Thursday May 7th

Ecological Notes

Today was all about napping. Not for me, but for all the pinnipeds that hauled themselves out of the water to doze off. They deserve their rest! It is a perfect time to photograph them and look at the different species we can find on Race Rocks.

Elephant seal napping like a cartoon character!

California sea lion

California sea lions

Right now on Race Rocks, we find Northern Elephant seals, Harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and California sea lions. All of them are Pinniped, which means “fin-footed”, but they belong to different families!

True seals (Phocidae): Elephant seals and Harbor seals

These Pinnipeds have ear holes instead of external ears. This features makes their head look pretty smooth and uniform.

Northern Elephant seal (no ear flaps)

Their front flippers are on the shorter side and are more adapted to movement in the water than on land.

Harbor seals (rock sausages)

Eared seals (Otariidae): Steller and California sea lions

These Pinnipeds have external ear flaps (I call them Shrek ears!).

Steller sea lion

Sea lions have long front flippers that are bent at a right angle, definitely a big tell! This features contributes to their surprising agility on land.

California sea lion – bent front flippers

California sea lion, using his agility to go take a nap

The day ended with a lovely sunset!

Facility work

• Fence check
• Keeper’s house windows washed
• Desalinator run
• Solar panels wash
• Salinity testing
• Firewood: kindling
• Generator check

DND Event

5 blasts were heard today

Weather Events

⋄ Wind (kts): max 19.8
⋄ Overcast in the morning, sunny afternoon with shifts
⋄ Air temp (°C): min 9.5, max 13.5
⋄ Sea state: moderate

NB: All pictures were taken with a telephoto lens, which makes distant objects appear closer. All animals were photographed at a respectful and reglementary distance.