Monthly Archives: December 2024

unplanned break

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I took ill last week, and left the reserve for 4 days. The generator system was set to auto, and the island was visited once to do a fuel drop off and top up the generator tank.

 

Ecological Notes:

  • Although i reported little disturbance during the DND blasting, the last day was larger blasts on the southern most point, the by the next day, virtually all the Steller Seas Lions that have been hauling out on the north side of the main rock (next to the pier) have moved to the southern side of the main rock
  • Lots of juvenile and adult Bald Eagles visit each morning, actively chasing birds, while still scanning the sea for fish

Facility Work:

  • While eco-guardian was away, the generator was run on Auto. It manages the batteries differently that way, and we will analyze the results.
  • Fuel delivery to the island, transfer and topping up of the gen tank

DND events:

  • some blasting early in the cycle

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Ecotourism and private vessels

Weather Events:

  • Friday, December 06:
    • Sky: Overcast with light showers in the evening
    • Wind: N 10-15 kts, veering to NE by afternoon
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 3oC, High 8oC
  • Saturday, December 07:
    • Sky: Overcast with heavy rain squalls in the morning, giving way so clear periods in the afternoon
    • Wind: low S early morning, veering to W 25-30 kts during the day
    • Sea:  chop turning to light waves by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 3oC, High 7oC
  • Sunday, December 08:
    • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast
    • Wind: W/WSW 16-37 kts
    • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 9oC

 

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Clear skies

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Ecological Notes:

  • The Elephant Seals, the expecting female and the young female, left the ramp area and haven’t returned …. hoping they’re just off having a good feed and not looking at another haul out spot.
  • In the past, most of the Steller Sea Lions have moved to the outer rocks, leaving the main rock to the California Sea Lions… but this season there are many more Stellers remaining on the main rock, even some have ventured onto the pier

Visitors:

  • Parcel and supply delivery by the waterfront team

Facility Work:

  • got some of the deck algae sprayed down during the nicer weather…. until the sprayers broke!

  • Finally got some good logs in, shortened at the holding area, and moved up to the bucking area
  • Weekly Battery maintenance
  • Monthly Equalization charge to the Batteries
  • Month end reports and posting
  • The waterfront team brought out, and prepped a new door for the battery room, appears to now also need a new door frame

DND events:

  • regular blasting, a few times a day for the last week, no noted reaction from the wildlife.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • In addition to a few eco-tourism vessels, there have been a few private vessels visiting the reserve, all with good behaviour

 

Weather Events:

The last week has been primarily N NE winds, leading to mostly clear skies and dry weather. Seas have had light chop, slight fog daily on the shoreline away from the reserve.

  • Thursday, December 05:
    • Sky: High overcast, fog on the southern strait
    • Wind: NE winds 10-15 kts
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC

 

 

** All 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:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Holiday “break”

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Ecological Notes:

  • Although the winds and storms haven’t been as high as in the past, most of the smaller birds seem to have left the island
  • As is common, the Steller Sea lions tend to always move to the most lee side of the island in the bad weather

Facility Work:

  • Bucked all available logs, ready for splitting

  • Tried to salvage some really good logs, but lost them in the swells before the tide dropped low enough to anchor them

  • Due to the past issues with batteries, mopped down the battery room twice …. once with a baking soda solution, then again with soap and water

  • Replaced batteries in the student building smoke detectors

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Still the occasional Eco-tourism vessel

Weather Events:

  • Sunday, December 22:
    • Sky: Brief period of fog in the morning, then clear
    • Wind: Variable calm, rising to E 25 kts
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 6oC, High 9oC
  • Monday, December 23:

    • Sky: Overcast
    • Wind: NNE 5kts in the morning, rising to 40kts gradually over the day
    • Sea:  Waves and swells to 6 feet
    • Temperature Low 7oC, High 9oC
  • Tuesday, December 24:
    • Sky: Clear overhead in the morning, low cloud and mist in the distance… medium overcast by afternoon with sunny patches
    • Wind: W 25kts in the morning, evenly dropping through the day to 15-20kts
    • Sea:  2-3 foot chop, smoothed over by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 7oC, High 10oC

 

 

** 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:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

November 2024 DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS

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Station: RACE ROCKS
Observer: Derek Month: November
YSI ID: 15 Year: 2024
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 14:30 9.7 32.7
2 15:00 9.7 32.9
3 15:30 9.9 33.2
4
5 16:00 9.7 32.9
6 17:00 9.9 33.4
: 7 17:00 9.5 33.1
8 9:30 9.4 33.1
9 9:00 9.5 32.9
10 8:30 9.7 32.7
11 9:30 9.2 32.8
12 10:20 9.5 32.8
13 11:00 9.5 32.7
14 12:00 9.7 33.1
15
16 13:30 9.3 32.7
17 14:00 9.1 33.1
18 14:45 9.3 32.9
19
20
21 17:45 9.3 33.2
22 18:00 9.5 32.7
23 8:30 9.5 32.9
24 9:00 9.3 32.9
25 9:30 9.3 33.2
26 10:30 9.1 33.0
27 11:00 9.3 32.9
28 11:30 9.3 33.0
29 12:15 9.1 0.7
30 13:00 9.1 32.9