Another stunning day on the rocks! Calm seas, and beautiful sun all day long. Nothing beats waking up to watch the sunrise and thinking it can’t get better and then you watch the sunset as whales lunge feed in the distance.
Today was census day, a few new birds (for me) and surprisingly low sea lion numbers compared to Christines last count and compared to my counts at this time in 2025 and 2024. We had a good rain a few days ago and that usually clears out a lot of them so I imagine they’re slowly coming back now and by next Saturday the numbers will be higher.
Mammals:
- Steller sea lion: 330
- California sea lion: 390
- Harbour seal: 49
- Humpback whale: tons, as far as the eye can see
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- Someone caught lunch!
Birds:
- Canada goose: 10
- Gulls: 608
- Cormorants: 502
- Turnstones: 73
- Sparrows: 20+ but they are so fast I can’t keep track!
- Oyster catcher: 7
- Harlequin duck: 22
- Greater yellow leg: 1
- Osprey: 1
- Red-Footed booby: 1
Shout out to my cousin (and wildlife biologist) Nick for helping me ID the osprey and greater yellow leg!
Facility work:
- Ran generator in the morning, solar took it the rest of the way!
- Minor fence repairs
- Started weeding around the old wheel bricks