Author Archives: Derek Sterling

Month End, and Bye for now!

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Thanks for another fun term out here at Race rocks, Will be back in the fall!

Ecological Notes:

  • 2 adult female Elephant Seals
  • The Female that had the pup here this season is particularly vocal and bossy!

(video coming)

  • 2 Elephant Seal pups, 1 might be a small yearling
  • With the warmer weather, all the Elephant Seals enjoy their daily dip in the water.

(video coming)

  • As usual, the Geese are very protective of their nests

  • But the “baby” Elephant seal seems to take great pleasure in harassing the gees at their nests

  • Orca only observed passing the reserve once in the last week (but from other reports, they may have passed by unnoticed or early in the morning)

Visitors:

  • 1 volunteer came out to help Richard with projects

  • 2 sets of students came out for orientation and tasks assignments, they also enjoyed some mini presentations from the Eco-Guardian
  • Richard  came to work on his projects when the students were here

Facility Work:

  • Battery electrolyte levels
  • Fuel Transfers
  • Full general house clean
  • Tidy student house after visitors
  • Ongoing solar panel cleaning, and battery electrolyte top ups

  • Valve replacement and servicing on the salt water pump to fill the cistern
  • Filling the cistern, and then flushing the pump with fresh water
  • Some desalinator runs, successful running on just solar as well 
  • All month end reports and filing

DND events:

  • Some blasts on Friday, no noted disturbance

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • As most Whale sightings were east of Victoria, only a occasional Eco-Tourism vessel visits
  • Some Private boats

 Noted Infractions:

  • none

Weather Events:

  • Sunday, April 26:
    • Sky: Mostly clear overhead, with a few clouds rolling through in the afternoon …. north and south of the reserve had more clouds, and low lying mist/fog to the west and south
    • Wind: W 5-10kts until noon, then rising to 30kts by midnight
    • Sea: rippled most of the day
    • Temperature Low 8.2oC, High 13.3oC
  • Monday, April 27:
    • 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 12oC, High 20oC
  • Tuesday, April 28:
    • 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 12oC, High 20oC
  • Wednesday, April 29:
    • Sky: Mostly clear overhead, with a few clouds rolling through in the afternoon 
    • Wind: W variable to 8kts, shifting to S mid day, then rising to W 18kts late afternoon
    • Sea: rippled 
    • Temperature Low 8.3oC, High 14.2oC
  • Thursday, April 30:
    • Sky: Mostly clear overhead, with a few clouds rolling through in the afternoon 
    • Wind: Rising through the day to 25kts, variable directions all day
    • Sea: rippled most of the day
    • Temperature Low 8.6oC, High 15.6oC
  • Friday, May 1:
    • Sky: Foggy until late-afternoon, mixed sun and clouds afterwards
    • Wind: W 15-25 kts, rising slightly in the evening
    • Sea:  light chop turning to 2 ft chop and whitecaps late in the day 
    • Temperature Low 8.6oC, High 15.6oC, cool windchill though (while cleaning solar panels on the roof!)

 

 

** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

https://tempestwx.com/station/190757/

 

Weather – Past:

https://tempestwx.com/history/190757

April 2026 DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS

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DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS
Institute of Ocean Sciences, North Saanich, B.C., V8L 4B2
Station: RACE ROCKS
Observer: JAP / Derek Month: April
YSI ID: #9 Year: 2026
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 14:37 8.5 30.5
2
3
4 16:30 9.0 30.6
5 16:45 9.0 30.6
6
7 18:00 8.9 30.7
8 19:00 9.0 31.1
9 20:00 9.0 31.0
10 20:30 89.9 30.9
11 20:30 9.0 31.0
12 10:00 9.0 30.9
13
14 12:50 8.9 30.5
15 13:15 8.9 30.3
16 14:00 9.1 30.3
17 14:30 8.9 30.8
18 15:20 8.9 31.1
19 16:00 8.9 30.8
20 17:00 8.9 30./8
21 17:30 8.9 30.6
22 18:30 8.8 30.6
23 20:30 8.9 30.5
24 21:30 8.9 30.9
25 21:30 8.9 30.7
26 11:15 8.9 30.6
27 12:15 9.4 30.9
28 13:00 9.5 30.6
29 13:40 9.5 30.6
30 14:15 9.4 30.8

Animal Census April 26 2026

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  • Harlequin duck                                       24
    • (unusually high, maybe some passing through?)
  • Bald eagle adult                                     2
  • Bald eagle juvenile                                4
  • Turnstones                                             18
  • Gulls                                                      340
  • Cormorants                                            198
  • Pigeon Guillemots                                132
  • Oyster catcher                                        14
  • Canadian goose                                      10
  • Surf Birds                                                 3
  • Savannah Sparrows. flickering between shrubs,   2

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                                            28
  • Harbour seal                                                67
  • California sea lion                                      38
  • Elephant seal pup                                        1
  • Elephant seal (yearling?)                            1
    • seems a bit big to be a pup, but not big enough to say yearling for sure
  • Elephant Seal Adult Female                        2

Although none today, Transient Orca have been seen regularly just outside the reserve

More Elephant Seals!

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Ecological Notes:

  • 2  Adult female Elephant Seals
  • 2 young ones…. 1 is this years pup born here… the other is a bit bigger,  it seems pretty big to be a new pup, but a bit small to be a yearling….. we will see when the moult starts

The 2 newest ones

  • Gulls and Oyster Catchers still paired off, no noted nest building yet
  • Orca and a Humpback passed the reserve, without entering
  • Although most have given up, found a new Canadian Goose nest…. easy to miss them when they use an old site, and cover it well when they’re not there!

Visitors:

  • Greg And Richard for fuel and grocery delivery
  • Guests of Pearson College came to the Rock to stay in the Student Building
  • Greg also brought the future Eco-Guardians for a quick overview of the site.

Facility Work:

  • Richard sealed a crack on the desalinator bunker roof

  • Solar Panel cleaning
  • Fuel transfers

DND events:

  • Several Blasts on Wednesday and Thursday

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Starting to see more Eco-Tourism vessel
  • Weekends also included more private vessels coming through to observe the wildlife

  • RCMSAR  vessel did a bit of a tour through the reserve

 

 Noted Infractions:

  • none

Weather Events:

  • Wednesday, April 22:
    • Sky: haze overhead, clouds in all directions on the horizon
    • Wind: WSW 10-22kts, variable throughout the day
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 9.3oC, High 12.4oC
  • Thursday, April 23:
    • Sky: High overcast with haze on all horizons…. giving way to mostly clear late afternoon overhead
    • Wind: W/WSW 16-37 kts
    • Sea:  light chop turning to flat by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 9.0oC, High 11.8oC
  • Friday, April 24:
    • Sky: Sunny and bright, some haze on the horizon lines though
    • Wind: Variable wind, mostly NE to SE, 5-15kts
    • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
    • Temperature Low 7.6oC, High 15.9oC
  • Saturday, April 25:
    • Sky: Sunny and bright, some haze on the horizon lines 
    • Wind: Variable S SE winds 0-10 kts
    • Sea: very little chop, some slight current lines
    • Temperature Low 7.3oC, High 16.6oC
  • Great Solar generation today so far! (the “from battery” number includes everything drawn during the night too)

 

 

** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

https://tempestwx.com/station/190757/

 

Weather – Past:

https://tempestwx.com/history/190757

A Long, Busy Week!

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Adult Female Elephant Seal is regularly here now, with nearly daily dips in the water. Sometimes she spends an awful amount of time bellowing…. maybe a “call out” to others?
  • The Elephant Seal pup also visits the water daily, and tends to move around avoiding the adult, although I have not seen any negative interactions between them. One day I noticed her watching quite closely as I came and left from the house … When I came in for the evening, a student got a video of her following my to the house and then playing against the door.

 

  • Gulls and Oyster Catchers are still paired off well, haven’t detected any nests yet.
  • Some of the Canada  Geese pairs looks like they have given up nesting for the season, but I search daily as they sometime just move to a new location to nest. 

  • Averaging every other day, Orca are passing the reserve, occasional far offshore sightings of Humpback Whales, and even a Gray Whale

Visitors:

  • Hosted students and chaperone from the Westcoast Adventure Tourism college for their 3 day course on Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea …. Filled out with tour and discussion on Race Rocks, as well as the students helped with tasks, and those that were interested learned about the Eco-Guardian tasks and responsibilities 
  • One set of Pearson College students did an overnight visit
  • 2 sets of students came over for their intertidal transects

Facility Work:

  • Greg did a rebuild of the composting toilet in the student and science center

  • Regular fuel transfers and battery maintenance
  • Scheduled Oil, oil filter, and fuel filter changes on the generator
  • Checked oil level and all connections on the desalinator
  • Thorough cleaning of the solar panels
  • Pressure washed the main path to the main house and surrounding landings
  • Moved logs up to the bucking area, and cleaned up a lot of the “garbage” wood around top of the boat ramp
  • Electric fence repairs as usual
  • Richard continued the dismantling of the old generator, as well as cover holes left in the walls from removed pipes and vents 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Some commercial Eco-Tourism vessels and private vessels in the reserve, no noted infractions

 Other:

  • During both my regular career, and travelling, I don’t get much time cook … on of the pleasures of being at Race rocks is the time to cook better meals!

Butter Chicken with vegetables, over basmati rice!

Weather Events:

  • Monday, April 13:
    • Sky: mostly clear, some haze
    • Wind: W 20-35kts
    • Sea:  2 to 3′ chop
    • Temperature Low 8oC, High 10.4oC
  • Tuesday, April 14:
    • Sky: overcast, with occasional rain squalls throughout the day
    • Wind: wind back and forth from W to S, 5-15kts
    • Sea:  light chop 
    • Temperature Low 7.2oC, High 8.6oC
  • Wednesday, April 15:
    • Sky: mostly clear
    • Wind: W 15-25 kts
    • Sea:  l2 ft chop most of the day
    • Temperature Low 5.5oC, High 11oC
  • Thursday, April 16:
    • Sky: slight overcast
    • Wind: W 5 kts rising to 22kts late in the day
    • Sea:  light chop turning to low waves by evening
    • Temperature Low 7.5oC, High 11.2oC
  • Friday, April 17:
    • Sky: light overcast
    • Wind: W 15 kts, backing to SE and dropping to near 0kts late afternoon, backing to WNW during the evening
    • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
    • Temperature Low 7.5oC, High 11.2oC
  • Saturday, April 18:
    • Sky: mixed high cloud and clear
    • Wind: ENE veering to WSW throughout the day, rising to  15 kts mid morning, then dropping to 5kts by end of day
    • Sea:  light chop 
    • Temperature Low 5.9oC, High 12.7oC
  • Sunday, April 19:
    • Sky: mostly clear
    • Wind: primarily E  10-15kts, brief rise to 20kts
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low 8.0oC, High 14.9oC
  • Monday, April 20:
    • Sky: High overcast, with brief sunny patches
    • Wind: Veered throughout the day from NE to W …5 -25kts, rising higher in the evening
    • Sea:  3 ft chop when wind was with tide
    • Temperature Low 8.3oC, High 18oC

 

 

** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

https://tempestwx.com/station/190757/

 

Weather – Past:

https://tempestwx.com/history/190757

Animal Census April 19 2026

Posted on by
  • Harlequin duck                                       6
  • Bald eagle adult                                     3
  • Bald eagle juvenile                                4
  • Turnstones                                             27
  • Gulls                                                       385
  • Cormorants                                            220
  • Pigeon Guillemots                                 87 
  • Oyster catcher                                        16
  • Canadian goose                                      10
  • Surf Birds                                                 9
  • Savannah Sparrows. flickering between shrubs,   6
  • Swallow looking birds, black or very dark brown on the back        2

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                                            39
  • Harbour seal                                                48
  • California sea lion                                      26
  • Elephant seal pup                                        1
  • Elephant Seal Adult Female                       1

Although none today, Transient Orca have been seen regularly just outside the reserve

Animal Census April 12 2026

Posted on by
  • Harlequin duck                                      8
  • Bald eagle adult                                    2
  • Bald eagle juvenile                                4
  • Turnstones                                             18
  • Gulls                                                       340
  • Cormorants                                            187
  • Pigeon Guillemots                                74 
  • Oyster catcher                                        14
  • Canadian goose                                       8(?)
  • Surf Birds                                                 3
  • Brown Pelicans                                         1
  • Small wren like birds. flickering between scrubs, Pacific wrens?  8
  • Swallow looking birds, black or very dark brown on the back        4

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                                            17
  • Harbour seal                                                34
  • California sea lion                                      22
  • Elephant seal pup                                        1
  • Elephant Seal Adult Female                       1
  • Animal Tracking and Injuries:          Steller branded 595Y

Solar Panels

Posted on by

Ecological Notes:

  • Brief view of an adult Elephant Seal
  • Elephant Seal pup is still wandering around a bit
  • Gulls still mostly paired off, no nesting behaviour yet
  • Most Oyster Catchers also paired off
  • Separately, orca and a Humpback Whale have passed, but outside the reserve

Visitors:

  • Greg Dropped off some supplies, and service the student house toilet

Facility Work:

  • Toilet service
  • Desalinator runs
  • Fuel Transfers
  • Solar panel cleaning…….. I know I’ve pasted photos like this before, but it’s one of my favorite views out here ...

The daylight, storing power for the nightlight

DND events:

  • Several loud blasts, (seemed louder than other recent blasts) … noted some bird disturbance 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Occasional Eco-Tourism vessels

Weather Events:

  • Wednesday, April 08:
    • Sky: Basically clear, with slight haze up high
    • Wind: E 5-10kts, shifting to SE about noon and dropping to no wind late afternoon, rising again slightly in the evening
    • Sea: rippled 
    • Temperature: Low 5.8oC, High 11.8oC
  • Thursday, April 09:
    • Sky: Clear, slight haze
    • Wind: E 5-10 kts, riding to ESE 10-15kts in the afternoon and dropping during the evening
    • Sea:  light chop 
    • Temperature: Low 5.8oC, High 11.8oC
  •  Friday, April 10:
    • Sky: High overcast
    • Wind: 
    • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
    • Temperature: Low 5.8oC, High 11.8oC 

      ** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! ** Weather – Current:https://tempestwx.com/station/190757/ 

      Weather – Past:

      https://tempestwx.com/history/190757

 

 

 

Spring Return

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Ecological Notes:

  • Checking regularly for the adult female Elephant Seal, and also keeping an eye out for the adult male reportedly seen in the area as well
  • Elephant Seal pup … wandering around the island …not sure if it’s just coincidental, but it seems to be disturbing the Canada geese at their nests (gone to 3 different nests)

 

  • Most of the gulls are paired off now, starting to see a little nest material collecting to show off

  • Oyster Catchers are also paired off, no direct nesting behavior  noted

  • Transient Orca – T123s –  passed just north of the reserve on Sunday morning, then another family in the afternoon

  • With the nicer weather, there has been lots of bird activity, including an extremely high number of pigeon guillemots (maybe passing through, as I’ve never seen this many before)
  • 2 Pelicans have been around as well
  • I must note….. the firewood has been stocked better than any period I have seen here in 6 years!

Facility Work:

  • Ran desalinator each time the Generator ran during the day time
  • Transferred fuel, and supplies around the buildings
  • Battery service and top ups
  • Richard did some work on dismantling the old generator
  • Regular fence maintaining
  • Checked and cleaned the Solar panels

Visitors:

  • Students form the college came with visiting students to see the reserve

DND events:

  • A couple single blasts, no noted animal disturbance

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • A few, very well behaved, Eco-tourism vessels
  • 3 private vessels noted, no infractions and generally good behaviour

 

Weather Events:

  • Saturday, April 04:
    • Sky: Clear, with very slight seasonal haze around
    • Wind: SE winds 5-10kts
    • Sea: Lightly rippled
    • Temperature Low 7oC, High 12oC
  • Sunday, April 05:
    • Sky: Clear, with very slight seasonal haze around
    • Wind: E 10 kts, rising to 20 kts mid day, then shifting to SE and dropping to no wind by evening
    • Sea:  light chop 
    • Temperature Low 8.1oC, High 13.3oC
  • Monday, April 06:
    • Sky: basically clear, but slight haze and high drifting clouds when the winds came up
    • Wind: variable direction light winds in the morning, rising to NW winds gusting to 45kts by mid afternoon
    • Sea: 2-3 ft swells in the afternoon
    • Temperature Low 7.6oC, High 11.4oC
  • Tuesday, April 07:
    • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast
    • Wind: W 5-10kts, shifting to E 5-10 kts mid day
    • Sea:  light chop 
    • Temperature Low 7.5oC, High 11.2oC

 

 

** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

https://tempestwx.com/station/190757/

 

Weather – Past:

https://tempestwx.com/history/190757

Animal Census from April 05

Posted on by

Birds

  • Harlequin duck                                    23
  • Bald eagle adult                                    1
  • Bald eagle juvenile                                2
  • Turnstones                                             4
  • Gulls                                                       280
  • Cormorants                                            255
  • Pigeon Guillemots                                140 (seemed like extra this day??)
  • Oyster catcher                                        18
  • Canadian goose                                       10
  • Surf Birds                                                  4
  • Brown Pelicans                                         1

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                                           34
  • Harbour seal                                                72
  • California sea lion                                       17
  • Elephant seal pup                                         1
  • Animal Tracking and Injuries:          Steller branded 595Y