Monthly Archives: March 2021

Orca

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Ecological Notes:Yesterday was special day!  I was lucky to see the southern resident J17 orca pod swim west through Race Pass. Around 16:00, the pod traveled into the pass heading west. A black bear was sighted by an Eco-tour boat on Vancouver Island side walking the shoreline. The bears are waking up from hibernation and searching for food. Four elephant seal pups remain on the main island as well as one adult female and male. Lots of eagles, gulls and Canadian geese. The Canadian geese are very noisy and roam the island like they own the place!  Lol.

Vessel Traffic : For most of the morning,a dive boat had divers doing drift dives in the main channel. Two Eco-tour boats and one private boat were sighted during the day.

 

 

 

Orca

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Two Orca”s were spotted west of Race Rocks and into Race Pass. Whales were swimming into a strong tide in a resting mode. The whales did not make way until dark. Likely, the same whales as Sunday. They were to far away to get pictures for identification. Sea lions moved to the North East side of main island. Elephant seals are starting to molt and are very sleepy.

Peregrine Falcon returns

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Pam Birley from England took this image on the remote camera 5 today.  Almost yearly, she has spotted peregrines on Great Race Rocks using the remote control cameras . 

Falco peregrinus: Peregrine falcon –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

Sea otter back

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One tour boat today in main channel. Eagles all over the island. 1 sea otter off boat ramp eating sea urchin. Canada geese are claiming parts of the island. Bird of prey is feeding at night on some of the gulls. Perhaps a owl but I have not seen it yet. The leftovers from the kills are scattered around the island every morning.

Seawater Data February, 2021

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Daily Sea Surface Temperature and Salinity Observations
Station: Race Rocks
Observer: Rod King
Month: Feb-21
Day Time Temp °C Sal ppt
1 16:00 8.1 31.3
2 8:30 7.9 31.7
3 16:30 8.1 31.3
4 8:30 7.9 31.5
5 16:00 8.9 31.3
6 9:00 8.1 31.3
7 11:30 8 31.4
8 9:00 7.8 31.4
9 8:30 7.6 31.5
10 8:30 7.9 30.4
11 11:30 7.5 31.3
12 13:00 7.7 31.3
13 11:00 7.2 31.2
14 15:30 7.2 31.6
15 15:30 7.4 31.6
16 9:00 7.5 31.3
17 8:40 7.5 31.3
18 8:40 7.5 31.2
19 8:20 7.5 31.2
20 10:02 7.5 31.2
21 8:15 7.5 31.5
22 9:00 7.7 31.5
23 10:55 7.5 31.4
24 10:21 7.4 31.4
25 18:00 7.7 31.5
26 13:52 7.9 31.9
27 9:00 7.6 31.6
28 13:30 7.8 31.6
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