Author Archives: Derek Sterling

Getting ready for the cold

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Ecological Notes:

  • Still no Elephant Seals
  • Snow Goose is still here

  • Daily visits from Eagles hunting Gulls
  • Smaller sea otter reported to me by an Eco-Tourism vessel

Visitors:

  • Greg and Richard from shorefront team
  • Service Tech
  • Students from Pearson College each weekend

Facility Work:

  • Another clean up of dead birds…… mostly Eagle predation, but a couple of “healthy looking” birds as well
  • Service Tech came out again for the hot water system in the main house
  • Some weeding accomplished in the hollow in front of the water tank
  • Ongoing fence repairs
  • Battery fluids maintained
  • Delsalinator run when ever the generator was running during the day
  • Students from Pearson College helped with the animal census and laying out the hose to fill the cistern with salt water

  • more firewood split to stock it up for the colder weather coming! Thank you Richard for the platform for the wood splitter, up off the floor and now able to keep face away from the mechanism while using

  • Set up, flushed, and then ran the water pump to start filling the cistern, will need more as the tide ran low

DND events:

  • a few blasts earlier in the week, disturbing the Sea Lions and birds

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Some Eco-Tourism and educational vessels
  • Some private vessels, including Kayakers, and a small dinghy

  • 1 Spill Response Vessel transiting 

  • All behaved responsibly 

Weather Events:

  • Thursday, November 27:
    • Sky: Overcast, with very brief sunny periods
    • Wind: NNE 25-30kts
    • Sea: 3-5 waves, hitting the pier heavily 
    • Temperature Low 8.1oC, High 9.6oC
  • Friday, November 28:
    • Sky: Clear in the morning,gradually becoming high overcast as the day progressed, tempest system report slight rain during the night
    • Wind: NE winds, 5kts in the morning, rising to 18kts by mid afternoon 
    • Sea:  remained light chop as when the wind rose, it was tide with wind
    • Temperature Low 8.1oC, High 10.4oC
  • Saturday, November 29:
    • Sky: High overcast
    • Wind: NE 10-15 kts
    • Sea:  light chop 
    • Temperature Low 6oC, High 8.2oC
  • Sunday, November 30:
    • Sky: Clear all day
    • Wind: ENE 15kts, dropping to 5kts mid afternoon
    • Sea:  light chop 
    • Temperature Low 6oC, High 8oC

 

 

** 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?

Animal Census for Saturday, November 22

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Count aided by Pearson College students

 

Birds

  • Bald eagle adult                               1
  • Bald eagle juvenile                            3
  • Turnstones                                    12
  • Gulls                                              304 
  • Cormorants                                 468
  • Oyster catcher                                 6 +plus a large group flew overhead 40+
  • Canadian goose                             13
  • Snow Goose                                     1
  • Pigeon Guillemots                                4

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                               434
  • Harbour seal                                     27
  • California sea lion                          645

First week back

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Ecological Notes:

  • Difficult to count without disturbing them, but observations from the rock, and previous observations from the water show many more female sea lions, and nursing pups present
  • Elephant Seal female was seen on the outer rocks for the first couple days, not been seen since
  • Although there were 2 when I first arrived, now there is just 1 Snow Goose present

Visitors:

  • 2 Education classes from Pearson College stayed here, 1 set each weekend
  • Shorefront crew delivered me, and supplies to the reserve
  • IT tech, and 2 contractors to service the propane systems

Facility Work:

  • Students from the college helped with the animal census
  • checked battery levels, checked overall fuel levels
  • added some fuel to the main house furnace tank
  • IT person reset the switches on the starlink system to give direct internet access (it has been running through the original college system)
  • Crew serviced the propane valves and hot water systems  on both the main house and the student/science house
  • Shorefront staff helped moved fuel and cut firewood blocks
  • Used the Hydraulic woodsplitter for the first time 
  • Currently, the propane water heater in the main house is not firing up…. working with shorefront coordinator and techs to solve

DND events:

  • A few blasts Monday, scheduled for ongoing this week … noted more disturbance from the sea lions than I have noted in the past (maybe as it it earlier in the season, there are more “new” ones here)

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 3 Eco-Tourism vessels
  • 1 education program vessel with a few visits ( these are run by one of the Eco-Tourism companies, but separate from the regular tours)
  • Various private vessels, including kayaks, and a small dinghy, have visited the reserve, all behaving properly

Weather Events:

The standard mix of fall weather no extremely high winds, minimal rain over night, mostly clear with cloudy patches

  • Saturday, November 22:
    • Sky: clear with light haze, overcast later in the day
    • Wind:  W 25 kts 
    • Sea: rippled  with very little chop, becoming 1-2 ft chop later in the afternoon
    • Temperature 10oC

 

 

 

Weather – Current:

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

 

Weather – Past:

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

Animal Census for Saturday, November 15

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Count aided by Pearson College students

 

Birds

  • Bald eagle adult                               2
  • Turnstones                                     23
  • Gulls                                              197 
  • Cormorants                                   225
  • Oyster catcher                                  6
  • Canadian goose                             14
  • Snow Goose                                     2

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                               525
  • Harbour seal                                  18
  • California sea lion                          700
  • Elephant seal female                    1(?)
      • possible on outer rock

Animal Census

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  • Bald eagle adult                   3
  • Bald eagle juvenile             2
  • Black Turnstones                  18
  • Gulls                                    122
  • Cormorants                          50
  • Pigeon Guillemots                87
  • Oyster catcher                        12
  • Canadian goose                      7
  • Harlequin Ducks                   8
  • Pacific Wren(?)                        2   comes flying out of  the shrubbery too
    fast to get a picture

 

Mammals

  • Sea Otter                                   1
  • Steller sea lion                       22
  • Harbour seal                            43
  • California sea lion                  24
  • Elephant seal female            2 juveniles, Adult female has also been around the last couple days again, but not coming up to the top area at all

Quick updates

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Ecological Notes:

  • 2 juvenile female Elephant Seals, hauled out in the main grass area, but visiting the water once or twice a day.
  • Noted a California Sea Lion with damage to one of his pectoral fins …. bone and tendons appear to be ok. Looks like a patch of about 6X12 inches of skin removed.
  • The Northern Fur Seal was reported to me as being on his second favorite rock out here, near the NW end of the reserve
  • Sea Otter (reported as being Ollie) in the kelp to the west
  • Lots of Pigeon Guillemots spreading around the main area, pairing off with courting behaviour

Visitors:

  • 1 – Richard from the shore front team delivered Diesel and groceries

Facility Work:

  • Replace another faulty light switch in the main house
  • Transferred fuel to drums and moved most to the generator building, and added some to the furnace tank in the main house. I find it safer and easier to transfer in drums when by myself.
  • Split and transferred more firewood
  • Oil filter, oil, and fuel filter changed on Generator.
  • Batteries electrolyte levels topped up
  • Noticed drop in daily battery percentage over the last 2 weeks, found specific gravity readings were very low, trying an equalization charge
  • Main house window cleaning
  • Collected up fencing blocks left spread around after the last modifications to the fencing system

DND events:

  • More radio simulations of boater conflict ….. again, no mention before or during, causing some discussion among other boaters

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • A solo kayaker, travel through and around the reserve on Tuesday.
  • More Eco-Tourism vessels
  • Several people fishing just outside the reserve, pulling lines and visiting the main area without fishing

Weather Events:

Mostly typical spring weather, changing direction, but lots of clear sky days with slight haze. Only a couple days of higher winds

  • Monday, April 21:
    • Sky: Slight haze, but mostly sunny all day
    • Wind:mostly W mixed 5-20kts
    • Sea: rippled to slight chop
    • Temperature Low 8oC, High 12oC
  • Tuesday, April 22:
    • Sky: Very slight haze, but mostly sunny all day
    • Wind:ESE 2-12kts changing to W 15 kts by evening
    • Sea:  flat calm
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 13oC
  • Wednesday, April 23:
    • Sky: Very slight haze, but mostly sunny all day
    • Wind: low ESE winds, shifting to SE 10kts mid day
    • Sea: calm all day
    • Temperature Low 7oC, High 13oC

 

 

** 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?

Animal Census

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  • Bald eagle adult                    5
  • Bald eagle juvenile                4
  • Black Turnstones                  23
  • Gulls                                     98
  • Cormorants                           77
  • Pigeon Guillemots                64
  • Oyster catcher                        14
  • Canadian goose                      7
  • Harlequin Ducks                     17
  • Pacific Wren(?)                        4    comes flying out of  the shrubbery too
    fast to get a picture

 

Mammals

  • Sea Otter                                   1
  • Steller sea lion                       28
  • Harbour seal                            57
  • California sea lion                  33
  • Elephant seal female            2 juveniles (adult female has not been seen in a while)

Animal Census

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  • Bald eagle adult                     2
  • Bald eagle juvenile                3
  • Black Turnstones                  18
  • Gulls                                       83
  • Cormorants                            56
  • Pigeon Guillemots                22
  • Oyster catcher                        8
  • Canadian goose                      7

 

Mammals

  • Norther Fur Seal                      1
  • Steller sea lion                       18
  • Harbour seal                            42
  • California sea lion                   20
  • Elephant seal female            2 juveniles (adult female has not been seen in a while)

Elephant Seals and Northern Fur Seal

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Ecological Notes:

  • 2 Juvenile female Elephant Seals coming and going daily, Haven’t see the full adult female in a few days…… Last couple days she was here, she spent a lot of time bellowing from a high point on the rock, maybe she heard other animals in the distance(?)

  • The Northern Fur Seal was hauled out on the most north west rock in the reserve (reported to me by an Eco-Tourism vessel)… but is now on the rocks next to the crane shed (just east of the jetty)
  • Sunday, the Fur Seal spent most of the afternoon rolling and grooming in the water off the end of the jetty

  • Many of the Sea lions spent the afternoon rafting and thermo-regulating in the water

  • It seems each day I find new blooms

Visitors:

  • 2 technicians from Environment Canada  came twice, to service all relevant equipment and attempt to get the display unit in the Eco-Guardian residence up and running – returned a couple days later to reset the system

Facility Work:

  • reset the wind indicator/ reporting system up in the tower via phone instructions from EC
  • replaced the rest of the fencing on the jetty

  • Moved drums to prepare for diesel delivery
  • Weekly battery maintenance, including electrolyte top ups

DND events:

  • Several radio broadcasts simulating emergency situations….. the first couple were a little concerning, as they didn’t announce the simulations before hand!

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Several Eco-tourism  vessels
  • A submarine travelled south of the reserve on the surface, un-escorted though.

  • Kayak group, I monitored while they were in and out of the various currents. The group leaders were very good, and responded well when ever anyone got caught in a bad current.

 Noted Infractions:

  • None. I’ve let vessels know the Sea lions around the jetty area seem to be extra touchy, and vessels all responded appropriately. There are lots of really small ones and females in the groupings.

Weather Events:

  • Wednesday, April 09:
    • Sky: High overcast with sunny periods
    • Wind: Variable calm – 5 kts
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 11oC
  • Thursday, April 10:
    • Sky: Low overcast, shifting to low fog to the south and west mid afternoon, scattered rain showers, followed by sunny breaks
    • Wind:E 5-10kts shifting to W 15-25kts mid day
    • Sea:  morning chop 1ft, flattening as the wind shifted to W, then rising to 3-4 ft swells and chop on top
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 12oC
  • Friday April 11:
    • Sky: Although cloudy on both shorelines, the area above Race Rocks and the strait was mostly clear and sunny all day
    • Wind: W 20-25 kts
    • Sea:  2-3 ft chop and swell
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 9.5oC
  • Saturday April 12:
    • Sky: Heavy clouds to the north and south, but mostly clear and sunny overhead
    • Wind: W 20-35kts
    • Sea:  light chop turning to high waves by evening
    • Temperature Low 7.5oC, High 10oC
  • Sunday April 13:
    • Sky: light haze,  but overall sunny
    • Wind: W 5kts shifting to E by mid morning
    • Sea:  flat calm plus current
    • Temperature Low 7oC, High 11oC

 

 

** 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?

More signs of spring and a surprise visit!

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Ecological Notes:

  • 3 female Elephant Seals, 1 adult and 2 juveniles, still coming and going, no full haul out
  • A surprise visit from a Northern Fur Seal!

  • In addition to the more regular Black Turnstones, noted some Ruddy Turnstones today

  • The Pigeon Guillemots are showing up in larger numbers, with many frequenting the rock pile where they like to nest
  • Not that long ago, we would say ” this is an all male haul out area” ….. sources tell me this is in fact, Male, females, and yearling pups(haven’t seen nursing yet today, although I’ve photographed a few here doing that too)

  • The Black Oyster Catchers are mostly paired up as well

  • It appears that 2 of the 3 pairs of Canada Geese have given up on egg laying for the season (the gulls have been raiding the nests), but the one pair by the crane shed still has 2 eggs they are taking care of.

Facility Work:

  • swapped out an electrical switch to restore light to the room I prefer to sleep in

  • Checked and topped up the battery electrolyte levels
  • Moved and stacked some of the split firewood
  • Done before I got here, but a straight forward “why didn’t I think of that” solution to the storm rattled doors on the water tank shed

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Some Eco-Tourism vessels visiting the reserve.
  • 1 private vessel noted

 Noted Infractions:

  • Private vessel approached the haul out area by the crane a bit too close and straight on, startling all the animals off into the water, including the rare (to this area) Northern Fur Seal

Weather Events:

  • Sunday April 06:
    • Sky:Overcast, low clouds on the Olympic Peninsula, rain showers started in the morning, more squalls as the wind rose later in the day
    • Wind: N 5-10 kts, shifting and rising to W 25 kts by early evening
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 8oC, High 13oC
  • Monday April 07:
    • Sky: Overcast with sunny breaks, low cloud over the Olympic Peninsula, light rain in the afternoon
    • Wind:mostly N 5-10 kts, switching to west and rising to 25 kts in the afternoon before dropping back down during the evening
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 10oC
  • Tuesday April 08:
    • Sky: Overcast with sunny breaks, heavy cloud to the south, occasional showers
    • Wind: N 5-15kts, rising to 25kts, gusting to 25kts, from the West late afternoon
    • Sea:  2 ft swells from the north during the day, switching to 2-3 ft chop late afternoon
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 11oC