Wildlife notes
Harbour seals are bringing their pups to East Beach and I can watch them from the back porch! All of this pup activity must have been going last summer but was I so focused on the birds not to see it?
At 9:30 am I watched a mother leave her pup on the rocks halfway up the beach on low tide. I left to do the panels, had second breakfast, did some more chores and returned at 2:30. The tide had risen to the height where the first pup was dropped off. I was looking for it and spotted a second very young pup, still with its umbilical chord, further down the beach. Both of the pups were calling out (a weak, mournful, heart-retching sound) and very slowly made their way into the water to reunite with their moms. The first pub spent 5 hours alone, a long time I would think for a very young small creature.
- Pup after the water had risen to its resting spot.
- Pup calling out.
I watched the second pup for a while as it moved slowly toward the water. It found a piece of Fucus or rockweed in front of its nose that I think may have looked rather teat-like to the little thing as it reached out and put it in its mouth.
Facility work
- cleaned solar panels and windows on the Energy Building
- topped battery fluids levels
- weeding
Vessels
- Ecotourism: 11
- Private: 0
Weather
Skies clear in the morning, fog patches in the afternoon and evening. Strong breeze throughout the day. Winds WNW in morning, backing to WSW midday, veering to W in afternoon. Daytime temperatures: low 11, high 17.