It’s been a great start to my stay here. The volunteers have been very helpful and it’s been fun to share stories of what we’ve each seen–and missed–on this tiny patch of land. The weather was awesome the last couple of days: Sunshine, perfectly calm water and little wind.

Ecological Notes:

The large elephant seal has been coming and going as he pleases, popping up in a variety of places around the island. Two young elephant seals have also been making their presence known, sometimes to the apparent displeasure of the alpha male.

Steller and California sea lion numbers are omnipresent now. An impressive fishing event took place just off the jetty on August 6.

Black Turnstones and Pigeon Guillemots continue in good numbers.  The turnstones are currently molting and many may depart once that process is complete.

A Short-billed Dowitcher was with the shorebirds at East Bay on Aug 6.

A few passerines are passing over the island frustratingly quickly and have not been identified. These are presumably migrating south.

Orcas were seen both August 6 and 7.

Weather:

Yesterday (Aug 6)

• Sky: Clear and sunny all day
• Wind: Variable calm-12kts
• Sea conditions: calm
• Temperature: Low 13 ^oC, High 22 ^oC

Today (Aug 7)

• Sky: Clear, except for fog that rolled in for about two hours in the morning
• Wind: Variable from ESE 3 to W 21 kts
• Sea conditions: calm to light ripple
• Temperature: Low 15 ^oC, High 27 ^oC

Visitors:

Volunteers Abi and Jeremias continue.

Facility Work:

Solar panels cleaned; electric fence checked and repaired as required. Generator was run to top up battery levels. Weedwhacking along the pathway.

Vessel Traffic:

Many Canadian and American ecotour boats have been nearby and heading through the waters of the ecological reserve. On August 6, this included two groups from the reunion at Pearson College. Boaters are reminded to keep speeds well down and to stay a good distance from all marine mammals. Fishing is prohibited within the reserve.

Two tugboats guided a large log boom towards Victoria on August 5 (I missed mentioning it in my last post.)  Possibly going to William Head Institute?

Here are photo highlights from the past two days. Click on the photos for larger views and captions.