Time is flying by here! Nothing too wild to report today, the weather is definitely getting warmer and the solar panels are working hard. See below for more details!

March 13th Census:

Birds

• Harlequin duck: 13
• Bald eagle adult: 5
• Bald eagle juvenile: 1
• Turnstones: 16
• Gulls, Glaucous and Western: 130
• Cormorants: 27
• Pigeon Guillemots: 86
• Oyster catcher: 21
• Canadian goose: 11
• Surf Birds: 8

 

Mammals

• Steller sea lion: 23
• Harbour seal: 40
• California sea lion: 27
• Elephant seal male: 1
• Sea otter: 1 (+ additional sighted March 11th)
• Animal Tracking and Injuries: 
  • Injuries: Steller sea lion with head wound (see photo) 
  • Tracking: California sea lion with small red flipper tag, no numbers or markings on tag

 

Ecological Notes:

–          Two sea otters observed near the South Island on the morning of March 11^th. One was larger with a dark face, the second appeared to be young with blonde cheeks and lacking the nose scar that Ollie is known for. Watched them both for 3-4 hours, they were eating urchins, crab, grooming, and exhibiting other common sea otter behaviours.

–          Still just one male elephant seal on the rocks. Female was reported on Middle Rock by an ecotourism vessel.

Visitors:

• Greg to drop off supplies

Facility Work:

• Gardening/weeding

• Repaired some gaps in the electric fence
• Full clean inside keeper’s house (on bad weather day)

Noted Vessel Traffic:

• Ecotourism vessels, the same 2-3 seem to pass by each day

• Wednesday, March 13:
  • Sky: Blue sky with some clouds 
  • Wind: Low of WNW 4 knots with high of WSW 18 knots
  • Sea: Relatively calm today 
  • Temperature: Low 6^oC, High 9^oC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?