Author Archives: Carol and Mike Slater

here’s an idea: don’t give a tour in thick fog.

Posted on by
Friday, August 09, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 20.0 C Min. 10.5 C  Reset 16.2 C
MARINE LIFE: The Canadian Geese returned again today, still without the one adult. I first heard the one adult honking and then looked up to see the 6 geese near Mike and Carol’s home. Orcas may very well have gone by the reserve today, but with the fog followed by glare on the waves throughout the day, I could only see a lot of boat traffic.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 34 tour boats through the reserve today, many boats toured the reserve early today in the thick fog. With visibility severely limited, many pushed too close to the islands under current regulations. As well, with so many boats and so little visibility, some tight maneuvering on the part of some parties to get out of the way of others was needed… here’s an idea: don’t give a tour in thick fog. At a quarter to 4 one tour zodiac decided to disregard the no-wake regulation and sped past Great Race, an unfortunate incident not repeated by other tour boats today.
posted by Ryan Murphy at 7:19 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Partly Obscured Vis. 10 Miles – South East To West 1/2 Mile Fog  Wind West 23 Knots  Sea 3 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:29 AM

Aug 3-Aug 7

Posted on by

Wednesday, August 07, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.0 �C �� Min. 10.5 �C �� Reset 13.5 �C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy �� Vis 15 Miles �� Wind West 15 Knots �� Sea 1 Foot Chop

posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:02 AM

Tuesday, August 06, 2002 Good Evening

TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.8 �C �� Min. 10.5 �C �� Reset 15.0 �C �� Rain 0.4 mm
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:10 PMGood Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind West 20 Knots �� Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:17 AM
Monday, August 05, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.9 �C �� Min. 11.0 �C �� Reset 13.0 �C �� Rain 0.4 mm
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 17 ecotour boats and 8 pleasure craft through the reserve today, also Ryan in the college Zodiac.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:43 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER:Sky Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind North West 3 Knots �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:53 AM

Sunday, August 04, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.2 �C �� Min. 11.1 �C �� Reset 13.3 �C �� Rain 4.0 mm
MARINE LIFE: Heard a group of California sealions just after 2 a.m. this morning, three were hauled out on the southeast rocks until just after 7 a.m.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 53 ecotour boats and 13 pleasure craft though the reserve today!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:23 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast �� Vis. 12 Miles Light Rain Showers �� Wind South West 9 Knots �� Sea Rippled – 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:41 AM
Saturday, August 03, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.1 �C �� Min. 10.3 �C �� Reset 12.9 �C
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 21 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:41 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind West 14 Knots �� Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:11 AM

15 harbour seals and their pups

Posted on by
Friday, August 02, 2002
Good Evening:
TEMPERATURE: Max. 17.0 C Min.11.1 C  Reset 14.0 C
MARINE LIFE: The elephant seal hauled out on the boat ramp early this morning for a couple of hours then returned to the area near Middle Rock.The east bay was a favourite today with about 15 harbour seals and their pups. The mothers and pups that frequent the dock area did not show up until around noon, I think they avoid the elephant seals especially with the pups still quite small.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Ryan and Alex were out in the Hyaku. There were also 6 ecotour boats and 7 pleasure craft through the reserve.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:59 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy , Vis 15 Miles ,Wind West 17 Knots , Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:51 AM
Thursday, August 01, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 19.0  C   Min. 10.0  C  Reset 14.7  C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:16 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  ,  Vis. 15 Miles   Wind South West 4 Knots   Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:53 AM

fixed the fog horn

Posted on by
Wednesday, July 24, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.3 C  Min. 10.3 C Reset 12.3 C
MARINE LIFE:Well what a change in the weather, the fog and moderate westerlies is a nice relief from the heat.The Coast Guard came out in the sea truck with someone to fix the fog horn which failed last night – it was strange to be in the fog and no horn sounding! Well the geese spent the afternoon perfecting their landing skills, with the 25+ knt wind getting airborne was the easy part, we will miss them but in a way glad to see them spread their wings and move on to greener pastures.There are 6 harbour seals with pups that haul out each night, some on the boat ramp and others on various rocks on either side of the dock. The past couple of nights we can hear pups calling out for their mothers which are most likely out feeding, it’s a rather mournful sound but in most cases the pups are not left all that long.
HUMAN INTERACTION: The Coast Guard sea truck made 2 trips from Victoria to service the fog horn. There were 3 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:43 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Obscured  Vis 3 – 5 Miles Fog  Wind West 27 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate With Low South West Swell

posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:17 AM

as soon as the eagle is spotted the gulls start squawking and the chicks head for cover

Posted on by
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 25.1 C  Min. 11.3 C  Reset 13.3 C
MARINE LIFE: Wow it sure is hot, feel sorry for the birds, especially the gull chicks, they sit with beaks open and pant.They are getting too big now to get any shelter under an adults wing so they crowd into any rock crevice close by. The geese cool off several times during the day with a swim along the north shore and if the currants are not too strong they go half way around Gr. Race. Once this morning and again 3 times in the late afternoon a mature Bald Eagle tried to hunt the Race but the gulls drove it back each time – as soon as the eagle is spotted the gulls start squawking and the chicks head for cover, the adults all take to the air with a smaller group breaking off to dive at the eagle which they will do until another group takes a turn.With the eagle chased far enough away the gulls settle down and all is quiet until the next time.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 5 pleasure craft, 2 ecotour boats today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:03 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 5 Knots Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:25 AM

Another hot day with the birds panting and the chicks seeking any shade they can find

Posted on by

Monday, July 22, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 25.0 C  MIN. 10.9 C  Reset 23.1 C
MARINE LIFE: Another hot day with the birds panting and the chicks seeking any shade they can find be it under an adult or next to a rock. Not only do they get the heat from the sun above, the rocks they sit on heat up and retain that heat long into the night.Again no wind in the evening to cool things down. The geese spent most of the day following the shade around the buildings,also went swiming twice this afternoon. Still not flying but a lot of wing flapping in preparation, will be interesting to see that first try.The California sealion spent most of the day hauled out on the southeast rocks with quick dips in the sea every couple of hours and still hearing at least one elephant seal during the night down by the dock.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 13 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:06 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind South East 3 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:06 AM

The was a lot of boat traffic, mostly recreational fishers, in the area all day

Posted on by

 

Sunday, July 21, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 23.0 C  Min. 10.3 C  Reset 14.5 C
MARINE LIFE:The Orca were in the area again today and with the boat from Marine Mammal monitoring the whale watchers, things seemed well under control. Did hear some boat operators report sightings of a couple of Minke Whales but did not see anything in or near the reserve. A couple of transient Orcas passed through just on the southern boundary in the afternoon, they seemed to be moving fairly steady pace. The was a lot of boat traffic, mostly recreational fishers, in the area all day. One California and one Northern sealion hauled out on the south tip of the southeast rocks, unfortunately a rental boat from a marina moved in too close and sent them into the water. Ryan who had a group out for a tour in the Hyaku went along side and informed the sightseers of the guidelines. Feel sorry for the birds in this hot weather,they all sit around with their beaks open, panting – didn’t even get the evening westerly we look forward to cool things down.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 23 ecotour boats and 11 pleasure craft through today,also the Hyaku, M3 and station boat to Pedder Bay and Back
posted by Carol or Mike S at 8:17 PM

Good Morning

WEATHER: Sky Clear �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind North East 8 Knots �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 4:59 AM

37 ecotour boats through the reserve

Posted on by
Friday, July 19, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 17.1 C  Min. 11.2 C  Reset 13.5
MARINE LIFE: There are a fair number of gull chicks surviving inspite of the relentless attempts to hunt by the eagles during the day and the otter which continues to make the nightly tour of the island.The young geese are doing a lot of wing flapping, building the muscles they will need to fly off, soon we hope, as the food situation is not the best for them now.The Orcas were in the area again today but did not come through the reserve, they were heading west and spent some time in the mouth of Pedder Bay, feeding in the kelp beds there although it was hard to tell as the wind was blowing 20-25 knts. and the sea quite choppy. There was the usual flotilla following along, included in the group was the inflatable from the Marine Mammal Monitoring program which had to stop one pleasure craft and advise them of the whale watching guidelines.The pleasure craft was traveling in the path of the whales either unaware or in spite of the presence of the mammals.
HUMAN INTERACTION: there were 37 ecotour boats through the reserve and 5 pleasure craft. The station boat made a trip to Pedder Bay and back.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 10:02 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 19 Knots  Sea 2 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:25 AM

fog rolled in this morning

Posted on by

Saturday, July 20, 2002 Good Evening

TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.1 C  Min. 10.2 C  Reset 12.3 C
MARINE LIFE: The fog rolled in this morning and really didn’t disperse until after 17:00 when the afternoon westerly got the air moving, so mostly only able to hear what was going on around us.There were no eagles today, the birds were fairly quiet. The chatter on the VHF radio alerted us to the Orca passing by again but they were traveling outside the reserve and because of the fog didn’t even see any of the whale watching boats- did hear a few – there were a few times that the fog lifted a bit, counted 5 Ecotour boats and later in the day there were 2 pleasure craft through the reserve.The past few nights the moon has been especially beautiful, because it is so low in the sky this time of year it looks unusually large.It is also very orange, I wonder if the smoke from all the forrest fires has anything to do with the colouring.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis 8 Miles Wind West 13 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:20 AM

Kayakers approach so quietly they can startle the wildlife-

Posted on by
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.1 C  10.7 C  Reset 14.3 C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles Wind South West 10 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:03 AM
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.0 C  Min. 11.0 C Reset 12.1 C  Rain tr
MARINE LIFE: Was nice for a change not to have the wind today,don’t mind the clouds, certainly good weather for the chicks- not too hot.The food supply seems to be holding out see lots of nice fresh fish being brought back by the gulls and everywhere you look Pigeon Guillemots returning with blennies. Some of the gulls are going quite a distance at times judging by the clam shells rolling off the roof ! They drop the clams onto roof and the sidewalks to break them open,quite noisey and very messy.
HUMAN INTERACTION: The Hyaku was in this morning,Ryan brought some mail and supplies from the college Ryan brought a group through the reserve in 2nd Nature in the afternoon but did not come ashore. This morning there were a couple of kayakers through and unfortunately they ignored the guidelines with respect to staying the proper distance from shore. This time of the year it is particularly important to follow the guidelines so as not to interfere with feeding birds and harbour seals with pups and those about to give birth.The noise from power boats at least give fair warning but kayakers approach so quietly they can startle the wildlife-please remember maintain at least 100 metres from any marine animal or bird and back off at the first sign of disturbance or agitation.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:35 PM
Good Mornng
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis 15 Miles  Wind West South West 15 Knots Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:01 AM