Mammals:

• California sealion: 648 plus 22 on outer islets (Aug 30: 457  July 25:17)
• Stellar sealion: 261 plus 90 on outer islets (Aug 30: 205, July 25: 29)
• harbour seal: 24 (Aug 30: 136)
• humpback whales: 10 inside the reserve, many more outside

Birds:

• gulls: 581 plus 126 chicks (Aug 30 >2200 including chicks)
• cormorant: 316 (Aug 30: 73)
• black oystercatcher: 6
• pigeon guillemot: 1 (July 25: 234)
• black turnstone: 68
• surf bird: 4
• harlequin duck: 2
• song bird: 6

Notes on Census

Animals seen this week but not observed today include: Canada goose, bald eagle.

The humpback whale count may not be accurate as it is hard to know if the same whale is resighted. The humpbacks have been around every day this week but today was spectacular!  They were breaching and slap happy, slapping their pectoral fins and tails. These behaviours help reveal just how large they are! I am so sorry I can’t share a picture of this.  The camera is still in the shop.

The California and Stellar sea lions on Middle Island, Turbine Rock and North Island were difficult to distinguish. On these outer islands there were 112 sealions. I estimate about 80% are those are Stellar and 20% California.  In the past week the number of California sea lions went up by 40% (another 213 arrived) and Stellar’s went up by 70% (another 146 arrived).

Sea lions in the flats between the Jetty and East Beach. There is still dirt showing so there is room for more! There is so much guano our red roof appears almost white.

For last weeks census there were >2200 sea gulls. There were no visiting flocks seen on the outer shores or rocks today. The 581 gulls observed today likely represent the nesting gull parents on the island. A few weeks ago Eva counted 400 chicks. Of the 126 chicks left in the area, I would guess half of these are able to fly and could leave.  It is interesting to watch the parents run away from their nagging hungry chicks.  I saw one chase and hound its parent while both were floating in the water. The parents don’t guard the chicks as closely and the older chicks are allowed to socialize with each other.  Many of the chicks are strong flyers but they haven’t found their adult voices yet.  It is a bit surprising to hear the chick chirps and squeeks coming for a near full size bird over head.

Facility work

• Ran the generator for two hours in the am and the sun brought the batteries up to 100% by late afternoon
• Cleaned the solar panels
• Fence repair (several times!)
• Drilled more holes with the Hilti

Vessels

It was an incredibly busy day on the water

• Ecotourism: 26
• Dive boat: 1
• Private: 11

Weather

Amazing cloud developments on the distant shores, skies clear overhead.  Winds 1 to 11 knots, direction variable. Daytime temperatures 13 to 18 degrees.