Monthly Archives: April 2022

wind and mood change

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weather : wind from the northeast today, calm this morning but at 12 to 15 km/hr now. skies mostly clear.

visitors: a couple of eco-tourism boats went by. otherwise very quiet.

energy: solar all day.

Observations: mostly I observed my mood today. This is my  last night here and as I shift my focus to “real life” I am slightly melancholy. And so seeing from that point of view I watched the young eagle hunt over Great Race several times unsuccessfully and wondered if it would be easier to catch fish. I have seen very few fish caught this past week. The island is covered with chiton shells and even goose neck barnacle shells. Then I saw these two gulls, one missing a foot and beside it a gull not able to weight bear. They were both at the periphery of the breeding colony with the immature gulls. I also saw the first Thayer’s gull and I see that in previous years many have nested on the island.

One without a foot, the other cannot weight bear

Thayer’s Gull?

Thayer’s?

Work: cleaning and getting ready for next ecoguardian. chopping wood. sweeping the lighthouse stairs. doing month end tallies. cleaned the student house windows and lower solar panels.

Addendum:I went to sit on the back porch as Mount Baker is quite clear and a new bird ( this week) appeared.

whimbrels

whimbrels, 8 in all

Census and censured

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Weather; beautifully calm most of the day. Sunny with the occasional cloud. Wind mostly southwest

Visitors to reserve: 1 kayaker at slack tide. Went around seal rocks. Caused a landslide of Stellar sea lions.

No eco-tourism boats. Maybe the whales were in a different area?

Work: finished cleaning the lamp room and started sweeping the lighthouse stairs. chopped wood. what kept me VERY busy was the energy system which was drawing 2 kW instead of 1.2 kW (our usual load). I spent several hours trying to find something using that much draw. I had to start the generator at about 6 a.m. as the battery voltage was very low (large draw continued all night). Then I thought running the desalinator might solve the problem but neither seemingly did. It continued drawing between 1.6 and 2.1 until 3 pm and then it went down to 1.2. Greg believes charging up the battery from the generator may have reset things?

Observations:

Census

Elephant seals 7 (the male juvenile was away for several days this week but is back on Great Race)

Stellar sea lions 51 on south islands, none on Great Race today but over the last week there have been one or two here

California sea lions 8 on Great Race

Seals 60 on middle rocks

Gulls (western, glaucous-winged ) 236 counted from the lamp room on the island this morning

Pigeon guillemot   210, a large raft of them off seal rocks

Eagles 2 adult 2 immature

Cormorants 16

cormorants, double crested and pelagic

Oyster Catchers estimate 20

Harlequin ducks saw 5

Turnstones 32 very rough estimate, there are 8 on the grassy area around the house

Savannah sparrows I only ever see 4 at once but I see them constantly, that’s why I guess 20

Surf birds so well camouflaged but I would guess 20?

The following were seen this past week but not today,

Marbled godwit

Brown headed cowbird

brown headed cowbird

Sea otter

sea otter!

Orcas, transient or Biggs

one female and young, one  or two males, one to three other adults

Birds I did not get a picture off but were here this week:

Northern Crow (today and yesterday, aggressively chased away!!)

Semipalmated plover x 1

purple martin x 1

 

CENSURED

it appears to me that the 6 moulting females may NOT be female. the 3 large adults appear female but the at least 2 of the 3 small may be male. Am I right?

Doesn’t this “female” appear male???

Here’s a female.

laughing?

Transient Orcas get a sea lion, marbled godwit and power surges all in one day

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Weather: calm and westerly most of the day

today was a very eventful day.

To start off Great Race had a visitor.

marbled godwit

Then at about 8:15 a.m. I went up to the lamp room to do a census but the tide was too high so I decided to clean the room (I had brought up supplies). At about 830 I saw a splash and watched it until I saw whales surface. Initially I was not sure if they were Dall’s porpoises or Orcas I watched and took photos for about 20 minutes. Then I saw a sea lion flipper. I thought maybe all were fishing together (very influenced by Robin Kimmerer and looking for reciprocity not competition). Every time the sea lion surfaced the largest Orca would come crashing over it. This happened often. Soon I realized I could depend on a good Orca photo if I waited until I saw the sea lion. It did not come up face first very often, almost always just a fin. Over the next hour I knew I was watching transient Orcas hunt a stellar sea lion. Soon they had moved close to outer seal rocks (I imagine the sea lion was desperately trying to get to shore) and the sea lions on the rocks became active. They moved into the water! After about another 30 minutes the whales and surrounded sea lion were moving again off shore. One last surface from the sea lion flipper and it was not seen again. In about 20 more minutes the whales were surrounded by gulls diving and picking debris off the water. Even an eagle got involved. I watched this drama for 2 1/2 hours and at that time the whale watching boats arrived, 5 of them. But the whales kept surfacing and the gulls flocking. Unfortunately the camera was full within the first 20 minutes and  I was so frustrated BUT my iphone was able to capture great video footage of the whales at seal rocks and the sea lions!

I am sorry I cannot download the videos!

Visitors: 5 whale watching boats made their way to the whales but not until after the sky was full of seagulls and I suppose they were eating their prey. Afterwards all the boats went through the reserve. An spill response boat also went through.

Energy: For some reason the draw is very high today. At about1 o’clock I noticed our usage was over 2 kW and usually it is about 1.2. I spoke to ONC to see if their equipment was faulty but everything at their end was normal.

it was an exciting day at Race Rocks.

Don’t trust the weather report

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Morning visitors

Weather: SUN! westerly wind 16 knots. Sparkling water.

Visitors: Several whale watching boats. All came close to the seal lions on the jetty but they didn’t disturb them. Fishers outside reserve area.

Work: cleaned solar panels. chopped wood. cleaned windows (on the inside) in lamp room.

 

Energy: Every morning it is a bit of guess work to see  if I can hold off using the generator. Particularly today when it called for clouds and rain. I was happy the first hour of potential solar energy boosted the batteries to over 50 volts. Then I had some breathing room. I tend to look at the numbers often and try to see how I can avoid the generator or use it as little as possible. Not listening to the forecast can be useful!

Observations: Gulls are beautiful. They are so easy to take for granted but now that I am looking closely at them I see how exquisitely white they are. It is amazing to get to watch them go through their courtship. I don’t envy the few immature gulls on the island. If they try to land anywhere near the centre of the island they are quickly reminded that this is a breeding colony and they are not welcome.

Several sea lions have taken to lying on the steps of the jetty. The new electric fence keeps them from coming right up. I feel somewhat sad about this, thinking that for years they have returned and sandwiched themselves on that cement surface. We had to move them off every day to take water samples so it wasn’t an absolutely ideal life. I just wonder how often they need to get zapped to stay away and if there is anywhere nearly as comfortable.

It fascinates me that I can’t get near the nesting Canada geese. I make big detours to avoid the nest and therefore avoid getting attacked and yet the several hundred pound mammals prove no obstacle. They will readily move when I need to take a water sample.

The 6 female elephant seals have split into 2 groups (by size it seems) and life is peaceful for them. Only a few days ago there was lots of conflict. They haven’t left the island today and the male pup has not returned. They have mostly moulted it seems and are waiting for their new fur to grow.

After I wrote this I saw the sea otter! He was around seal rocks for a couple of hours.

 

sea otter!

Curiosity

the three large female elephant seals

the 3 smaller elephant seals

Not this year.

Confusing Gulls

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ring billed gull? or is eye too dark?

Weather : mixed! a westerly blew this morning up to 20 knots and it was mostly sunny. Then a south, becoming southeast brought a bit of rain and cloud but the westerly prevailed and it is now 16 knots, 178′ and a beautiful sunset.

Visitors to the reserve: by 10 a.m. 3 ecotourism boats had come by. Must be visitors from the cruise ship which came in yesterday. I think the heavy winds must have discouraged any others.

Work: I continue splitting this old gnarly wood and stacking it in the basement. Cleaned the lower solar panels this a.m. and the house windows.

Energy: I have been here 5 days and because the sun has been out, I have only used the generator for 2 hours. I have been able to heat with wood and the nice thing about that is it heats water too so I have kept the “hot water on demand” off. As well I haven’t needed to use the furnace. One, of the many, privileges of being an ecoguardian is getting familiar with alternative energy sources.

Observations: The male elephant seal pup has been gone for 2 days. The six female continue moulting. None of them went to the water today. The highlight of my day was a purple martin flew in. I was outside and it was a  strong westerly, a flash of orange flew by me as it banked and swerved around me. It circled the grassy area a couple of times then flew off.

After reviewing glaucous-winged gulls, western gulls and California gulls and their distinguishing characteristics I went looking to figure out what is happening on Race Rocks. My conclusion is they are all either glaucous-wing or western or a mix, the “Olympic” gull. The mature gulls ALL have pink legs and no black on their beaks (except the one yesterday, which I thought was a ring billed gull but need to review the photos). So, when do the California gulls get here in numbers? I will keep looking.

This photo I took yesterday and believed it was a ring billed gull may be a California gull with it’s dark eye. Ring billed gulls have yellow eyes.

A Wonderful Windy Weather Day

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sunrise and fog

Weather: The morning sunrise was behind fog. It cleared up after an hour. Winds started as westerly. Beautiful sunny day charging the batteries to almost 100%. By 1800 hrs however a north wind started howling (24 knots)It has converted to a westerly as I write this, now at 29 knots. Very dramatic skies!

Visitors: several ecotourism boats, all slowed down and came close to the jetty to see the elephant seals.

Observations:  Besides the pictures below. There are currently 6 female elephant seals. The pup was not on the island all day. Brown-headed cowbird here all day.

Why do the geese eat this?

You won’t tell anyone?

white Brodiaea in bloom

camouflage for the young

ring billed gull? or is eye too dark?

never a dull moment

brown headed cowbird

Is this electric fence going to stay?

Is this electric fence staying?

savannah sparrow

the north wind bringing weather

the north wind bringing weather

Census

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Weather: wind was westerly until this afternoon and now is southeast

sunny and the water was calm

Visitors: several ecotourism boats going slowly by the jetty

10 kayaks by north rocks

fishers, 2 right near the RR fishing boundary

Census

7 adult female elephant seals

1 male pup born this year (already close to the size of the smallest female)

12 California sea lions, mostly male

27 stellar sea lions on south islands

60 seals on seal rocks and surrounding water

Cormorants 21

Gulls, Glaucous wing and Western 288 on Great Race,

most gulls are mature and in pairs, no nests yet, on the edges of Race Rock there are some immature gulls

Dunlin 3 ,one in summer plumage

Eagle 3, 2 mature one probably less than 1 year

Canada geese 14 to 20, 3 active nests

pigeon guillemot  counted 104 this morning in one area

oyster catchers  ?20

turnstones ?30

savannah sparrows 8

harlequin ducks 10

brandt’s cormorant 1

 

of note, no river otters, sea otters or whales today and yet it was the perfect day for sightings

brandt’s cormorant

Immature glaucous-wing gull?

So much solar energy!

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Weather: wind westerly currently 10 knots SUN!

Visitors: 2 groups of students from Pearson College came for quick trips. I took 2 groups from each trip up the lighthouse. 2 ecotourism boats through the reserve. One fisher boat passed through. All respectful.

Facility maintenance :

cleaned the solar panels and checked the fencing.

wood splitting. house maintenance.

This afternoon our battery was charged 100% by the sun and it was only 3 o’clock so to use energy I vacuumed the basement.

Observations: Last night the birds I have been chasing came right next to the house. Definitely Dunlins, one in summer plumage and two immature. This morning I saw a flock of about 100 pigeon guillemots. While cleaning the solar panels on the roof looking at the rocks to the north there were several oyster catchers, then about 25 PG, then 8 Harlequin ducks all in their groups. The gulls seem to be doing a good job keeping the geese under control. They were eating 2 more eggs today.

Currently 7 elephant seals, several went into the ocean this afternoon but they have returned.

Spectacular low tide in front of the student house. Saw a starfish still alive with only four legs and a freshly dead starfish. Looking for Mist Maiden but didn’t find any more patches.

Starfish

not only the elephant seals are moulting

Race Rocks is a sanctuary

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I arrived on Tuesday April 19. I had the good fortune to arrive with Garry Fletcher and get a quick tour of the island. We found the Romanzoffia (Mist Maiden) in bloom. Derek had done a great job getting the house ready for transfer.

My first full day here the winds were E/NE up to 40 knots. Therefore it was quiet in terms of ecotourism. I wandered around familiarizing myself with the (currently) 7 elephant seals, the Canada geese nests and the sea lions all sharing the island with me.

Today (April 21) the weather has changed. Wind currently west. Sea calm.

Visitors: The Pearson College second year marine biology class are celebrating their last class today and visited the island for 2 hours. Greg was kind enough to trouble shoot a few things with me and we also had time (and bravery) to addle 3 eggs in a goose nest next to the gasoline shed. I made a map of nests so we can keep track of which eggs we have disturbed.

Four ecotourism boats have moved through the reserve today. It is such a wonderful thing to observe how respectful they are.  The presence of guardians seems to have made a big difference.

Observations

Yesterday during the storm there were 2 Dunlins (I believe). I will include a very poor picture. I saw them several times close to and moving with the turnstones on the grass.

Today was a fantastic low tide. Last year I was here after the “heat dome” and the intertidal was burnt. Today it was so lush. Beautiful abundant seaweed, I will try and edit this post with the new names, Hedophyllum, Alaria, Costaria, Iridea ,Halosaccion beautifully shiny and underneath pink coralline algae, bright orange Cucumaria, tunicates and sea anemones. Abundant goose neck barnacles.  Even a gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri).  Oyster Catchers, Turnstones, Harlequin ducks all making their presence known as I entered their dining room. 3 eagles busy eating the remains of a dead sea lion.

The elephant seals continue their moulting. Coming and going down the jetty. The pup seems to be alone and away from the others.

The gulls are working very hard impressing each other with their nest building skills, head bobbing, vocalizations and also copulating. They are much friendlier than when they have nests.

mist maiden

Mist Maiden

Work

The electric fence came down in the wind. A few sealions breached the jetty! Once chased off the fence is working again.

I have been splitting wood and managed to bring 2 wheel barrows to the house. Old hemlock is not easy to split!

 

 

 

very poor picture of a Dunlin. Can you see it?

Gumboot Chiton

 

 

 

Erysimum X cherei: wall flower– Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Wallflowers were planted in the early years along the sidewalks by the lightkeepers. They still exist and in a mild winter, you can find them blooming on the island.

There are some interesting interactions that repel predator species which I have reproduced here from Wikipedia.

Defensive compounds

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Like most Brassicaceae, species in the genus Erysimum produce glucosinolates as defensive compounds.[16][17] However, unlike almost all other genera in the Brassicaceae, Erysimum also accumulates cardiac glycosides, another class of phytochemicals with an ecological importance in insect defense.[18][19] Cardiac glycosides specifically function to prevent insect herbivory[20] and/or oviposition[21] by blocking ion channel function in muscle cells.[22] These chemicals are toxic enough to deter generalist,[23] and even some specialist[24] insect herbivores. Cardiac glycoside production is widespread in Erysimum, with at least 48 species in the genus containing these compounds.[19][25] Accumulation of cardiac glycosides in Erysimum crepidifolium, but not other tested species, is induced by treatment with jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate,[26][25] endogenous elicitors of chemical defenses in many plant species.[27] Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that Erysimum diversification from other Brassicaceae species that do not produce cardiac glycosides began in the Pliocene (2.33–5.2 million years ago),[28][1] suggesting relatively recent evolution of cardiac glycosides as a defensive trait in this genus.

Classication From Wikipedia:

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Erysimum
Other Members of the Angiosperms at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The 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.