Author Archives: Derek Sterling

Oyster Catcher nest

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Ecological Notes:

  • 7 Elephant seal on the grass, including 2 pups. 4 have moved the furthest away from the ramp as I have seen them (towards the southern side of the island, but still up in the grass)

By the solar building

  • Knowing the extra importance of staying off the rocky/gravel areas this time of year, I did my normal perimeter check from the grass, and solid rock areas. I noticed a Black Oyster Catcher doing more of a distraction behavior rather then their normal “go away” squeals.
  • I immediately left the area and searched from a distance with the spotting scope. It took a while, but sure enough I found the nest!!!! (my first ever sighting)
  • Although always true, I CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH – photos shot from as far away as possible, with a 600mm equivalent, then cropped to show better detail! (please read the captions)

Facility Work:

  • More waste wood stacking ……. Due to the obvious fire ban in the reserve, and to the unknown paint content, all waste wood has to be removed from the island and processed properly. Making it easier and safer for the recovery team just makes sense.

DND events:

  • 6 detonations during the day

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • none (DND vessels kept area clear)

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds during the day at 10 – 15 knots, increasing to 25 knots early evening.
  • Fog in the morning, followed by mainly clear skies, then fog returning in the evening. Low fog throughout the day to the west and south.

All day distant fog

Evening fog, can’t see the mid channel rocks

** All 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?

Visitor Sign In Station

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Ecological Notes:

  • 7  Elephant Seals still using the grass area and ramps. 4 Adult females, 1 Juvenile male ….. 1 male, and 1 female “pup”

Guess I’m not checking the Water Tank today!

Visitors:

  • Jeff brought out 7 Pearson College students for a quick tour and discussions on pinnipeds, and cultural significance of the main island.

Facility Work:

  • more painting, and sorting random wood piles

DND events:

  • 5 major blasts, noted animal disturbance, All Steller sea lions moved off the island

 Feature:

  •  expanding on a tool made from found items by a previous ecoguardian, we obtained proper pyrex tubes, to use as a pipette to accurately measure the electrolyte levels in the storage batteries

Weather Events:

  • Early morning fog, giving way to mainly sunny day, returning to fog later in the evening. Low lying fog belt on the south side of the strait all day. Wind westerly 10 – 15 knots, rising to 25 knots in the evening.

 

** All 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?

Pearson College Students

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Ecological Notes:

  • 4 female Elephant Seals, 1 Juvenile male, and 2 “pups” in the main grass area.
  • Behavior change in the male pup over the last couple days …… When by himself, he is still very docile, but when lying close with the female pup, he takes on a very defensive attitude, even when viewed from quite a distance.

Like most photos, taken from a distance and then cropped!

Visitors:

  • The waterfront coordinator brought a student landing party, then returned later to deliver distilled water for the batteries, parcels for the ecoguardian, and more students
  •  Pearson College: 14 students and one instructor, toured the reserve by water and visited briefly for a talk on the burial sites, the elephant seals, sea lions, and take in the view from the top of the lighthouse.

Greg discussing important cultural significance of areas on the main island with students.

Discussing the “ballast” cannon recovered from the Swordfish wreck site with students.

 Weather Events:

  • Low westerly winds during the day, bringing fog in the morning, giving way to sunny skies and 15 knot westerly winds during the day. Westerly wind increasing to 25 knots after dark, bringing the fog back in by about 2100hrs.

 

** All 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?

Wildlife Returns

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Ecological Notes:

  • The Elephant Seal that left the grassy area 2 days ago, is now in the little bay at the east side of the main island. Spending a lot of time diving. Really tough to spot!

That’s her, the little grey spot left of center! Photo taken from the top of the tower!

  • The other seven Elephant Seals (including the 2 “pups”) still mostly lounging in the sun, but most took at least one dip in the water by the pier.

  • Greater White-fronted Goose returned, and spending time with the Canada Geese.

 

Facility Work:

  • More Painting, minor parts repairs

 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 2 Private boats, stayed centered in the channel, sealions took note, but not overly disturbed

Weather Events:

  • Light westerly winds, building over the day to 25 – 30 knots by evening. Threatened fog in the morning from the west, but burnt off by the time it got close. Cloudy with sunny breaks throughout the day.

** All 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?

Census

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Birds

  • Bald eagle adult 4
  • Bald eagle juvenile 4
  • Gulls, Glaucous and Western 159
  • Cormorants 16
  • Pigeon Guillemots 87
  • Oyster catcher 4
  • Greater White-fronted Goose 1
  • Canadian goose 17
  • Canadian goose, goslings 0 , (at one point during the week there were 7)

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion 23
  • Harbour seal 82
  • California sea lion 41
  • Elephant seal juvenile male 1
  • Elephant seal female 5
  • Elephant seal pup 2 – 1 male, 1 female
  • Sea otter 1
  • Animal Tracking and Injuries: 0

Elephant Seal Galumphing

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Ecological Notes:

  • As of yesterday, it appears one Female elephant seal has left the island. This leaves what appears to be 4 adult females, 1 juvenile male, and 1 each male and female “pups” (they’re getting pretty big!)
  • Lots of swimming in the sunshine, and a lot more energy as they finish their molts. sample of  Elephant Seal Galumphing …….
  • California Sea lion, thermo-regulating by holding their flippers out of the water.

Thermo-regulating

Facility Work:

  • Not enough rainwater to pressure wash, so more firewood, repairs, paint prep and first coats (before photos, watch for follow ups)

 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Photo tour boat, proper passes
  • 2 Private boats, center channel

Weather Events:

  • light westerly winds, increasing to 20 knots late afternoon, calm sees and full visibility

 

** All 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?

Water testing

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Ecological Notes:

  • 8 Elephant seals still on the grass mostly, 2 went for swims today

In addition to full time awareness, this is why you always use a broad beam flashlight at night!

  • Canada Goose nest from yesterday produced only the 2 goslings, other eggs gone now, may have been non- viable and left for the gulls

Facility Work:

  • More firewood

Feature Event:

  • In addition to daily Temperature and Salinity tests with digital equipment, it’s good to do monthly checks with the older methods, out of interest, and can be used to test the calibrations of the new equipment.

 

Weather Events:

  • Clear and sunny all day, clouds on the perimeter.  Winds westerly 15 – 20 knots, rising to 25 – 30 knots late in the afternoon.

 

** All 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?

Tank Prep

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Ecological Notes:

  • 8 Elephant seals, not much action today
  • Many sealions have moved to the southern most rocks (due to blasting?)
  • Another Canada Goose nest has eggs hatching, 2 goslings so far

Sat a long time, at distance with a zoom lens, to wait for this shot! (and cropped even more)

  • Nature in action! Gulls steal eggs from nests (in this case, the egg was not viable)

Gulls gotta eat too

Visitors:

  • 2, Greg (Waterfront Coordinator), delivering new tools, repair parts, drinking water, and groceries
  •  Allan Forster, contractor with V.I. Tank Services, to survey water tank and prep for cleaning

Facility Work:

  • Prepping electric fence for set up on the pier
  • Water tank survey, to prep for clean after desalinator servicing

DND events:

  • 4 large Detonations today, (6 yesterday), sealions and birds very reactive

Weather Events:

  • Mid day sun, moderate winds, storm blew in later in the afternoon, bringing some rain and westerly winds of 40-45 knots, gusting up to 50 knots by 1700hrs
  • Brought the flag down early though!

 

** All 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?

Baby Geese

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Ecological Notes:

  • 8 Elephant seals still on land
  • Sealions quite scattered, many just in the water today (maybe all the blasting?)
  • Gull “nests” being set up all over the place, no eggs yet that I could observe

Gull nesting spot

  • First Canada Goose hatchlings seen

“Follow Mom!”

Enjoying the sun

Facility Work:

  • Not all work has to by major – moved and sorted left over lumber, window cleaning, and fastened down the under deck

DND events:

  • 5 Detonations today, all animals on edge

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Outside the reserve, but the Atlantic Raven transited at 12 knots, 2nm south of the Race Rocks Lighthouse.

The Atlantic Raven

Weather Events:

  • Clear skies with slight haze, winds westerly 15-20 knots all day

 

** All 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?

New Decks!

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Ecological Notes:

  • Most Elephant Seals nearing the end of their molt, still moving to and from the water, but not venturing too far from the pier, the larger ones seem to be tolerating the pups getting closer to them now. I thought one was missing, but found it on my evening walk about, behind the water tank building.

“All good, nothing to see here”

  • New visitor today ( at least since I got here) ….  a Greater White Fronted Goose!

Greater White Fronted Goose

 

Facility Work:

  • An overdue shout out to the last Ecoguardian, Rod King, and his friend, Colin Baird for the incredible new main house stairs and decks completed last month! Colin came out as a volunteer to help complete this project.

     

DND events:

  • 5 Detonations throughout the day, starting at noon, some animal disturbance noted

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • small private vessel went through the channel rather fast, but stayed centered, no visible animal disturbance, but collision potential

Weather Events:

  • Light winds from the southeast earlier, switching to northerlies later in the day. calm and overcast, with only a hint of rain the never really materialized.

** All 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?