Author Archives: Rod King

DND blasting

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Ecological Notes: Again, DND blasting. Today, five good bangs!

Elephant seals: The pups continue to molt and are very active. For the last couple of days, they continue to play, wrestle and move around the island.

Facility Work: Scaffolding up to scrub and power wash the buildings and walk-ways.

Vessel Traffic: Two private boats, three DND ribs, one marine mammal observation vessel.

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

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

 

 

DND blasting today.

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Ecological Notes: DND Live Testing Today

Animal Tracking and Injuries: California Sea Lion on the island with a band on neck. This has been reported.

Vessel Traffic: 3 DND and one marine mammal observer

Weather Events: West wind at 25 knots all day

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

Weather–Past:  http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72

Other notes: Today, DND produced seven to 9 test blasts

Census report

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Ecological Notes: More Gulls less Cormorants this count.

Birds

  • Harlequin duck 14
  • Snowy plover 0
  • Bald eagle adult 4
  • Bald eagle juvenile 6
  • Turnstones 14
  • Killdeer 0
  • Gulls 344
  • Cormorants 83
  • Pigeon guillemots 27
  • Oyster catcher 8
  • Canadian geese 16

Mammals

  • Harbour seal 126
  • California 23
  • Steller sea lion 40
  • Elephant seal male 0
  • Elephant seal female 2
  • Elephant seal pup 4
  • River otter 1

Vessel traffic: 2  SAR vessels

 

Weather Events: SE to West winds 20-30 knots lots of squalls .
Weather– Current: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72
Weather–Past: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72

 

 

Dunlin

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Ecological Notes:

Late in the afternoon today two Dunlin landed on the island.

Check out this link for more info on the Dunlin. https://racerocks.ca/calidris-alpina-dunlin-the-race-rocks-taxonomy/

 

Vessel traffic: Most of the day was quiet in the park. Two Eco-tour boats two private boats passed by. Water and supplies brought to the island today.

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

Weather–Past: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72

DFO

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Visitors: DFO was here today looking for the entangled California sea lion. Unfortunately they could not spot the animal.

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

Weather–Past: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72

Elephant seal active after 4 day nap

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Ecological Notes:

Lots of eagles today. Elephant seal still very active and moving around the island.

Vessel Traffic: One Eco Tour boat one private boat in the reserve.

Facility Work: Fuel and supplies brought to island today.

Weather Events: Warm in the sun with a light west wind.

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

Weather–Past: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72

 

 

Orca

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Ecological Notes: 7 Biggs Orca going west in Race Pass at 10:20.The whales IDs reported to me as the T109A2s with new calf T109A2C and the T86As pod.

Lots of Eagles around the island.

Vessel Traffic: 3 Eco tour boats in park today and two private boats.

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

Census: March 14 2021

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Ecological Notes:

  • Birds
  • Harlequin Duck 16
  • Snowy Plover 1
  • Bald eagle adult 6
  • Bald eagle juvenile 8
  • Turnstones 14
  • Killdeer 1
  • Gulls 92
  • Cormorants 473
  • Pigeon guillemots 47
  • Oyster catcher 13
  • Canadian geese 16

Mammals

    • Stelller sea lion 35
    • Harbour seal 41
    • California 21
    • Elephant seal male 1
    • Elephant seal female 1
    • Elephant seal pup 4
    • Sea otter 1

Vessel traffic: 1 Eco tour boat

 

Weather Events: Wind went from 5 knots west to 40 knots in 1 hour.
Weather– Current: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72
Weather–Past: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72

Killdeer

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Ecological Notes first Killdear spotted today.
Animal Tracking and Injuries: California sea lion with fishing gear around neck
Elephant seal pups:moving around the island.
Vessel Traffic.Sooke SAR vessel speeding in the park
Weather Events:spring flowers on island.
Weather– Current: http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72
Weather–Past:  http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72