Category Archives: Animal census

July 18 Census

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Mammals

sea otter: 1
elephant seal: 2 (male and female)
harbour seal: 192 (48 South Islands, 54 South Seal Rocks, 36 Middle, 16 Turbine, 33 North Is., 5 Great Race Rock)
sealion: 5 (on West Rock, too far to identify)

Birds

cormorant: 18
gulls: 506 (18 South Islands, 488 Great Race Rock)
oyster catcher: 10 adults, 1 chick
pigeon guillemot: 26
surfbird: 38
black turnstone: 28
ruddy turnstone: 2
western sandpiper: 1
least sandpiper: 1
harlequin duck: 2

Wildlife notes:

The last of the gull chicks are hatching. Only about 5% or less of the gulls are still sitting on eggs. Gulls get a bad rap and called names like shit hawks. It is true there are white streaks and splotches everywhere, but if you watch the nesting gulls, parents and even the larger chicks, they take great care to walk up to 6 feet away from their nesting area to do their business.

Some photos the elephant seals sleeping side by side.

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • thistle removal complete

Vessels:

3 ecotourism, 1 private

Weather:

Cloudy early morning. Fresh westerly breeze in the morning, steady strong breeze the rest of the day. Daytime temperatures: minimum 13, maximum 14 degrees.

July 11 Census

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Mammals

sea otter: 1
elephant seal: 2 (male and female)
harbour seal: 126 (46 South Islands, 6 South Seal Rocks, 18 Middle, 33 Turbine, 21 North Is., 2 Great Race Rock)
humpback whale: 1 (approx. 1 mile to the east)

Birds

cormorant: 28
gulls: 628 ( 34 South Islands, 14 South Seal Rocks, 4 Middle, 1 Turbine, 575 Great Race Rock)
oyster catcher: 10 adults, 3 chicks
pigeon guillemot: 86
surfbird: 27
black turnstone: 16
ruddy turnstone: 1
western sandpiper: 1
least sandpiper: 2
harlequin duck: 1
swallow: 1
purple martin: 1

Western sandpiper

Least sandpiper

Ruddy turnstone

Wildlife notes:

The California sea lion with the wounds on his flipper hasn’t been spotted for a few days.  The new black oyster catcher chick hatched on July 5 in the open on the western shore has been moved up higher on the rocks.  The pigeon guillemots are easy company – neither the gulls or the oyster catchers mind them around.

Another little climber. Hatched July 5.

Black oyster catcher chick eating its lunch.

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • cleaned Keeper’s House windows

Vessels:

21 ecotourism, 1 private, 1 outrigger canoe paddler

Weather:

Sunny breezy day. Westerlies strengthening to near gale by early evening. Most of the day 12 to 14 degrees with a high of 17 at 19:00.

July 5 Census

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Mammals

sea otter: 1
California sea lion: 1 (injured)
elephant seal: 2 (male and female)
harbour seal: 123 (26 South Islands, 64 South Seal rocks, 8 Middle, 16 Turbine, 9 North Island)

Birds

bald eagle: 4
cormorant: 28
gulls: 496
oyster catcher: 11 adults, 3 chicks
pigeon guillemot: 24
great blue heron: 1
surfbird: 5
black turnstone: 1
harlequin duck: 1

Wildlife notes:

To the census I have to add 12 small flashes of white, travelling in a tight group – did some impressive high speed acrobatics on the north shore.  The pigeon guillemots are under represented. They have been travelling in and out all day with few remaining on the island at any one time. Their nesting locations are easier to spot now. The birds land near the nesting area with their prize and stall for a while, seeming to look about cautiously before they approach their nests, but perhaps they are just showing off their catch. The California sealion has a wound (one large and central, one smaller near the tip) on his left flipper and has dipped in and out of water many times today.  The black oyster catcher chicks on the bolder beach near the house, first photographed June 12, are now about half the size of their parents. A new black oyster catcher chick hatched today on the western shore, in the open without any sort of nest. Not many new gull chicks today. The elephant seals continue to tumble and grumble, then separate and ignore each other.

Heading to the nest

Black oyster catcher with the 3+ week old chicks.

Newly hatched black oyster catcher chick.

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • cleaned Keeper’s House windows

Vessels:

14 ecotourism, 5 private, 1 highly skilled outrigger canoe paddler

Weather:

ENE 6 -10 knots most of the day, switching W 15 in the early evening. High of 26 degrees.

Windy Day

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It was a windy day – blew the door off the Derrick Shed and the hair off the elephant seal’s head. The electric fence suffered from the winds over the past few days and needed replacement strands in two sections.

Wildlife notes:

The pigeon guillemots were around in the morning and mostly left again by 7pm. I found what I assume to be a pigeon guillemot nest in the rocks at the west end of the helipad.  Judging by the egg orientation, the little bone and other items which get moved around, it seems to be an active nest. Two least sandpipers were spotted on the northeast shore.

Least sandpiper

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • replaced 2 sections of electric fence
  • thistles – new record, an 11″ root.
  • topped up battery fluid

Vessels:

10 Ecotourism boats, 1 private

Weather:

WNW 13 and clouds in the morning, clearing early afternoon with winds building to WNW 33 by late afternoon.

June 26th Census

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Mammals

sea otter: 1
California sea lion: 4 (2 South Islands, 2 Great Race Rock)
elephant seal: 1 (male)
harbour seal: 139 (60 South Islands, 9 South Seal rocks, 29 Middle,  24 Turbine, 17 North Island)

Birds

bald eagle: 4
cormorant: 14
gulls: 415
oyster catcher: 8 adults, 2 chicks
pigeon guillemot: 5
barn swallow: 4

Wildlife notes:

Only 5 pigeon guillemots remained on the island today. The elephant seal has large areas of dark skin showing and spent his day in the same spot. It was a quiet day.

Facility work:

The overcast conditions necessitated running the generator for 4.5 hours.

  • cleaned solar panels
  • thistles
  • kindling

Vessels:

9 Ecotourism boats, 1 private

Weather:

Windy day. Low cloud, distant fogbank, winds W 29 in the morning with gusts to 36 by mid-morning. Cloudy throughout the day, scattered showers. Winds WNW 19 in the early evening.

DND:

Several blasts today.  No obvious signs of distress.

June 19th Census

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Mammals

sea otter: 1
California sea lion: 1
elephant seal: 1 (male)
harbour seal: 156 (46 South Islands, 21 South Seal rocks, 89 Middle and North Islands)

Birds

bald eagle: 4
cormorant: 28
gulls: 481 (451 Great Race Rock, 2 South Island, 28 South Seal Rock)
oyster catcher: 8 adults
pigeon guillemot: 53
harlequin duck: 1 young male, 2 females

Female harlequin duck

Visitors:

Greg and Cedric delivered two more loads of water. The tank is full with >4500L :)

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • water delivery
  • sorting tools and supplies

Vessels:

14 Ecotourism boats

Weather:

First day since June 11 to experience calm seas in the morning. Clear skies, winds light ESE veering to W 8 by evening.

June 5th Census

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Happy census day! See below for this week’s creatures.

Mammals:

California sea lions: 30
Elephant seals: 1 (male)
Harbour seals: 143
Sea otter: 1 (Ollie)
Steller sea lions: 8

Birds:

Bald eagle (adult): 2
Bald eagle (juvenile): 4
Barn swallows: 1
Canadian geese: 4
Cormorants: 62
Gulls: 358
Oyster catchers: 8
Pigeon guillemots: 103

Facility work:

  • Chopped wood
  • Cleaned solar panels
  • Cleaned windows of both houses
  • Finished weed whacking pathways

Vessels:

  • Ecotourism: 10 vessels
  • Private: 1 vessel

Weather:

  • Sky: Blue sky and sun
  • Wind: Low of 2 knots, High of 10 knots
  • Sea: Calm
  • Temperature: Low 7•C, High 16•C

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

May 30th Animal Census

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Today is animal census day! I swear all of the sea lions hide when it comes time to count them, but our big male elephant seal is still here. Upon a closer inspection (him lying directly out my front door) I actually think this is a different animal than the one that was here in March. At first I thought he had just gained weight back post moult but I think it’s just an older/larger male. It’s great to have him here either way!

May 30th Animal Census:

Mammals:

California sea lions: 20
Elephant seals: 3 (1 male, 2 females)
Harbour seals: 108
Sea otter: 1 (Ollie)
Steller sea lions: 6

Birds:

Bald eagle (adult): 3
Bald eagle (juvenile): 2
Barn swallows: 2
Canadian geese: 10
Cormorants: 23
Gulls: 336
Harlequin ducks: 10
Oyster catchers: 9
Pigeon guillemots: 75
Ravens: 1

Looks like the gull count will be going up soon!

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

Wednesday’s Animal Census

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It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to count the animals in the reserve! I find when I do this each week that I get competitive with myself and always want to spot more species than the week prior. Today was a win because I think it’s the most variety I’ve seen in one day so far!

Mammals:

California sea lions: 24
Elephant seals: 3 (females)
Harbour seals: 96
Sea otter: 1 (Ollie)
Steller sea lion: 7
Not quite in the reserve, but honourable mentions: 1 killer whale and 3 humpbacks

Birds:

Bald eagle (adult): 3
Bald eagle (juvenile): 3
Barn swallows: 3
Canadian geese: 10
Cormorants: 102
Gulls: 369
Harlequin ducks: 8
Oyster catchers: 8
Pigeon guillemots: 64
Ravens: 2
Whimbrel: 1 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

May 15th Animal Census

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Another great day in paradise! See below for today’s animal census.

Mammals:
California sea lions: 18
Steller sea lions: 16
Harbour seals: 87
Elephant seals: 3 (all female)
Sea otter: 1 (Ollie)

Birds:
Gulls: 231
Geese: 6
Bald eagles: 1 adult, 2 young
Pigeon guillemots: 208
Oyster catchers: 5
Cormorants: 42

Bonus – 16 brown pelicans yesterday!

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **