Author Archives: Don + Nina

Humpbacks!

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Ecological Happenings

  • Humpbacks have been around the reserve the last couple of days. Three were seen in one sighting and two in another.
  • Great weather today, although the temperature has dropped a bit. Chilly sunshine!
  • All Sea Lions, except one are settled at the south end of the reserve and southern rocks.
  • Harlequin ducks are making regular appearances.

Marine Vessels

  • Two tour boats today, which caught up to the humpbacks just outside of the reserve.
  • One pleasure vessel, came in to see the sights, although was travelling too fast through the reserve.

Nothing else to report.

 

Visitors and Helicopters

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Ecological Happenings

A nice day at RR today – moderate winds and clear sky. Nothing else to report.

Vessels

  • One pleasure vessel.
  • Two tour boats. One of these boats was travelling through the reserve quite fast. A few weeks ago, an email was sent to remind companies of the guidelines. Most have taken note and responded, yet there are some we see whizzing through.
  • Two Coast Guard helicopters were in and around the reserve, taking aerial photographs.

Other

  • 11 visitors on the island today, who used the student house for a meeting from 9:30am -12:00pm.

Animal Census Nov 19

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The storms that came through RR as well the presence of 12 juvenile Bald Eagles changed numbers on the island. The number of gulls has decreased significantly, and the geese left the island during the storm on Monday. The Elephant Seals have not been seen for several days (there were 8 in previous counts). The number of Cormorants has increased. Number of Sea Lions continues to decrease – less Californias, although the count of Stellers is higher. Higher Steller count may be due to them being mostly on the main island and easier to count.

Steller Sea Lion 426
California Sea Lion 352
Harbour Seal 83
Elephant Seal 0 (over the last 5 days the 8 have not been seen)
Cormorant 495
Gull 373
Black Turnstone 12
Raven 2
Harlequin Duck 15
Spotted during the week
Bald Eagle 12 (4 today)
Dunlin 2
Sparrows 10
Canada Goose 22 (Left during the storm)
Surfbirds 7
Oyster Catcher 15

Storm Recovery

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Ecological Happenings

  • Juvenile Bald Eagle seen feeding on its prey
  • Small birds (including gulls) have been quite flighty given the number of eagles around.
  • Animals have settled into their pre-storm positions.
  • Steller with infected eyes seen again today high up on the rocks near camera 5. This is the only Steller we’ve seen come so far – up island.
  • Seagull with a broken wing feeding on a dead seagull.
  • Much calmer seas and winds today.

Marine Vessels

Two tour boats and one pleasure vessel.

Maintenance

  • Repairing some of the storm damage, e.g. electric fence, ceiling leaks into the energy building (albeit temporary).
  • Checking the water supply to the student house.
  • Taken the opportunity of the break in the swell to fill the cistern.

No visitors today.

Strong winds and gusts of up to 114km/hour

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Ecological Happenings

  • Winds were at high speed since 6am this morning. Storms have been rolling through the reserve and conditions are rough. Gusts at 62kts and on average wind speed has been around 45kts. At 20:30 the reserve is still experiencing winds of >40kts.
  • Dunlins back in the reserve today
  • Canada Geese flew back to land
  • Sea lions spent most of the day taking shelter in the sea!

The island lost wi fi and telephone connection for the afternoon. Not much on other fronts today given the conditions.

A much quieter day at RR

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Ecological Happenings

  • Weather has kept up its windy and rainy trend, with gusts and gale warnings in effect.
  • Over the last few days the number of Bald Eagles on the island has increased. Some of the 12 (mostly juvenile) seen the other day are still around the reserve.

Vessels/Aircrafts

One helicopter today and no marine vessels. Conditions were less than ideal for boating.

Other

Eco-guardians spent part of the day talking to the media (CTV and Times Columnist) about yesterday’s rescue situation.

9 divers rescued after boat capsized

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The boat was sighted overturned, approximately 300 meters south of the main island. 9 divers were clinging onto their boat for over an hour. Victoria Coast Guard responded promptly as did a tour boat in the area (Springtide). Eventually the 9 were reached to safety, with one in hypothermic state.

See TC Article: Nine DIvers rescued after boat capsizes near Race Rocks http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/nine-scuba-divers-rescued-in-rough-seas-off-race-rocks-1.2111723

Ecological Happenings

Rough sea conditions and winds up to 31 kts. Swells of up to 8ft @ Jordan River

Marine Vessels

One tour boat (Springtide) and one dive boat. Eventually the tour boat was involved in the rescue of the dive boat and its 9 divers.

Visitors

9 passengers from the tour boat Springtide were offloaded at RR docks, to make room for Springtide’s rescue attempt. The passengers were on the island for approximately 1 hour before returning to the boat.

12 Bald Eagles

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Ecological Happenings

  • 12 bald eagles (11 juveniles and 1 adult) alternating between south islands and west rocks.

Marine Vessels and Aircrafts

  • four tour boats
  • two pleasure craft

Maintenance

  • The plumbing issues in the keeper’s house seem to be solved.

No visitors today.

Quiet and Overcast at Race Rocks

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Ecological Happenings

Race Rocks continues to bare the brunt of the storm, with varying-rough weather conditions.

Marine Vessels and Aircrafts

  • One tour boat braving it in the rough conditions
  • One helicopter flying over relatively low this morning, which startled the animals

Maintenance

  • Continuing to sort out our water supply, which has been a time consuming job

No visitors today.

Seawater Temperature and Salinity October 2015

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Station Race Rocks Lightstation
Month: October Year: 2015
Observer: Lester B. Pearson College   of the Pacific
Date Time Sea Jar Hydro-   meter   No. Observed Density YSI Salinity YSI Temp °C
Temp. Temp.
°C °C
1 16:39 33.0 10.4
2 17:09 32.8 10.6
3 17:45 32.6 10.8
4 18:25 32.3 11.2
5 12:06 32.6 10.7
6 12:48 32.7 10.9
7 13:00 32.3 10.7
8 13:09 32.4 10.9
9 13:07 32.5 11.0
10 13:24 32.4 10.8
11 15:09 32.5 10.7
12 14:08 32.6 10.5
13 14:28 32.7 10.6
14 14:50 32.7 10.6
15 15:08 11 11 10,802 239 32.7 10.7
16 15:01 32.6 10.6
17 14:39 32.5 10.6
18 15:08 32.6 10.7
19 15:45 32.4 10.5
20 16:46 32.3 10.7
21 11:52 32.6 10.5
22 11:45 32.6 10.5
23 11:29 32.5 10.5
24 11:02 32.6 10.4
25 12:40 32.7 10.2
26 13:13 32.9 10.1
27 13:45 32.5 10.3
28 14:20 32.8 10.1
29 12:15 32.8 10.2
30 15:20 33.0 10.0
31 15:00 32.9 10.0
means 32.6 10.5