Wind: yesterday variable 0-17 knots, today variable 0-22 knots
Sea State: both days rippled
Visibility: both days 15 NM
Sky: yesterday partly cloudy, today clear
Temperature: both days 5-10 °C
Atmospheric CO2: 416.03 ppm (recorded by NOAA at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii)
Yesterday morning, I noticed a pod of at least six orcas on the western edge of the ecological reserve. They swam east through Middle Channel, passing just north of the main island. What a treat it was for me to watch them from the front porch. See the photos below.
The older of the two female pups has been gone for the whole day. She left the island at some point early this morning. It’s been 14 days since the oldest of the three surviving pups left the island. Perhaps the pup who left today is following the strict schedule, as she is 14 day younger than the male pup who left 14 days ago.
Today, there were three boats in the ecological reserve: two pleasure craft and one local whale watching boat with two people on board.
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This gull managed to snatch an egg from a goose nest -
The large dorsal fin of a male orca and a smaller female. -
A younger male orca swims by two california sea lions. -
Orcas swimming by a juvenile bald eagle. The shorelines of Esquimalt and Victoria are in the background. -
The older of the female pups was resting on this spot above the goose nest for two days, before she went for a swim at some point this morning. Notice the calendula flower in her mouth. -
This tulip, surrounded by grape hyacinth is taking its time to blossom. -
Blue bells are starting to appear in a few place. -
The juvenile elephant seal scared away the goose from this nest with two eggs. The goose came back after the seal left.
