Good morning! Here were my observations on Feb 7th –
After a sunny day with mild winds I head to the top of the lighthouse with my counter and binoculars to see what I could see. What an afternoon to be up there!

I spotted:

-Birds
10 Harlequin ducks
5 Oyster catchers
346 Cormorants
193 seaguls
1 turnstone (heard not seen)
1 not yet identified songbird
2 Canadian geese

17 California sea lions
45 Stellar Sea lions
and of course, last but not least, one adult and one sub adult elephant seal!

Later that evening I did notice that many cormorants came to rest in the reserve, mental note hat I will do my count a little bit later next time.

Since I have arrived there is little traffic, a submarine in the distance, a couple whale watching boats with suited up tourists and one or two recreational, sub 30 foot, powerboats.

Hope everyone is enjoying this sun!
Cedric

This is my last night on Race Rocks. Everything was terrific. The weather was spectacular and watching the elephant seals grow and shrink was incredible. I will miss their interactions and calls – the moms haunting bellow and the pups indignant squawks, and the calls of the gulls and oyster catchers, the chatter of turnstones, the barks and growls of the sea lions, the roar of the current… just too much to list.  It is such a blessing and a privilege be here.

Thank you Greg and Richard for your support, and welcome to Race Rocks Cedric! You have a full cistern, 4000L of fresh water, piles of firewood to split, and the joy of watching the young pup explore the island and learn how to swim.

Piles of fire wood rounds waiting for the new splitter to arrive.

Another pile of fire wood.

Facility work

• topped up battery fluid
• organized and cleaned house

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 3
• Private: 1

Weather

Marvelous day. Partly cloudy. Sunshine. Gentle to moderate breeze veering from NE to SE. Daytime temperature 9 to 11 degrees.

Wildlife notes

The wounded Olympic gull was not seen today, dead or alive. The carcass of the dead California sea lion on East Beach has gone from brown to pink, to white and is now being unwrapped.  The birds have peeled back the skin on its skull!

On to more pleasant things… an image of the elephant seals, mom and the growing pup, asleep in the hollow. In the image below, on Sylvia’s chest just below her right front flipper is a round scar.  I think she may have been here last spring to molt.  In the May 18th 2025 post is a female with the same scar. Her hatred for the gulls is not new. In the May 31st 2025 post that same female is seen bellowing at a gull.

Sylvia and Ms. B. Lackie on day 16

Facility work

• cutting firewood
• helping Richard to finish the install of the new LED lights, hang the new framed marine charts and fix the down spout on the Keepers house.

Visitors

Two groups of students came to take notes on the wildlife and view the elephant seals.

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 2
• Private: 0

DND Activity

There were no detonations today but a lot of helicopter activity and impressive exercises. They were dropping inflatable boats and swimmers into the ebbing current in Race Passage.

Weather

Partly cloudy. Winds mostly light from the northeast. Day time temperatures 9 to 12 degrees.

Wildlife notes

A sickly wounded Olympic gull has been walking around the island for days. It can’t fly and doesn’t walk quickly or in proper quick footed gull fashion with a stretchy neck. It may have been attacked by something but the eagles here aren’t interested in this easy target.

Day 15 for Ms. B. Lackie.

Facility notes

I had fun this morning on the boat ramp cutting up a Douglas-fir log that was gifted to us a few days ago.  It is always interesting to plan a job when there is only your small self around … no man-handling, just blocks and rails.

I cut off the easy to get elevated parts of the log, then made cuts most of the way through down the length of the log, and am ready to pull on the yellow line to roll the log over in order to complete the cuts.

I also learned how to change the filters and oil in the generator.  Mike and Greg came by to pick up the splitter for warranty work and do the oil change. I took notes, photos and wrote instructions, so I should remember months from now when I am here next.

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 3
• Private: 2 paddle boarders

Weather

Cloudy. Gentle northeasterly breeze. Daytime temperatures 9 to 10 degrees.

Wildlife notes

A few eagles have been perched, surveying. I am not sure what they are waiting for. An obviously injured gull, mostly walking around with short awkward low level flying attempts was of no interest to them.   

The dead CA sea lion is still on the boat ramp. Other than the one sea gull yesterday,  the birds aren’t paying it much attention. The dead CA sea lion on East Beach however is looking worse for wear having being tossed about in the high water and crashing surf for a few days. The carcass is about 3 weeks old. Two weeks ago it had pink skin, now it is ghost like and partly hair less.

On a cheerful note, the elephant seal pup is feeding almost every hour and getting fatter by the day.

Facility work

• moved logs around
• battery fluid top up
• cleaning

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 2
• Private: 0

Weather

Overcast in the am, partly cloudy in the pm. Periods of rain. Winds light from every direction. Daytime temperatures 9 to 12 degrees.