Mammals:

• Steller sea lion: 1
• California sea lion: 0
• Harbour seal: 54 adults, one pup  (June 27: 258)
• Elephant seal: 1 female
• Killer whale: 2

Birds:

• Gulls: 514
• Pigeon guillemot: 163
• Cormorants: 13
• Bald eagle: 3
• Black oystercatcher: 14 adults (only saw 4 chicks today)
• Harlequin duck:1
• Surfbird: 11
• Black turnstone: 6
• Western sandpiper: 4

Wildlife observed this week but not on census day was barn swallows and one hummingbird. The Keepers House oyster catchers have moved their two very small chicks down to the west side of the East Beach. The East Beach oystercatchers are on the east side and about 3/4 the size of their parents. There are so many more gull chicks that have hatched putting the gulls on high alert. I was hit twice on my knapsack, and once on my shoulders. It is not possible this time of year to stretch out  laundry to very 3 weeks. I am glad to have my helmet and am developing an uncanny sense of when to duck or swivel.

Black turnstone with two surfbirds.

Sidewalk gull’s newly hatched chick. The only egg of her three to make it.

Facility work

• cleaned solar panels
• cleaned Keeper’s House outside windows

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 14
• Private: 3

Weather

Patches of fog in the morning then scattered clouds.  Fresh westerly breeze until 4pm, gale force by early evening. Daytime temperatures: low 10, high 14.

My knapsack (with the VFH radio, camera, binoculars and cell phone) after I cleaned off the first hit. The gull managed to even fill the side pocket.