Mammals:

• Steller sea lion: 10  (May 23: 6, May 15: 21, May 8: 37)
• California sea lion: 31
• Harbour seal: 90 (May 23: 50)
• Elephant seal: 2 female (May 23: 4)

Birds:

• Gulls: 464 (May 23: 467, May 15: 391, May 8: 114)
• Pigeon guillemot: 6 – been gone all day (May 23: 30, May 15: 78, May 8: 153)
• Cormorants: 36
• Canadian geese: 6
• Bald eagle: 2
• Harlequin duck: 3
• Black oystercatcher:  12
• Barn swallow: 2

I climbed the tower twice today, once at low tide and again near high tide at 7pm. There were hardly any pigeon guillemots to be counted. Wildlife species that were present in the past week but not observed today include: brown pelican, savannah sparrow, humming bird.

Gulls mating

Black oystercatcher foraging

Facility work

• cleaned solar panels
• topped up battery fluid levels
• measured specific gravity after equalization charge run yesterday

DND Activity

At least 5 explosions today. Birds on the west shore took flight.

Vessels

• ecotourism: 24
• private: 6

Weather

Variable calm to gentle breeze throughout the day. Daytime temperature: low 10, high 15. 15