Author Archives: Rod King
Orca
Ecological Notes:Yesterday was special day! I was lucky to see the southern resident J17 orca pod swim west through Race Pass. Around 16:00, the pod traveled into the pass heading west. A black bear was sighted by an Eco-tour boat on Vancouver Island side walking the shoreline. The bears are waking up from hibernation and searching for food. Four elephant seal pups remain on the main island as well as one adult female and male. Lots of eagles, gulls and Canadian geese. The Canadian geese are very noisy and roam the island like they own the place! Lol.
Vessel Traffic : For most of the morning,a dive boat had divers doing drift dives in the main channel. Two Eco-tour boats and one private boat were sighted during the day.
Orca
Two Orca”s were spotted west of Race Rocks and into Race Pass. Whales were swimming into a strong tide in a resting mode. The whales did not make way until dark. Likely, the same whales as Sunday. They were to far away to get pictures for identification. Sea lions moved to the North East side of main island. Elephant seals are starting to molt and are very sleepy.
Orca
3 Orca. Spotted from top of light house traveling East. 5 miles east of Race rocks.
Animal census
Census March 7 2021
Stelller Sea lion 22
Harbour seals 40
California sea lion 22
Elephant seal adult male 1
Elephant seal female 1
Elephant seal pup 4
Eagles 8
black turnstones 8
Killdeer 0
Gulls 44
Cormorants 138
Pigeon guillemot 18
Black oystercatchers 6
Canada geese 6
Sea otter 1
Orca 2
Sea lion and Orca
Eagle Wing tours vessel 4 Ever Wild notified me of this sea lion in trouble photo by Val Shore. I have called DFO for help. Orca T49A2 49A3 in Race Pass going west.
Elephant seal
Elephant seal pups
. The geese are landing daily on the island.Elephant seal pups are moving around the island and getting closer to the main house. Many eagles around the island today.
Sea otter back
One tour boat today in main channel. Eagles all over the island. 1 sea otter off boat ramp eating sea urchin. Canada geese are claiming parts of the island. Bird of prey is feeding at night on some of the gulls. Perhaps a owl but I have not seen it yet. The leftovers from the kills are scattered around the island every morning.