Mammals:

• California sealion: 1
• Stellar sealion: 1
• harbour seal: 214
• elephant seal: 1

Birds:

• gulls: 621
• cormorant: 20
• black oystercatcher: 14
• pigeon guillemot: 172
• Canada goose: 2
• bald eagle: 1
• harlequin duck: 1

Wildlife seen this week inside the reserve but not observed today include: Caspian tern.

Wildlife notes

The Coast Guard black oystercatchers have hatched a chick with the second one just starting to peck its way out. Once all the chicks have hatched and they leave the nest, observing, photographing and even counting them will be difficult and time consuming… sitting in one spot for a long time swatting at flies, being far enough away that the parents are relaxed but close enough that you don’t need a spotting scope.  Unlike human children, the chicks are remarkably obedient. Just one peep from the parent and the small, well camouflaged chicks run for cover between the rocks.  I still have not been able to confirm how many of the Keepers House chicks have survived. So far I have only seen one.

The Coast Guard black oystercatchers newly hatched chick and their second egg. One of the black marks on the egg is a hole created by the chick inside.

There was a group of 20 Heermann’s gulls on the south shore today.  A classy gull.  It is well dressed and directs its laughter like calls to the skies instead of wildly shrieking in any which direction at any one that will listen.

Two Heermann’s gulls

The sealion numbers have been very low the past weeks. Only two sealions were observed today. One was obviously wounded.  I don’t know why the other one isn’t out with the rest of the sealions gorging on fish.

Wounded sealion on Middle Rocks.

Facility work

• did not clean the panels today, yipee! The generator ran early this morning bringing the batteries to 100%.  Starting with a fully charged battery and sun today, the dirty panels kept the batteries at 99% all day.
• weeding walkways
• general cleaning

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 13
• Private: 1

Weather

Sunny with scattered clouds. Winds westerly 16 to 24 knots. Daytime temperatures 11 to 15 degrees.