The day started with a gorgeous sunrise with lots of golden light pouring under a low violet cloud layer, scattering pinks, reds and oranges. The wind was out of the northeast at 10 – 15 knots and stayed that way until early evening when it turned to west. The barometer continued the climb it started Friday morning, until late in the day when it hit ~1020 hPa and levelled out. The forecast is for east winds and rain.

Six whale watching vessels were noted working in the Ecological Reserve today, one in the morning with a videography crew and five in the afternoon associated with the Killer Whales. Five out of six totally respected the reserve and the regulations.

Although the ER was surrounded by Sunday sports fishers, there was no fishing observed in the ER. One sports fishing charter boat, white ~ 21 – 24’ long, came through Middle channel at high speed, heading towards Victoria.

There were Bigg’s Killer Whales (transients) in the area today and we watched as a large male, possibly T103, made his way from Church Island, through Race Passage and on towards Constance Bank, with a bevy of whale watching boats. Five of those boats also passed through the Ecological Reserve

A branded, male Steller’s Sealion was noted today, hauled out on South Islands. He was branded 603R, as a pup in July 2007, at Rogue Reef in southern Oregon. That makes him 8 years old this summer.

Steller’s Sealion # 603R is an eight year old male branded in Oregon, near the California border.

Bald Eagles continue to attack the geese, the Black Oystercatchers continue to gang up on the Raven that may be up to some tricky business with their unsheltered ‘nests’ and the Pigeon Guillemots are spending a lot of time on the jetty and ashore, practicing landing, taking off and walking around. The Glaucous-winged gulls are mating which is quite an acrobatic feat of balance and the Northern Elephant Seal moult is progressing quite fast in the larger animals.

Northern Elephant Seals hauled out near the desalination building.

As the moult progresses, the skin and fur peal off revealing a new, gray look.

There were no new visitors today and the work/maintenance was routine.