Mammals:

• Steller sea lion: 2  (May 30: 10, May 23: 6, May 15: 21, May 8: 37)
• California sea lion: 12
• Harbour seal: 103 (May 30: 90, May 23: 50)
• Elephant seal: 2 female

Birds:

• Gulls: 645  (May 30: 464, May 23: 467, May 15: 391, May 8: 114)
• Pigeon guillemot: 82 (May 30: 6, May 23: 30, May 15: 78, May 8: 153)
• Cormorants: 42
• Canadian geese: 6
• Bald eagle: 2
• Black oystercatcher: 12

Wildlife notes

The female elephant seal is progressing in her molt, shedding more around the eyes, mouth, flippers and genitals. There have been several eagles today but I can’t tell if it is the same eagle that perches on the South Islands or different ones.  There may have also been two purple martins on the island today. I couldn’t get a photo but they had the same behavour as the ones that visited last year – searching and landing on top of the tower.

Elephant seal rubbing her face

Canada goose in the grass

Facility work

• cleaned solar panels
• weed whacking
• started cleaning the laundry room

Vessels

• ecotourism: 4
• private: 4

Weather

Mostly clear skies. Winds variable in direction, ranging from calm to a gentle breeze. Daytime temperatures: low 10, high 20.

While the winds were light today at the surface, the winds aloft produced some awesome high clouds.

Mammals:

• Steller sea lion: 10  (May 23: 6, May 15: 21, May 8: 37)
• California sea lion: 31
• Harbour seal: 90 (May 23: 50)
• Elephant seal: 2 female (May 23: 4)

Birds:

• Gulls: 464 (May 23: 467, May 15: 391, May 8: 114)
• Pigeon guillemot: 6 – been gone all day (May 23: 30, May 15: 78, May 8: 153)
• Cormorants: 36
• Canadian geese: 6
• Bald eagle: 2
• Harlequin duck: 3
• Black oystercatcher:  12
• Barn swallow: 2

I climbed the tower twice today, once at low tide and again near high tide at 7pm. There were hardly any pigeon guillemots to be counted. Wildlife species that were present in the past week but not observed today include: brown pelican, savannah sparrow, humming bird.

Gulls mating

Black oystercatcher foraging

Facility work

• cleaned solar panels
• topped up battery fluid levels
• measured specific gravity after equalization charge run yesterday

DND Activity

At least 5 explosions today. Birds on the west shore took flight.

Vessels

• ecotourism: 24
• private: 6

Weather

Variable calm to gentle breeze throughout the day. Daytime temperature: low 10, high 15. 15

Mammals:

• Steller sea lion: 6  (May 15: 21, May 8: 37)
• California sea lion: 27
• Harbour seal: 50
• Elephant seal: 4 female

Birds:

• Gulls: 467 (May 15: 391, May 8: 114)
• Pigeon guillemot: 30 (under represented, probably out fishing)   (May 15: 78, May 8: 153)
• Cormorants: 43
• Canadian geese: 6
• Bald eagle: 4
• Harlequin duck: 6
• Oyster catcher:  8

Over the past three weeks there has been a reduction in the number of Stellar sea lions and a big increase in the number of gulls. Wildlife species that were present in the past week but not observed today include: brown pelican, savannah sparrow, barn swallow, killdeer, wandering tattler.

Pelagic cormorants

Sea lions dogpiled on the prized flat rock near the Jetty.

This sea lion was swimming around the dogpile on flat rock. I imaging it would hurt to haul oneself out of the water and up the rocks with an injury like that.

Facility work

• cleaned solar panels
• weeded along the panels mounted on the ground, shore side of the energy building. I walk there every day and the tall grass hides the rocky, uneven, ankle biting terrain.

Vessels

• ecotourism: 4
• private: 0

Weather

Winds southwest and westerlies 10 to 18 most of the day, westerly 25 in early evening. Cloudy day. At 8pm the batteries are only at 69% charge and 50.4V. Shame there wasn’t enough sun today. The generator may auto start before the sun comes out tomorrow. It hasn’t run for the last two days.