May 15th Census (and Farewell for Now)
I can’t believe it’s my last day! Where did the time go?! I’m already looking forward to coming back.
As always, it’s been an honour to be out here and spend time on this little rock.
May 15th Census:
Mammals:
- Steller sea lion: 21
- California sea lion: 24
- Harbour seal: 66
- Elephant seal: 3 female
- Cetaceans: 1 grey whale, reports of many harbour porpoises in the area
Birds:
- Gulls: 391 (these have increased a LOT in number this week)
- Pigeon guillemot: 78
- Cormorants: 29
- Canadian geese: 10
- Bald eagles: 10
- Harlequin duck: 2
- Oyster catcher: 6
That’s all for now!
Happy Tuesday!
My time here is flying by (as per usual).
It’s been a busy few days with great weather, lots of outdoor cleaning and weeding and searching as hard as I can for whales.
I’ve now seen a few humpbacks so they are slowly but surely making their way past.
Still have the 3 female elephant seals, and the two young ones have finally finished their moult!
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- Final bit left to moult!
Ollie is doing what he does best – relaxing, and the pelicans have multiplied, there are now 4 here. I’ve never had them stick around so long before but I love that they are!
Vessels:
- Ecoguardian: 11
Facility Work:
- Cleaned solar panels
- Topped up battery electrolytes
- Added diesel to generator
Visitors:
- Greg for diesel drop off (yesterday)
Saturday Update
A bit of a grey day to start but turned out to be quite nice!
The early morning rain helped with cleaning the solar panels and windows, so I can’t complain.
Ollie is back in his usual bed of kelp behind the student house, and after the strong winds, the pelican has also returned to the rocks near the jetty.
I haven’t seen the entangled Steller in a few days but I’m hoping he reappears so we can help him! I did see a whale finally today, I think it was a humpback but I just saw one quick spout and it was very far away. I’m still here for a few more days so hopefully get more!
Facility Work:
- Topped up battery electrolytes and took specific gravity readings
- Ran and equalization charge on the batteries
- Cleaned solar panels
- Cleaned main house windows (they always get so salty after windy days)
- Fixed the electric fence on the jetty
Vessels:
- Ecotourism :6
- Private: 4
May 8th Census
I postponed my census from yesterday until today due to weather. I think yesterday’s wind must have blown away all the animals, not a single sea lion out front!
Today was much nicer for counting and way more animals, although this may be the longest I’ve gone without seeing a whale here. Not a single one yet and its been a week!
Mammals:
- Elephant seals: 3 females
- Harbour seals: 32
- Steller sea lions: 37
- California sea lions: 21
Birds:
- Gulls: 114
- Cormorants: 19
- Pigeon guillemots: 153
- Oyster catchers: 8
- Canadian geese: 6
- Bald eagles: 3
- Raven: 1
- Harlequin ducks: 6
Gulls are starting to build their nests!
I will note that 2 brown pelicans have been hanging around the last few days, and Ollie the sea otter as well but I did not see any of them today.
Vessels:
- Ecotourism: 5
- Private: 4
Tuesday Update
Nothing too wild to report today!
4 student groups from Pearson came over today which is always fun, and it was the perfect day for it! Sunny and no wind.
Everything animal wise is status quo, the elephant seals seem to take turns at the boat launch dipping in the water. There are 2 pelicans that have been here the last few days and I will never not get excited when I see them!
Sadly (but planned) my dad headed back to the mainland today so its just me and the animals out here now! It was so nice having him out here.
Today’s facility work:
- Topped up generator with diesel
- Cleaned solar panels
- Checked and topped up batteries
- Weed whacked the pathways
- Started gardening between the bricks of the old wheels
Tomorrow is supposed to be windy and rainy so preparing for an inside day.
Sunny Sunday
What a day! Finally no wind, so much sun, and the glassiest water you’ve ever seen. If there were any whales out there we for sure would’ve seen them but unfortunately there were none to be found!
Speaking of unfortunate, I did spot an entangled Steller who happens to be the same one spotted here in August. Hopefully we can arrange a rescue soon!
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- Today, May 5, 2025
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- Aug 12, 2024 (Taken by Christine)
Ollie is still snuggled into the kelp patch, and the harbour seals are suspicious as usual.
Lots of fishing boats out and about but only a couple came through the reserve and were very respectful of the animals hauled out.
I cleaned the windows and solar panels, and started on some gardening with lots more to come!
Back on the Rock!
Hello again!
I arrived back at Race Rocks and couldn’t be happier! I brought my dad again for the first few days and its been lovely so far.
There are 3 female elephant seals, one of which is tagged L334, I reported her last year and found out she came from California. Last May they told me she was 1 year old so now she is 2! The other female is the same size as her and there is also one adult.
Ollie the sea otter has been spending his days in the kelp behind the student house, and I’m always happy to see him.
We’ve also had a brown pelican hanging out near the jetty which is always exciting! Poor guy spent the day being harassed by gulls though.
It’s been pretty windy since we arrived and I’m already looking forward to a break from it on Monday when it slows down. I still got some work done, split wood, topped up the battery electrolytes and got myself situated. 6 ecotourism vessels in the reserve today despite the strong wind. No whales though!
Animal Census
- Bald eagle adult 3
- Bald eagle juvenile 2
- Black Turnstones 18
- Gulls 122
- Cormorants 50
- Pigeon Guillemots 87
- Oyster catcher 12
- Canadian goose 7
- Harlequin Ducks 8
- Pacific Wren(?) 2 comes flying out of the shrubbery too
fast to get a picture
Mammals
- Sea Otter 1
- Steller sea lion 22
- Harbour seal 43
- California sea lion 24
- Elephant seal female 2 juveniles, Adult female has also been around the last couple days again, but not coming up to the top area at all
Quick updates
Ecological Notes:
- 2 juvenile female Elephant Seals, hauled out in the main grass area, but visiting the water once or twice a day.
- Noted a California Sea Lion with damage to one of his pectoral fins …. bone and tendons appear to be ok. Looks like a patch of about 6X12 inches of skin removed.
- The Northern Fur Seal was reported to me as being on his second favorite rock out here, near the NW end of the reserve
- Sea Otter (reported as being Ollie) in the kelp to the west
- Lots of Pigeon Guillemots spreading around the main area, pairing off with courting behaviour
Visitors:
- 1 – Richard from the shore front team delivered Diesel and groceries
Facility Work:
- Replace another faulty light switch in the main house
- Transferred fuel to drums and moved most to the generator building, and added some to the furnace tank in the main house. I find it safer and easier to transfer in drums when by myself.
- Split and transferred more firewood
- Oil filter, oil, and fuel filter changed on Generator.
- Batteries electrolyte levels topped up
- Noticed drop in daily battery percentage over the last 2 weeks, found specific gravity readings were very low, trying an equalization charge
- Main house window cleaning
- Collected up fencing blocks left spread around after the last modifications to the fencing system
DND events:
- More radio simulations of boater conflict ….. again, no mention before or during, causing some discussion among other boaters
Noted Vessel Traffic:
- A solo kayaker, travel through and around the reserve on Tuesday.
- More Eco-Tourism vessels
- Several people fishing just outside the reserve, pulling lines and visiting the main area without fishing
Weather Events:
Mostly typical spring weather, changing direction, but lots of clear sky days with slight haze. Only a couple days of higher winds
- Monday, April 21:
- Sky: Slight haze, but mostly sunny all day
- Wind:mostly W mixed 5-20kts
- Sea: rippled to slight chop
- Temperature Low 8oC, High 12oC
- Tuesday, April 22:
- Sky: Very slight haze, but mostly sunny all day
- Wind:ESE 2-12kts changing to W 15 kts by evening
- Sea: flat calm
- Temperature Low 9oC, High 13oC
- Wednesday, April 23:
- Sky: Very slight haze, but mostly sunny all day
- Wind: low ESE winds, shifting to SE 10kts mid day
- Sea: calm all day
- Temperature Low 7oC, High 13oC
- Sky: Very slight haze, but mostly sunny all day
** Any 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:
Animal Census
- Bald eagle adult 5
- Bald eagle juvenile 4
- Black Turnstones 23
- Gulls 98
- Cormorants 77
- Pigeon Guillemots 64
- Oyster catcher 14
- Canadian goose 7
- Harlequin Ducks 17
- Pacific Wren(?) 4 comes flying out of the shrubbery too
fast to get a picture
Mammals
- Sea Otter 1
- Steller sea lion 28
- Harbour seal 57
- California sea lion 33
- Elephant seal female 2 juveniles (adult female has not been seen in a while)