Ecological Notes:

• Still no Elephant Seals hauled out
  
• Many Sea lions here, but behaviour seems a bit different. Normally the California Sea Lions are pretty chill, but they all seem really jumpy, suggesting maybe many of these are not regulars here. I’ve also had 3 very aggressive encounters, where they see me coming and charge towards me. 
• Really important to always stay on your toes and assume nothing!

• A resurgence of Oyster Catchers as well, pairing off and picking there own little territories.
• Many Eagles present each morning, leaving remains of successful hunts on gulls.

Visitors:

• Students for Pearson College came for short visit, and working on Ocean Temperature and Salinity readings.
  
• Supply, fuel, and propane deliveries. Weather and other logistics prevented the large fuel tank delivery of diesel, so it was delivered in Jerry cans.

Facility Work:

• Weather permitting, near daily cleanup of the dirftwood and logs at the boat ramp and pier area. This is important to keep clear for deliveries and potential emergencies

• As the weather has warmed up, there is less use of electricity, allowing the return to running the generator normally only once a day now. Also easier for the wood stove to keep the main area of the house warm in the evening

Noted Vessel Traffic:

• Vessels from 2 Eco-Tourism spent time in the reserve with attendees from the Tourism Victoria IMPACT program. Included was a visit to Lester B. Pearson College, and marine observations in the area. https://www.tourismvictoria.com/impact/day-impact
  

• Eco-Tourism vessels continue to visit the reserve
• Educational programs  with Eaglewing Tours also visit the reserve almost daily

Weather Events:

• Tuesday, January 23:
  • Sky: Fog in the morning, giving way to high overcast mid day, a couple periods of very little rain sprinkles
    
  • Wind: Rotating through the compass, most 0-5kts, a little peak in the afternoon of W 15kts
    
  • Sea: Light ripple all day
    
  • Temperature Low 8.1^oC, High 9.6^oC
• Saturday, February 04:
  • Sky: High overcast, occasional brief rain showers
    
  • Wind: N 20-25kts early morning, dropping gradually to N 5kts by evening
    
  • Sea:  light chop
    
  • Temperature Low 7.5^oC, High 9.6^oC

** 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?

Ecological Notes:

• Still no Elephant seals hauled out
  
• After the big storm on the 9th, there is a massive increase in the number of Sea Lions
  

This early crocus may find it was a bit too early!

Visitors:

• Recent fuel, grocery, and parcel delivery.
  

Facility Work:

• Lots of ongoing debris removal from the boat ramp and pier area. Important to ensure it’s clear in case of emergencies, and to aid in moving the cart through for deliveries.

Although these were already disconnected… they storm moved then about 4 meters

Returns as fast as you move it

• More firewood bucking and splitting to keep gaining on the  stored wood available

• Set up and pumped sea water into the cistern for the desalinator unit

• Assessed, tidied up, and did temporary fixes to storm damaged  buildings

• Transferred all delivered fuel to local drums and tanks, freeing the main tank for the next delivery and moved to the generator building so none has to be transferred during the potential snowfall. Added some to the main house tank, to keep the chill off during the freezing weather to prevent the pipes for freezing.
• Checked and ran new extension cords to the heat tape on the outside pipes from the water tank
• Verified operation of the wail heater in the deslinator building, again to prevent freezing

Noted Vessel Traffic:

• Eco-Tourism vessels, mostly the same 3 rotating through daily, depending on weather conditions

Weather Events:

The storm on the 9th was one of the greatest I’ve seen out here. Westerly winds up to 60 knots combined with low pressure and extremely high tides created the perfect storm. Waves crashing on the western shore were producing spry well over the Helicopter pad and the Student house. It was hitting so hard, the wind was carrying  pieces of wood half way across the island. One 12 foot log hit end-wise on the pier,; and was thrown in the air high enough to clear the rail. Water and debris washed all the way up the ramp to the boat house.

• Tuesday, January 9:
  • Sky: Heavy storm clouds, rain and highwind squals
    
  • Wind: w 45-50kts, gusting to 60 kts
  • Sea:3 meter swells with higher wind chop, breaking high on the west side of the main island
    
  • Temperature Low 5^oC, High 8^oC
• Wednesday, January 10:
  • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast
  • Wind: wind rotating through the compass, 5-10kts, rising to W 30kts during the night
    
  • Sea:  1m swells and chop
    
  • Temperature Low 5^oC, High 10^oC
• Thursday January 11:
  • Sky: mix of sun and cloud, giving way to overcast and mixed rain/snow mid afternoon
    
  • Wind: averaging  N 25 kts gusting up 45 mid afternoon
    
  • Sea: high waves and swells
    
  • Temperature high of 7, dropping rapidly to freezing late afternoon, expected low of -9 tonight

** 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?