Author Archives: Jillian Brown

Officially Sea Lion Season!

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BONUS! 2- Spectacular Rainbows!

Up before sunrise and already feeling a good flow to my morning routine. Of course coffee! Light up the woodstove and head out to start the generator. Today I skipped the Desalinater as our cistern (where we store our water to run through the Desalinater) needs a top up. The rain scheduled for today and tonight with add a little and then when Greg is out we plan to get the pump in the ocean to refill.

Today is Animal Census Day! The Lighthouse is the perfect perch to count the wildlife among the southern rocks and spot the Sea lions that are difficult around the edges of Great Race Rocks.

After this mornings routine I grabbed my journal, clicker and headed out to start counting the animals at sunrise accompanied by low tide.

Low tide is a great time to count the seals lounging on the surrounding rocks.

Harbor Seals lounging at Low tide on the South Islands

Through out the day I spent wandering the out skirts of Great Race Rocks and up the lighthouse a few times.

Black Turnstones seemed the most active today out of the others I’ve been here, as well as the fox sparrows.

Black Turnstone

Fox Sparrow

Seemed like a slow day for the cormorants compared to others, however, my first Humpback Whale while here, made up for that!

Humpback Whale passing through on the South West.

Humpback Whale Diving 4-6 minutes

 

Animal Census:

1- Humpback Whale

1- Bald Eagle

1- Sanderling

1- Sea Otter

1- Western Sandpiper

3- Black Oystercatchers

9- Canada Geese

10- Fox Sparrow

15- Black Turnstone

18- Cormorants

194- Harbor Seals

199- Stellar Sealion

679- Glaucous-winged Gull – 2- injured unable to fly (1 passed morning of 20th)

882- California Sealion

Bonus:

2- SPECTACULAR Rainbows!

 

Bald Eagle out on North Rocks

 

Black Oystercatcher

 

Steamy California Sealions after a rain storm

Stellar Sealion male yawning

Facility Work:

Topped up water in Batteries

Animal Census

 

Weather:

Overcast on and off

Rain storms in the afternoon

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

Weather – Past: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Environment Canada forecast:

https://weather.gc.ca/marine/region_e.html?mapID=02

Welcome to the Rock!

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My First Sunset on Race Rocks!

I have been counting down the days to this moment and I couldn’t be more excited and honoured!

I was fortunate enough to arrive at Race Rocks a day early and spend an afternoon and night learning from Cedric! What a huge benefit! We walked through the routine and technical operations with the Generator and Desalinater. Happy to answer my many questions and repeat the processes. He was super knowledgeable on history, ecology and one heck of a handy man!

The following morning (which is today) we walked through everything once more before Greg arrived with a tank full of Diesel for the generator and we all teamed up on a few tasks. Around 1600hr I had my final wave and am now alone… well… that is to say, without another human. I’m not sure I’ve actually lived within such a large population in many years now.

Let me introduce myself. I’m Jillian Brown, the new Eco-Guardian! For the past 2 years I have been CEO and Lead Guide for a Not-Profit camp that takes First Responders, Veterans, and at risk youth affected by PTSD out into the wild, and share tools to move that trapped energy in a safe and natural environment. Sharing how to find comfort within the uncomfortable. Accompanied by this, I am an adventure/expedition photographer, writer, public speaker and mental health/ptsd educator and advocate. I have had the pleasure to explore many corners of North America through paddling, hiking and pushing limits. Achieving both a world first (paddling a tandem sea kayak down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon) and a Canadian First (Paddling a new route across America). Connecting to nature, people, cultures, myself and so much more along the way! This has opened up amazing opportunities for speaking, from Cadet and military members, to high schools, CBC Documentaries, Conventions, and universities! @jillianabrownphotography

All Leading me here to this moment to connect to Race Rocks!

AND WHAT A BEAUTY OF A SUNSET TO SET THE STAGE FOR MY STAY HERE!

 

Facility Work:

Repaired broken siding

Transferred Diesel

Filled Generator

Filled Battery Banks

Repaired Electric Fences