the August 26 edition of The Victoria Times Colonist included this article on page A4.
Author Archives: Garry Fletcher
Brodiaea coronaria : harvest brodiaea
Ecoguardian Christine Chourmouzis identified this new plant at Race Rocks on June 7, 2026. She wrote: Two tiny harvest brodiaea (crown brodiaea) about 5cm tall were found on the rocks west of the Student Building. It is a native plant not yet found on Race Rocks. The closest sighting I could find was by the famous botanist Adolf Ceska on the shore across Race Passage in the 1985. It grows from southern BC to California on dry grassy sites or rock bluffs and has traditionally been harvested for its small, nutty flavoured corm which can be eaten raw or cooked.
An interesting story about taxonomists who disagreed on the name can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodiaea#Nomenclature
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Brodiaeoideae |
| Genus: | Brodiaea |
| Species: |
B. coronaria
|
| Binomial name | |
|---|---|
| Brodiaea coronaria | |
Other Angiosperms at Race Rocks.
 Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomyand Image File |
 The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. |
Warden’s Report for Race Rocks Ecological Reserve #97 Sept 5 2025
On September 5 , I was able to get transportation to Race Rocks for Guillaume Roy and his father Réjean Roy The photos in the gallery presented here were taken by Réjean. Along with me was former Pearson College student Brian Nainee who had been an active diver with the college here at Race Rocks in 1980. Richard from Pearson College drove us out along with a group of marine Biology students.
It is always good to look at the Ecological Reserve through the eyes of a visitor who is seeing it for the first time, so the following gallery of photos has been provided by Réjean Roy
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- Leaving the docks at Pearson College
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- California Sea lion
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- congestion on the walkway
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- Gullaume, Garry, Ian Waugh the ecoguardian ,and Brian Nainee
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- helcopter pad now a nice flat haulout space
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- standing on guard at rhe base of the tower … the gulls must have heard there were rumblings across the Strait
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- south rocks
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- from the tower
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- Return to Pearson College
Race Rocks Tidal Current Generator at Museum of Technology
In the summer of2025 Alex Fletcher and his son Yanou visited the Museum of Technology in Ottawa. They encountered the Tidal Current generator that was installed at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve in 2006.
https://racerocks.ca/tidal-current-energy-project-at-race-rocks-2006-2011/
Yanou at the base of the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Tidal Current Turbine
From the website. https://collection.ingenium.ca/en/id/2012.0055.001/
The Clean Current technology is an example of a ducted horizontal axis turbine designed for ocean tides and salt water. It is bi-directional (designed for the ebb and flood tides) and highly efficient. It is very simple in design with one moving part, the rotor assembly that contains the blades. There is no driveshaft or gearbox. Clean Current’s direct drive variable speed permanent magnet generator incorporates features that allow the generator to be configured to produce either alternating or direct current.
Sealion observations by Ecoguardian Ian Waugh
Race Rocks ER #97 Warden’s Report May 2025
Ecological Reserve warden Garry Fletcher went out to Race Rocks in May 2025 with Laurag Verhegge and Isabelle Groc on the new Pearson College Boat with College staff Richard Taggart and Mike White and electrician Jordan Cole, who was going out to test and repair corroded attachments on some of the solar panels.
At the mouth of Pedder Bay near the small island on the north side we came across a sea otter foraging for crabs. This was a great opportunity for Isabelle to get some good photos for her project she is doing on Sea Otters.
On our arrival at the Ecological Reserve, we were greeted at the jetty by the Ecoguardian hired by Lester Pearson College, Christine Chourmouzis. Christine will be there through the next few weeks in July. I might add that I have appreciated her excellent coverage of events at Race Rocks in this log for this website, and she has been an effective warden in looking after the operations on the island.
Isabelle Groc and Pearson College Marine Biology teacher Laura Verhegge
One female elephant summer has stayed on the island for the summer, normally they have all left by now and return later in the year. She is moulting now. One photogenic California Sea lion also greeted us on arrival.
Christine has also discovered several new plant species on the island. She showed these to me and I have posted them on iNaturalist where they can be seen. Eventually they will get their own page in the Biodiversity section here.
I was not able to find any Romanzoffia or mist maidens in one of their usual spots but the long ago introduced Turkish gladiolus has spread to a few new locations East of the Ecoguardians residence.
The Glaucous winged gulls were in full nesting mode and one aggressive adult even knocked my hat off while I was on a sidewalk.
One nest contained eggs of different colours. I am am not sure if that is normal.
Some records are not being recorded on the Davis weather instrument and after a full cleaning some sensors are still not recording so we are looking into that.
We will be asking BC Parks for a replacement of the ER sign. It has withstood the harsh environment for a good length of time now but is showing wear and missing one section.
Christine did the seawater measurements while we were there. A probe is lowered of the end of the jetty to a meter depth every day at the time of the maximum flooding current. These records are submitted monthly to the Institute of Ocean Sciences at Pat Bay. This link provides the seawater records for past months .
https://racerocks,ca/tag/seawater-data/
One of the ecotourism boats passed by while we were there. In a past agreement made with the ecotourism companies and BC Parks, boats are required to stay in the center of the channel in order to comply with regulations for marine mammal viewing .
I noticed that the concrete and wood refuse left in piles from previous construction and repair work that was supposed to be taken off the island by a BC Parks vessel are still there after many reminders by Pearson College staff.
Past warden’s reports are at this link
https://racerocks.ca/category/er-warden-report/
BIRD LIST – Race Rocks Ecological Reserve
The following Bird List for Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was reorganized by Ernie Chang of Metchosin, BC. in November 2024 in order to have the correct AOU NACC order and to add observations recorded in iNaturalist. The Race Rocks species list and image gallery with all species recorded in the Ecological Reserve is the source of the Race Rocks List.
| Race Rocks List (in AOU NACC order) | iNaturalist list (link to gallery) |
| Order Anseriformes: geese and ducks: | |
| Chen caerulescens (Lesser Snow goose) | |
| Anser albifrons (Greater white-fronted Goose) | Anser albifrons – 1 (Greater White-Fronted Goose) |
| Branta bernicla (Black Brant Goose): | Branta bernicla – 1 (Black Brant) |
| Branta hutchinsii (Cackling Goose): | Branta hutchinsii – 1 (Cackling Goose) |
| Branta canadensi (Canada Goose): | Branta Canadensis – 18 (Canada Goose) |
| Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard): | Anas platyrhynchos – 1 (Mallard) |
| Anas carolinensis (Green-winged Teal): | Anas crecca carolinensis – 1 (American Green-winged Teal) |
| Histrionicus histrionicus (Harlequin duck) | Histrionicus histrionicus – 8 (Harlequin Duck) |
| Melanitta perspicillata ( surf scoter) | Melanitta perspicillata – 1 (Surf Scoter) |
| Bucephala albeola (Bufflehead) | Bucephala albeola – 1 (Bufflehead) |
| Mergus merganser (Common merganser) | Mergus merganser – 1 (Common Merganser) |
| Order Podicipediformes: grebes: | |
| Aechmophorus occidentalis (Western Grebe): | Aechmophorus occidentalis – 1 (Western Grebe) |
| Order Columbiformes: doves: | |
| Columba livia (Rock Dove): | Columba livia domestica (Feral Pigeon) |
| Order Charadriiformes: other shore&seabirds | |
| Haematopus bachmani (Black oystercatcher): | Haematopus bachmani – 19 (Black Oystercatcher) |
| Pluvialis squatarola (Black-bellied Plover): | Pluvialis squatarola – 1 (Black-bellied Plover) |
| Pluvialis dominica (American Golden Plover): | Pluvialis dominica – 1 (American Golden-Plover) |
| Charadrius vociferus (Kildeer): | Charadrius vociferus – 1 (Killdeer) |
| Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel): | Numenius phaeopus – 1 (Whimbrel) |
| Limosa fedoa (Marbled godwit) | Limosa fedoa – 1 (Marbled Godwit) |
| Arenaria interpret (Ruddy turnstone): | Arenaria interpres – 1 (Ruddy Turnstone) |
| Arenaria melanocephala (Black turnstone): | Arenaria melanocephala – 19 (Black Turnstone) |
| Calidris canutus (Red Knot): | Calidris canutus – 1 (Red Knot) |
| Aphriza virgata (Surfbird): | Calidris virgata – 5 (Surfbird) |
| Calidris alba (Sanderling): | Calidris alba – 2 (Sanderling) |
| Calidris alpina (Dunlin) | Calidris alpina – 4 (Dunlin) |
| Calidris ptilocnemis (Rock sandpiper): | Calidris ptilocnemis – 1 (Rock Sandpiper) |
| Calidris minutillam (Least sandpiper): | Calidris minutilla – 1 (Least Sandpiper) |
| Calidris mauri (Western sandpiper): | Calidris mauri – 2 (Western Sandpiper) |
| Limnodromus griseus (Short-billed Dowitcher): | Limnodromus griseus – 2 (Short-billed Dowitcher) |
| Actitis macularius (Spotted Sandpiper): | Actitis macularius – 1 (Spotted Sandpiper) |
| Tringa incana (Wandering Tattler): | Tringa incana – 1 (Chevalier errant) |
| Tringa melanoleuca (Greater Yellowlegs): | Tringa melanoleuca – 1 (Greater Yellowlegs) |
| Phalaropus lobatus (Red-necked Phalarope): | Phalaropus lobatus – 4 (Red-necked Phalarope) |
| Phalaropus fulicarius ( Red Phalarope): | Phalaropus fulicarius – 1 (Red Phalarope) |
| Order Charadriiformes: Stercorarius Jaegers | |
| Stercorarius pomarinus – 1 (Pomarine Jaeger) | |
| Order Charadriiformes: Alcidae | |
| Uria aalge (Common Murre): | Uria aalge – 9 (Common Murre) |
| Cepphus columba (Pigeon Guillemot): | Cepphus columba – 36 (Pigeon Guillemot) |
| Brachyramphus marmoratus (Marbled Murrelet ): | Brachyramphus marmoratus – 1 (Marbled Murrelet) |
| Synthliboramphus antiquus (Ancient Murrelet): | Synthliboramphus antiquus – 1 (Ancient Murrelet) |
| Cerorhinca monocerata (Rhinocerous Auklet): | Cerorhinca monocerata – 3 (Rhinoceros Auklet) |
| Order Charadriiformes: Larinae: gulls: | |
| Xema sabini – 1 (Sabine’s Gull) | |
| Larus philadelphia (Bonapartes gull): | Chroicocephalus philadelphia – 1 (Bonaparte’s Gull) |
| Larus heermanni (Heermann’s Gull): | Larus heermanni – 14 (Heermann’s Gull) |
| Larus canis (Mew gull): | Larus brachyrhynchus – 1 (Short-billed Gull) |
| Larus occidentalis (Western gull): | Larus occidentalis – 2 (Western Gull) |
| Larus californicus (Califiornia Gull): | Larus californicus – 6 (California Gull) |
| Larus argentatus – 1(EuropeanHerring Gull) | |
| Larus glaucescens (Glaucous-winged gull): | Larus glaucescens – 13 (Glaucous-winged Gull) |
| Larus hyperbolus (Glaucous gull): | Larus hyperboreus – 1 (Glaucous Gull) |
| Larus thayeri (Thayer’s gull): | Larus glaucoides thayeri – 3 (Thayer’s Gull) |
| Rissa tridactyla (Black-legged Kittiwake): | Rissa tridactyla – 1 (Black-legged Kittiwake) |
| Larus galucesens x occidentalis -1 (Olympic Gull) | |
| Order Charadriiformes: terns | |
| Hydroprogne caspia(Caspian Tern): | Hydroprogne caspia – 1 (Caspian Tern) |
| Sterna paradisaea – 1 (Arctic Tern) | |
| Order Gaviformes: Loons | |
| Gavia pacifica (Pacific Loon) | Gavia pacifica – 2 (Pacific Loon) |
| Order Procellariiformes: albatrosses,shearwaters: | |
| Phoebastria mutabilis (Laysan Albatross): | |
| Ardenna tenuirostris (Short-tailed Shearwater) | Ardenna tenuirostris – 2 (Short-tailed Shearwater) |
| Order Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae cormorants | |
| Phalacrocorax penicilatu (Brandt’s Cormorant): | Urile penicillatus – 18 (Brandt’s Cormorant) |
| Phalacrocorax pelagicus (Pelagic Cormorant): | Urile pelagicus – 9 (Pelagic Cormorant) |
| Phalacrocorax auritas (Double Crested Cormorant): | Nannopterum auritum – 5 (Double-crested Cormorant) |
| Order Pelecaniformes: Pelicans and Herons | |
| Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown pelican): | Pelecanus occidentalis – 5 (Brown Pelican) |
| Ardea herodia (Great Blue Heron): | Ardea herodias – 1 (Great Blue Heron) |
| Order Cathartiformes: Vultures | |
| Cathartes aura (Turkey Vulture): | |
| Order Acciptriformes: hawks and eagles: | |
| Pandion haliaetus (Osprey): | Pandion haliaetus – 1 (Osprey) |
| Haliacetus leucocepfalus (Bald eagle): | Haliaeetus leucocephalus – 34 (Bald Eagle) |
| Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk): | Buteo jamaicensis calurus – 1 (Western Red-tailed Hawk) |
| Order Strigiformes: owls: | |
| Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl): | Bubo virginianus – 1 (Great Horned Owl) |
| Bubo scandiacus (Snowy Owl): | Bubo scandiacus – 1 (Snowy Owl) |
| Strix varia (Barred Owl): | Strix varia – 1 (Barred Owl) |
| Aegolius funereus (Boreal Owl): | Aegolius funereus – 1 (Boreal Owl) |
| Order: Coraciiformes | |
| Megaceryle alcyon ( Belted Kingfisher): | |
| Order Falconiformes: falcons: | |
| Falco peregrinus (Peregrine falcon): | |
| Order Passeriformes: corvidae | |
| Corvus caurinus (North Western Crow): | Corvus brachyrhynchos caurinus – 1 (Northwestern Crow) |
| Corvus corax (Common Raven): | Corvus corax – 1 (Common Raven) |
| Order Passeriformes: Alaudidae | |
| Eremophila alpestris (Horned lark): | Eremophila alpestris – 1 (Horned Lark) |
| Order Passeriformes: Hirundinidae | |
| Progne subis (Purple martin): | |
| Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow): | Hirundo rustica – 1 (Barn Swallow) |
| Order Passeriformes: Regulidae | |
| Regulus satrapa (Golden-crowned kinglet): | Regulus satrapa – 1 (Golden-crowned Kinglet) |
| Order Passeriformes: Troglodytidae | |
| Troglodytes pacificus (Pacific wren): | Troglodytes pacificus – 2 (Pacific Wren) |
| Order Passeriformes: Sturnidae | |
| Sturnus vulgaris (European Starling): | |
| Order Passeriformes: Turdidae | |
| Turdus migratorius (American Robin): | Turdus migratorius – 1 (American Robin) |
| Order Passeriformes: Motacilladea | |
| Anthus rubescens (American Pipit): | Anthus rubescens – 1 (American Pipit) |
| Order Passeriformes: Fringillidae | |
| Spinus tritis (American Goldfinch) | Spinus tristis – 1 (American Goldfinch) |
| Order Passeriformes: Calcaridae | |
| Calcarius lapponicus (Lapland Longspur): | Calcarius lapponicus – 1 (Lapland Longspur) |
| Plectrophenax nivalis (Snow Bunting): | Plectrophenax nivalis – 1 (Snow Bunting) |
| Order Passeriformes: Passerellidae sparrows | |
| Junco hyemalis (Oregon Junco): | Junco hyemalis – 1 (Dark-eyed Junco) |
| Passerella iliaca (Fox Sparrow): | Passerella iliaca – 1 (Fox Sparrow) |
| Zonotricha atricapilla (Golden-crowned sparrow): | Zonotrichia atricapilla – 1 (Golden-crowned Sparrow) |
| Passerculus sandwichensis (Savannah sparrow): | Passerculus sandwichensis – 1 (Savannah Sparrow) |
| Passer domesticus (House Sparrow): | Passer domesticus – 1 (House Sparrow) |
| Melospiza melodia (Song Sparrow): | |
| Order Passeriformes: Icteridae | |
| Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Yellow-headed blackbird) | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus – 1 (Yellow-headed Blackbird) |
| Agelaius phoeniceus (Red-winged blackbird) | Agelaius phoeniceus – 1 (Red-winged Blackbird) |
| Molothrus ater (Brown-headed cowbird): | |
| Order Passeriformes: Parulidae | |
| Dendroica coronata (Audubon’s yellow-rumped warbler): | Setophaga coronata – 1 (Yellow-rumped Warbler) |
| Setophaga townsendi (Townsend’s warbler) | Setophaga townsendi – 1 (Townsend’s Warbler) |
| Now if anyone wants to volunteer to do the same with the other Chordates, the invertebrates, algae and fungi on the Race Rocks Taxonomy , examine iNaturalist records for other Ecological Reserves, Ernie Chang has produced this handbook: https://ecoreserves.bc.ca/2024/11/29/using-ecoreserves-of-bc-umbrella-for-birds/ |
Animal Census November 25 2024
| RR Ecoreserve ANIMAL CENSUS . recorded by Derek Sterling |
||||
| 2024-11-25 | 2024-12-18 | 2024-12-25 | ||
| Elephant Seal(male) | ||||
| Elephant seal (female) | 1 | |||
| Steller’s Sea Lion | 289 | |||
| California Sea Lion | 263 | |||
| Harbour Seal | 23 | |||
| Sea Otter | ||||
| Orca | ||||
| Humpback | 3 | |||
| Gray Whale | ||||
| Species 1 | ||||
| Species 2 | ||||
| Species 3 | ||||
| Canada Geese | 27 | |||
| Harlequin Duck | 4 | |||
| Black Oystercatcher | 12 | |||
| Black Turnstone | 28 | |||
| Surfbird | ||||
| Whimbrel | ||||
| Killdeer | 3 | |||
| Dunlin | ||||
| Black-bellied Plover | ||||
| Ruddy Turnstone | ||||
| Species 1 | ||||
| Species 2 | ||||
| Species 3 | ||||
| Species 4 | ||||
| Pigeon Guillemot | ||||
| Common Murre | ||||
| Rhinoceros Auklet | ||||
| Species 1 | ||||
| Species 2 | ||||
| Species 3 | ||||
| Species 4 | ||||
| Glaucous Winged Gull | ||||
| Western Gull | ||||
| Glaucous X Western Gull Hybrid | ||||
| Iceland(Thayer’s) Gull | ||||
| Heerman’s Gull | ||||
| California Gull | ||||
| Short-billed Gull | ||||
| Gull Species unknown | 226 | |||
| Gull Species 2 | ||||
| Gull Species 3 | ||||
| Cormorant total | ||||
| Brandt’s Cormorant | ||||
| Double-Crested Cormorant | ||||
| Cormorant species unknown | 283 | |||
| Pelagic Cormorant | ||||
| Pelican | ||||
| Great Blue Heron | ||||
| Bald Eagle Juvenile | 4 | |||
| Bald Eagle Adult | 6 | |||
| Peregrine Falcon | ||||
| Raptor Species 1 | ||||
| Raptor Species 2 | ||||
| Raptor Species 3 | ||||
| Western Crow | ||||
| Raven | ||||
| Purple Martin | ||||
| Barn Swallow | ||||
| Pacific Wren | ||||
| Savannah Sparrow | ||||
| Fox Sparrow | ||||
| Species 1 | ||||
| Species 2 | ||||
| Species 3 | ||||
| Species 4 | ||||
| Other Species 1 | ||||
| Other Species 2 | ||||
| Other Species 3 | ||||
in addition to the “Regular” birds i saw large flocks (up to about 70 birds each) of Black Oyster Catchers and Black turnstones.
- Animal Tracking and Injuries:
- 1 California Sea Lion identified as “Tuck” disentangled last year at Race Rocks…. still has a large open wound on the back of his neck, but it is quite well healed compared to the original injury
Entangled Sea lion Rescued at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve
The following article from the Victoria Times Colonist with a video of an interview with Dr. Martin Haulena of the Vancouver Aquarium appeared in the Times Colonist on October 29 2024, concerning the rescue of an entangled sea lion at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve:
T.C. Article on Entangled Sealion Release
The following article from the Victoria Times Colonist with a video of an interview with Dr. Martin Haulena of the Vancouver Aquarium appeared in the Times Colonist on October 29 2024 concerning the rescue of an entangled sea lion at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve: