This morning dawn came with a mostly overcast sky and fog distant. It cleared by late morning and stayed sunny, only clouding over in the early evening. The wind was light, less than 10 knots and easterly all day. The barometer was up to 2022 earlier and is falling now. The forecast includes a strong wind warning for tonight. Thursday is expected to be sunny with a few clouds.
Four whale watching vessels were observed working in the protected area today. Several sport fishers passed through. The salmon gillnet fleet and packers passed through Race Passage heading east. There was a big swell during the morning and early afternoon.
Second Nature brought one of the Pearson College student dive teams today and the students who got into the water had a fantastic dive. Not only were they able to observe and film the incredible richness of this biodiversity hotspot, they were also visited underwater by curious sea lions.
Several new sea lion brands were noted today including Californians U20, U503, U363 and U844. One of the California Sea Lions made it right up to camera #5 today. By the time I got outside with the blog camera, he was already descending.
I noted the other day that I hadn’t noticed cookie Cutter Shark scars on the Steller’s Sea Lions. Well since I made that remark I am seeing theme everywhere, so take that back.
On the bird front, we had a little female American Goldfinch visit today. It landed on the thistles right in front of me over by the tower. Also on the bird front a suspected Brandt’s Cormorant with two leg tags was spotted today; yellow on the left leg and white on the right leg. There was also a strange bird amongst the Brandt’s Cormorants that I was hoping would be the Brown Booby that has been floating around out here.
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Student dive marshal attends to technical details of divers.
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Laura Verhegge keeps a watchful lookout and briefs the divers before and after the dive. Jasper was in the water with them.
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Diver up.
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Nice winter plumage colours of this little male American Goldfinch.Spinus tristis
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This male American Goldfinch in winter plumage was here eating thistle seeds today.
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There was a big ocean swell early today. Here it is breaking on Middle Rock.
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Strange bird with Brandt’s Cormorants today.
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Cormorant with bands on legs. Head is bent around to back on left side.
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Chunky Stellers Sea Lion with Cookie Cutter Shark scar in the middle of his back.
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Rock climbing California Sea Lion descending from Camera 5.
Chores were routine and in preparation for the new eco-guardian crew coming out tomorrow. There were nine people on board Second Nature.
Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. 
