Wildlife notes:

The bigger female elephant seal is in day 6 of the shedding part of her molt. The smaller post molt female is still here. These days they seem to be dragging themselves to the water several times a day. There is nothing unusual to report with the other wildlife. Some of the gulls haven’t laid their eggs yet but the majority are sitting on nests. It is a relief not to see any entangled sea lions. There have been whales in the area the past two days as evidenced by the distant groupings of ecotourism boats, but they have been too far off for me to see.

Day 6 – dressed in rags an tatters

The silky smooth post molt female elephant seal making the slow trip (many rests required) up the ramp after a swim.

Facility work

• cleaned the solar panels
• topped up fluid levels in the batteries
• cut a few rounds and chopped kindling

Visitors

A group of staff from Pearson College came for a site tour.

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 12
• Private: 1

Weather

Skies clear. Winds light and variable most of the day. A gently westerly breeze developed by late afternoon. Daytime temperatures: low 12, high 20.