September 9th – Southern Smoke

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With more and more sea lions arriving the electric fence repairs are becoming more frequent and more damaging. Each morning on average at least 2 sections are broken. Often many blocks/ posts are knocked over and simply need to be stood back up and repositioned. Topped up the batteries with our diesel generator this morning while wandering the reserve to observe and do our weekly animal census. Late morning I finished off my battery door and metal box repurposing project with a final coat of marine enamel paint.

In the afternoon Greg and Cedric stopped in with a full load of diesel fuel and our friend to visit for the weekend.

Weather:

    • Sky: Clear with smoke from Manning Park fire
    • Wind: SE 10 kts
    • Sea: Slight ripple
    • Visibility: 15 nautical miles in morning, dropped to 10 due to smoke

Weekly Census (observed on Sept. 3rd):

  • Male Elephant Seal: 1
  • Sea otter: 1
  • Steller/Northern sea lions: 349
  • Female Stellar/Norther sea lion: 1
  • California sea lion: 896
  • Female California Sea lion: 2
  • Harbour seals: 280
  • Black oystercatchers: 4
  • Cormorants: 36
  • Glaucous-winged gulls: 1150
  • Juveniles Glaucous-winged gulls on Great Race Rock:49
  • California Gull: 48
  • Harlequin Duck: 1
  • Sanderling: 1
  • Sandpiper: 1
  • Surfbirds: 2
  • Black turnstones: 20
  • Fox Sparrow: 11

Visitors:

  • Greg and Cedric dropped off a friend for the weekend while delivering diesel fuel.

Facility Work:

  • Cleaned solar panels
  • Electric fence repairs has become 3 times a day.
  • Ran Generator for a few hours to top up batteries.
  • Fuel Delivery and transfer
  • Finished door and metal box repurposing project.

Vessel Traffic:

  • Canadian and American ecotour boats regularly come through the reserve.
  • A recreation fishing boat toured through the north viewing the wildlife.
  • Spill response boats, 1 to the north of north rocks, 1 through main channel.

 

Smoke rolling in from the south east, Mount Baker can only just be scene.

Morning smoke creates unique sunrise colours, as our flag flies at half mast in honour of         Queen Elizabeth II

Sleeping California Sea Lion on the northern rocks of Great Race rock.

Camouflaged Black Turnstone in the low tide muscles.

Female Stellar sea lion on South shore of Great Race Rock.

Sanderling wandering among the sleeping california sea lions.

Fox Sparrow hops along a path as more flit by.

California sea lions sleeping under the deck by the crane.

Glaucous winged gulls at sunset.

California sea lions and a glaucous winged gull at sunset.