.
Hand pumped diesel into the day tank.
Goose work.
Boats
A few eco-tours came by.
One boat was fishing in the reserve, but I have seen it before, and I am pretty sure that it is a First Nations boat.
What I can only assume was a US Navy submarine with an escort passed through the strait south of Race Rocks shortly before 18:00.
Weather
Visibility: 15 miles
Wind: 0-5 knots South.
From 17:00 onwards, 15-20 knots West.
Sky: clear and sunny most of the day.
From 17:00 onwards, some clouds and rain.
Water: calm
Ecological
Census day!
One sea lion was branded U958.
Colour wise it looks like a Steller, but if you look at the head I think it was a California.
Laura and her class found a sculpin (type of fish) head.
Four of what I suspect to be Short-billed Dowitchers today. Fun to watch!
Didn’t see the killdeer today, which is unusual.
Steller (Northern) Sea Lions: 66
Harbour Seals: 60
California Sea Lions: 57
Elephant Seals: 13 (4 on Great Race, 9 on Middle Rock)
Pigeon Guillemots: 269
Seagulls unspecified: 154
Surfbirds: 57
Canada Geese: 17
Black Turnstones: 17
Cormorants unspecified: 14
Harlequin Ducks: 9 (5 males and 4 females)
Black Oystercatchers: 6
Savannah Sparrows: 6
Short-billed Dowitchers: 4..https://www.racerocks.ca/short-billed-dowitcher/
Bald Eagles: 2 (2 adults, 0 immature)
Boats
A couple of eco-tours came by.
Second Nature came out multiple times, delivering 4 groups of students.
On her second last return, she had overheating issues, so Kyle had to come out in Haiku for the last trip.
Visitors
Kyle, James, Laura, and 26 students came out to Race Rocks today.
The students were doing a walk about with Laura, discussing marine biology for their upcoming final exam.
James did some work on the Davis Weather station and got most of it working again.
Other
Four DND blasts today.
10:05, 10:07, 11:24, and 11:26.
Posted in Animal census , Bird Notes , Ecoguardians Log , Island Visitors , Mammal Notes , Marine Vessels , Military Activity , PC Students at Race Rocks
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Tagged bald eagle , Black Oystercatcher , black-turnstone , california sea lion , Canada goose , cormorant , DND blasting , elephant seal , harbour seal , harlequin duck , Northern sea lion , pigeon guillemot , savannah sparrow , seagull , Second Nature , short billed dowitcher , Steller Sea lion , students , surfbird , weather station
Weather
Visibility: 15 miles
Wind: 5-10 knots North
Sky: clear
Water: rippled
Amazing pink/red sunset!
Ecological
Just one elephant seal on Great Race today.
Three elephant seals on Middle Rock though.
Maintenance
Some goose work.
Set up and took away barrels for diesel transfer.
Boats
A couple of eco-tours came by.
Second Nature came out with diesel.
Visitors
Kyle and two English volunteers came out with diesel.
I gave the two lads a tour while Kyle transferred the diesel.
Other
Some DND blasting today.
Medium blasts at 11:30, 11:32, and 12:13.
Bigger blasts at 14:47 and 14:49.
Weather
Visibility: 15 miles
Wind at 7:00: 10-15 knots West
Wind at 10:00: 10-15 knots North East
Wind at 15:00: 5-10 knots South West
Wind at 20:00: 20-25 knots West
Sky: mostly clear, rain at 15:00
Water: 1′ chop
A rather large moon appeared in the early evening.
Ecological
One adult elephant seal departed, leaving just the one.
The weaner returned by the slightly unconventional route: north side of the jetty.
A murder of crows.
Maintenance
Boats
A few eco-tours came by today.
Other
Some DND blasting today.
Blasts at 13:37, 13:39, and 14:15.
Weather
Visibility: 5 miles, later 15
Wind: 10-15 knots NW, later 5-10 NW
Sky: raining/overcast
Water: 1′ chop
Ecological
This morning two elephant seals arrived on the middle of the island.
One was the weaner, and at first I thought the other was the female.
But then I realized it was a new young adult male. A yearling or so.
They both slept all day, and had no interaction.
Maintenance
Other
Weather
Visibility: 15 miles
Wind: 0-10 knots E/NE
Sky: clear
Water: rippled
Ecological
The weaner returned. I’m not sure how much longer the term “weaner” applies?
Initially I thought the weaner was a male, but now I think it is actually a female.
There were three adult bald eagles in the reserve today. I just missed getting a photo of all three flying together.
I made a little “trip” to the north-west edge of Great Race.
Maintenance
Boats
Kyle came out in Haiku with some food for me!
A large Canadian Navy ship, the HMCS Vancouver, tied up on the navy buoy at the mouth of Pedder Bay.
Weather
Visibility: 10 miles in the morning, later 15.
Wind: 5-10 knots North
Sky: overcast and some rain
Water: calm
Ecological
Just the weaner on Great Race today.
He has a bit of a snotty nose. I suppose he has a cold?
I encountered my first pair of aggressive Canada Geese today.
Perhaps the nesting has begun?
Boats
The Pacific Scout Pilot boat passed through Race Passage today.
No eco-tours that I saw.
Other
Lots of DND blasting today.
There were blasts at the following times:
10:38, 11:05, 13:18, 13:20, 15:19, 15:21, and 15:49.
The first few blasts really startled the birds, especially the Pigeon Guillemots.
There was one final blast at 21:05. That is very unusual..
Weather
Visibility: 15 miles
Wind: 0-5 knots North, later 15-20 West
Sky: overcast
Water: calm in the morning, later a 1′ chop
Ecological
Two elephant seals on Great Race today.
Adult male and the weaner.
They both went down to the water by evenfall.
e-seal
same e-seal with friend
Maintenance
Hand pumped more diesel into the day tank.
Cleaned the solar panels.
Topped up more of the battery bank. Over half finished now!
Boats
Only saw one eco-tour.
A few fishing boats just outside the reserve.
DND zodiac out and about during blasting.
Other
Lots of loud DND blasting today.
There were blasts at the following times:
10:48, 10:50, 11:10, 11:25, 13:36, 13:38, 13:56, 14:19, 14:34, and 14:51.
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