Author Archives: Derek Sterling

High tides and winds

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Ecological Notes:

  • As noted previously, there was a drop in all animals and birds during/after the storm surge, but they are starting to return
  • No elephant seals have returned yet …. checking past blogs, this is not uncommon, but was still hoping there would be some here before I leave!

Facility Work:

  • In addition to weekly battery electrolyte top ups, cleaned the tops of the batteries and did an extra mop up of the floor
  • Due to heavy winds and rain from the north, and the old door still in place, the battery room flooded and needed a full mop out
  • After an initial clean out, debris is starting to fill the boat ramp area again. Many logs rolled right over the jetty!
  • Did a full strip down of the jetty electric fence for now

  • Sticking as close to the proper times as possible, daily salinity and temperature readings adjusted to get safely out onto the jetty

DND events:

  • One blast Monday morning

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • High winds kept boats out of the area

 

 Feature Event:

  •  As there are ongoing concerns about the battery readings, I’ve gone to a hybrid running pattern……. leaving the system on “Auto” to avoid shutoffs from sudden low voltage readings, but shutting off and switching to “Manual” when the batteries reach 100% to avoid extending float charges (sometimes as long as 4-5 hours extra.)
  • Consulting with  technicians on further adjustments and battery corrections

Weather Events:

  • Monday, December 16:
    • Sky:Bright overcast with small clear spots
    • Wind: N 20-25kts, dropping in the afternoon
    • Sea: rippled, wind against tide chop north of reserve
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC
  • Tuesday, December 17:
    • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast, mix of cloud and sun by afternoon
    • Wind:NE 5kts veering E to 35kts mid day, back to NE 10kts  by evening
    • Sea:  3 ft swells mid day, large swells rolling into the jetty area
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 9oC
  • Wednesday, December 18:
    • Sky:Clear overhead, some low cloud and mist in the distance,
    • Wind: W gusts to 50kts early morning,dropping over the day to 10kts
    • Sea:  2 ft chop, dropping to smooth by late afternoon
    • Temperature Low 8oC, High 12oC

 

 

** Any 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?

Race Rocks ANIMAL CENSUS Dec 16

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Race Rocks ANIMAL CENSUS
2024-11-25 2024-12-16* 2024-12-23
Elephant Seal(male)
Elephant seal (female) 1
Steller’s Sea Lion 289 310
California Sea Lion 263 243
Harbour Seal 23 10
Sea Otter
Orca 5 (3 days ago)
Humpback 3 2
Gray Whale
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Canada Geese 27 15
Harlequin Duck 4
Black Oystercatcher 12 18
Black Turnstone 228 37
Surfbird 3
Whimbrel
Killdeer 3 4
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 89
Gull Species 2
Gull Species 3
Cormorant total 147
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double-Crested Cormorant
Cormorant species unknown 228
Pelagic Cormorant
Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle Juvenile 6
Bald Eagle Adult 6 3
Peregrine Falcon
Raptor Species 1
Raptor Species 2
Raptor Species 3
Western Crow 3
Raven 2
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Pacific Wren
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
very fast, unable to get pic, wren size 4
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Other Species 1
Other Species 2
Other Species 3

* Numbers reflect taken after a large storm surge, animals and birds dissipated, just now returning

After the surge

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Ecological Notes:

  •  the sea lions have taken the jetty over…… most posts damaged by them and the weather. It will require a rebuild after this storm front
  • Storm surge, combined with high tides have resulted in the jetty being totally awash with both water and logs
  • Sea Lions have scattered around the rest of the island, moving around based on wind and swell direction
  • Many birds left the reserve during the surge and took a day or 2 to return
  • Sill a couple Humpbacks viewable from the reserve

Facility Work:

  • as usual, repair fencing after last storm surge
  • Fuel transfers

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Only a couple Eco-tourism vessels noted

 Feature Event:

  •  Good news/bad news …. the storm surge and high tides removed all the debris from the ramp and jetty area, but also removed the good firewood logs that were there as well!

Weather Events:

  • Friday, December 13:
    • Sky: Overcast with light rain showers
    • Wind: S SE 10-15kts rising to ESE in the evening
    • Sea: Swell to 3 ft
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC
  • Saturday, December 14:
    • Sky: Overcast with low lying haze to the south,  light rain in the morning, becoming heavy squalls by afternoon
    • Wind: Gusting ESE to 35kts early in the morning, dropping to S 5kts by noon
    • Sea:  2 ft swells creating surge and wash from the NE
    • Temperature Low 3oC, High 8oC
  • Sunday, December 15:
    • Sky: mostly clear with occasional cloud
    • Wind: NNE to ENE 5-10kts, rising to 20kts late evening
    • Sea:  low swell lots of standing waves in the reserve
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 10oC

 

 

** 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?

unplanned break

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I took ill last week, and left the reserve for 4 days. The generator system was set to auto, and the island was visited once to do a fuel drop off and top up the generator tank.

 

Ecological Notes:

  • Although i reported little disturbance during the DND blasting, the last day was larger blasts on the southern most point, the by the next day, virtually all the Steller Seas Lions that have been hauling out on the north side of the main rock (next to the pier) have moved to the southern side of the main rock
  • Lots of juvenile and adult Bald Eagles visit each morning, actively chasing birds, while still scanning the sea for fish

Facility Work:

  • While eco-guardian was away, the generator was run on Auto. It manages the batteries differently that way, and we will analyze the results.
  • Fuel delivery to the island, transfer and topping up of the gen tank

DND events:

  • some blasting early in the cycle

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Ecotourism and private vessels

Weather Events:

  • Friday, December 06:
    • Sky: Overcast with light showers in the evening
    • Wind: N 10-15 kts, veering to NE by afternoon
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 3oC, High 8oC
  • Saturday, December 07:
    • Sky: Overcast with heavy rain squalls in the morning, giving way so clear periods in the afternoon
    • Wind: low S early morning, veering to W 25-30 kts during the day
    • Sea:  chop turning to light waves by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 3oC, High 7oC
  • Sunday, December 08:
    • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast
    • Wind: W/WSW 16-37 kts
    • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 9oC

 

 

Weather – Current:

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

 

Weather – Past:

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

Clear skies

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Ecological Notes:

  • The Elephant Seals, the expecting female and the young female, left the ramp area and haven’t returned …. hoping they’re just off having a good feed and not looking at another haul out spot.
  • In the past, most of the Steller Sea Lions have moved to the outer rocks, leaving the main rock to the California Sea Lions… but this season there are many more Stellers remaining on the main rock, even some have ventured onto the pier

Visitors:

  • Parcel and supply delivery by the waterfront team

Facility Work:

  • got some of the deck algae sprayed down during the nicer weather…. until the sprayers broke!

  • Finally got some good logs in, shortened at the holding area, and moved up to the bucking area
  • Weekly Battery maintenance
  • Monthly Equalization charge to the Batteries
  • Month end reports and posting
  • The waterfront team brought out, and prepped a new door for the battery room, appears to now also need a new door frame

DND events:

  • regular blasting, a few times a day for the last week, no noted reaction from the wildlife.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • In addition to a few eco-tourism vessels, there have been a few private vessels visiting the reserve, all with good behaviour

 

Weather Events:

The last week has been primarily N NE winds, leading to mostly clear skies and dry weather. Seas have had light chop, slight fog daily on the shoreline away from the reserve.

  • Thursday, December 05:
    • Sky: High overcast, fog on the southern strait
    • Wind: NE winds 10-15 kts
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC

 

 

** 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?

November 2024 DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS

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Station: RACE ROCKS
Observer: Derek Month: November
YSI ID: 15 Year: 2024
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 14:30 9.7 32.7
2 15:00 9.7 32.9
3 15:30 9.9 33.2
4
5 16:00 9.7 32.9
6 17:00 9.9 33.4
: 7 17:00 9.5 33.1
8 9:30 9.4 33.1
9 9:00 9.5 32.9
10 8:30 9.7 32.7
11 9:30 9.2 32.8
12 10:20 9.5 32.8
13 11:00 9.5 32.7
14 12:00 9.7 33.1
15
16 13:30 9.3 32.7
17 14:00 9.1 33.1
18 14:45 9.3 32.9
19
20
21 17:45 9.3 33.2
22 18:00 9.5 32.7
23 8:30 9.5 32.9
24 9:00 9.3 32.9
25 9:30 9.3 33.2
26 10:30 9.1 33.0
27 11:00 9.3 32.9
28 11:30 9.3 33.0
29 12:15 9.1 0.7
30 13:00 9.1 32.9

November 25th Animal Census

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Birds

  • Harlequin duck                           4
  • Bald eagle adult                         6
  • Bald eagle juvenile                     4
  • Turnstones                                  28 *
  • Killdeer                                       3
  • Gulls                                             226
  • Cormorants                                  283
  • Oyster catcher                             12 *
  • Canadian goose                           27
  • Pacific Wren                                   2

* in addition to the “Regular” birds i saw large flocks  (up to about 70 birds each) of Oyster Catchers ….

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                               289
  • Harbour seal                                       23
  • California sea lion                            263
  • Elephant seal female(pregnant)         1
  • Humpback Whales – several around the reserve, occasionally venturing inside
  • 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 quite well healed compared to the original injury

King Tides and Debris

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Ecological Notes:

  • Expecting female Elephant Seal still hanging out primarily on the boat ramp area
  • The younger, tagged female visits occasionally, and one day came to the top of the side ramp and slept by the upper ramp deck
  • Large groups of Black Oyster catchers visiting
  • Still have 25-30 Canadian Geese here (nearly double the amount that was here last year)

Visitors:

  • Waterfront Coordinator delivered diesel fuel

Facility Work:

  • Finally getting the start of some logs coming in to collect for firewood, still no where as many as the last couple years
  • High winds, King Tides and NE and SE winds are bring lots of debris into the boat ramp area, damaging the fencing and requiring daily clean up

  • Jetty fencing repair put on hold for now
  • While not directly current work, I’ve noticed the  fuel burn on the furnace is much lower than it has ever been while I’ve been coming out here. They replaced the feed line and added a new thermostat
  • Found the rain collection barrel, this allows me to gather some extra water for use in cleaning and the pressure washer

  • Between bad weather, sometimes slippery walkway (goose poop), and a sometimes sore back, I take advantage of the best days to move fuel to the Generator building, getting as far ahead as I can

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • still occasional Ecotourism vessels visiting the reserve

Weather Events:

  • Friday, November 22:
    • Sky: Mixed sun and cloud, clouding over with many rain squalls in the afternoon
    • Wind: NE 20-25kts veering to SE mid day peak of 30kts, then dropping to 5-10kts
    • Sea:Slight swell from the NE in the morning,
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC
  • Saturday, November 23:
    • Sky: Morning mix of cloud with clear sunny breaks, overcast by noon
    • Wind: averaging ENE to 5kts
    • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
    • Temperature Low 2 oC, High 10 oC
  • Sunday, November 24:
    • Sky: Mix of sun and cloud in the morning
    • Wind:NE 5kts
    • Sea: rippled to 1′ chop
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC

 

 

** 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?

Storm Season

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 expecting female Elephant Seal … coming and going, still only coming as high as the ramp/ boat shed area
  • Very small female Elephant Seal , green tag number L334 visiting occasionally … very skittish and nervous, especially when the sea lions are moved off the ramp
  • In addition to a few Humpback Whales still in viewing distance, one did a rise only 5 meters off the jetty
  • Removal of dead bird carcasses (mostly gulls)

Visitors:

  • 1 supply drop off by the waterfront team
  • High tides, winds, and swells have prevented the work crews from coming out

Facility Work:

  • Fuel transfers, ensuring extra in the generator room as storms are coming again
  • Topped up battery levels
  • Daily fencing repairs. I got some new ribbon joiners that seem to be working well
  • Combination of high tides and swells has kept the jetty pretty much awash most of the daytime hours
  • Took advantage of rainy squalls to clean windows and solar panels

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Although they are less frequent, still some Ecotourism vessels in the park daily

Weather Events:

  • Thursday, November 14:
    • Sky: High cloud, with occasional clear periods
    • Wind: WSW 20 – 25 kts
    • Sea: Swells from the west to 1.5 metres
    • Temperature Low 8oC, High 11oC
  • Friday, November 15:
    • Sky: mostly clear, high cloud and light mist in the distance
    • Wind:  Mostly N 5 kts
    • Sea: overall flat with a slight swell…residual wrap around swell in the pier area is very high though, swamping the entire pier on each swell
    • Temperature Low 1oC (during the early morning N winds), High 8oC
  • Saturday, November 16:
    • Sky: High overcast, full visibility at water level. Light rain starting mid afternoon
    • Wind: ENE rising to 20kts in the early morning, veering to N and 10 – 20kts
    • Sea:  morning, calm with low underlying swell
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC
  • Sunday, November 17:
    • Sky: Overcast, Heavy morning rain squalls
    • Wind: Westerly night winds, peaking at 40kts… dropping to 15 – 20 kts by morning
    • Sea:  morning, calm with low underlying swell
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC

 

 

** 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?

Mixed Weather

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Ecological Notes:

  • Female Elephant Seal has left the ramp area…… back to sea for now it appears.
  • Sunday night high winds brought down the pier fencing, and the Sea lions sure took advantage of that fast!

  • Very young, tagged,  Elephant Seal visited the ramp area briefly. I saw him coming up fast, so I left the area. When I returned a couple hours later, there were sea lions on the ramp and the Elephant Seal was gone. This was at the same  time the adult female left.
  • A known California Sea Lion, that was freed of an entanglement last year is around the north side. Although the wound still looks rough, the last Ecoguardian (Kendra) assured me this is a good improvement.
  • In addition to the expected numbers, there have been a couple very large flocks of both Black Oyster Catchers, and Black Turnstones. Groups were seen briefly, before flying off.
  • Nearly double the normal number of Canada Geese here still. 

  • There are still many Humpback Whales viewable from the park, and Transient Orca have passed by nearly every other day.

Visitors:

  • Work crew still working on the windows on the Student and Science centre, as well as finishing the inside of the last window on the main house.
  • A small group of donors, and a couple college staff visited for a tour of the facility.

Facility Work:

  • Ongoing repairs and upgrades to the electrical fencing. Awaiting new connectors to replace a couple sections and add a new section.
  • Fuel transfers and an extra check on battery electrolyte levels.
  • Although not overly high, wind direction has blown some doors off, including the boat shed …. minor items, but they add up!

  • Taking advantage of the rain periods to clean the sidewalks (mostly goose poop), as well as cleaning the salt off the windows.

  • Cleaned the windows on the tower, inside and out.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Still a few Ecotourism vessels
  • 2 Jet skis have visited the reserve a couple days in a row.

 Noted Infractions:

  • The first time the jet skis were scene, they were doing doughnuts and high speed passes in the main channel, disturbing birds and sea lions. My camera was charging, but i signalled to them with the blowhorn siren and waved them off.

  • The next day, they stayed out of the reserve, playing in one of the standing current waves a little further out. They did a wide sweep around the area on their way back (hopefully realizing they were being watched).

Weather Events:

  • Monday, November 11:
    • Sky: overcast with frequent sunny breaks
    • Wind: Morning Westerly winds to 25kts, veering to west at 5-10 kts in the afternoon
    • Sea: 1 meter swell, calming to slight chop by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 12oC, High 18oC
  • Tuesday, November 12:
    • Sky: Overcast, with sunny breaks
    • Wind: mixed N-NE 5-10 kts
    • Sea:  slight chop, but a swell wrapping around into the pier area by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 10oC, High 112oC
  • Wednesday, November 13:
    • Sky: Overcast with light rain later in the day
    • Wind: Variable direction Northerly winds, 5-10 kts, shifting to WSW later in the afternoon
    • Sea:  light chop, some tidal swell in the reserve
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 13oC

 

 

** 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?