Category Archives: Bird Notes

BIRD LIST – Race Rocks Ecological Reserve

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The following Bird List for Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was reorganized by Ernie Chang of Metchosin, BC. in November 2024 in order to have the correct AOU NACC order and to add observations recorded in iNaturalist. The Race Rocks species list and image gallery with all species recorded in the Ecological Reserve is the source of the Race Rocks List.

Race Rocks List (in AOU NACC order) iNaturalist list (link to gallery)
Order Anseriformes: geese and ducks:
Chen caerulescens (Lesser Snow goose)
Anser albifrons (Greater white-fronted Goose) Anser albifrons – 1 (Greater White-Fronted Goose)
Branta bernicla (Black Brant Goose): Branta bernicla – 1  (Black Brant)
Branta hutchinsii (Cackling Goose): Branta hutchinsii – 1 (Cackling Goose)
Branta canadensi (Canada Goose): Branta Canadensis – 18 (Canada Goose)
Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard): Anas platyrhynchos – 1 (Mallard)
Anas carolinensis (Green-winged Teal): Anas crecca carolinensis – 1 (American Green-winged Teal)
Histrionicus histrionicus  (Harlequin duck) Histrionicus histrionicus – 8 (Harlequin Duck)
Melanitta perspicillata ( surf scoter) Melanitta perspicillata – 1 (Surf Scoter)
Bucephala albeola (Bufflehead) Bucephala albeola – 1 (Bufflehead)
Mergus merganser (Common merganser) Mergus merganser – 1 (Common Merganser)
Order Podicipediformes: grebes:
Aechmophorus occidentalis (Western Grebe): Aechmophorus occidentalis – 1 (Western Grebe)
Order Columbiformes: doves:
Columba livia (Rock Dove): Columba livia domestica (Feral Pigeon)
Order Charadriiformes: other shore&seabirds
Haematopus bachmani (Black oystercatcher): Haematopus bachmani – 19 (Black Oystercatcher)
Pluvialis squatarola (Black-bellied Plover): Pluvialis squatarola – 1 (Black-bellied Plover)
Pluvialis dominica (American Golden Plover): Pluvialis dominica – 1 (American Golden-Plover)
Charadrius vociferus (Kildeer): Charadrius vociferus – 1 (Killdeer)
Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel): Numenius phaeopus – 1 (Whimbrel)
Limosa fedoa (Marbled godwit) Limosa fedoa – 1 (Marbled Godwit)
Arenaria interpret (Ruddy turnstone): Arenaria interpres – 1 (Ruddy Turnstone)
Arenaria melanocephala (Black turnstone): Arenaria melanocephala – 19 (Black Turnstone)
Calidris canutus (Red Knot): Calidris canutus – 1 (Red Knot)
Aphriza virgata (Surfbird): Calidris virgata – 5 (Surfbird)
Calidris alba (Sanderling): Calidris alba – 2 (Sanderling)
Calidris alpina (Dunlin) Calidris alpina – 4 (Dunlin)
Calidris ptilocnemis (Rock sandpiper): Calidris ptilocnemis – 1 (Rock Sandpiper)
Calidris minutillam (Least sandpiper): Calidris minutilla – 1 (Least Sandpiper)
Calidris mauri  (Western sandpiper): Calidris mauri – 2 (Western Sandpiper)
Limnodromus griseus (Short-billed Dowitcher): Limnodromus griseus – 2 (Short-billed Dowitcher)
Actitis macularius (Spotted Sandpiper): Actitis macularius – 1 (Spotted Sandpiper)
Tringa incana (Wandering Tattler): Tringa incana – 1 (Chevalier errant)
Tringa melanoleuca (Greater Yellowlegs): Tringa melanoleuca – 1 (Greater Yellowlegs)
Phalaropus lobatus (Red-necked Phalarope): Phalaropus lobatus – 4 (Red-necked Phalarope)
Phalaropus fulicarius ( Red Phalarope): Phalaropus fulicarius – 1 (Red Phalarope)
Order Charadriiformes: Stercorarius Jaegers
Stercorarius pomarinus – 1 (Pomarine Jaeger)
Order Charadriiformes: Alcidae
Uria aalge (Common Murre): Uria aalge – 9 (Common Murre)
Cepphus columba (Pigeon Guillemot): Cepphus columba – 36 (Pigeon Guillemot)
Brachyramphus marmoratus (Marbled Murrelet ): Brachyramphus marmoratus – 1 (Marbled Murrelet)
Synthliboramphus antiquus (Ancient Murrelet): Synthliboramphus antiquus – 1 (Ancient Murrelet)
Cerorhinca monocerata (Rhinocerous Auklet): Cerorhinca monocerata – 3 (Rhinoceros Auklet)
Order Charadriiformes: Larinae: gulls:
Xema sabini – 1 (Sabine’s Gull)
Larus philadelphia (Bonapartes gull): Chroicocephalus philadelphia – 1 (Bonaparte’s Gull)
Larus heermanni (Heermann’s Gull): Larus heermanni – 14 (Heermann’s Gull)
Larus canis (Mew gull): Larus brachyrhynchus  – 1 (Short-billed Gull)
Larus occidentalis (Western gull): Larus occidentalis – 2 (Western Gull)
Larus californicus (Califiornia Gull): Larus californicus – 6 (California Gull)
Larus argentatus – 1(EuropeanHerring Gull)
Larus glaucescens (Glaucous-winged gull): Larus glaucescens – 13 (Glaucous-winged Gull)
Larus hyperbolus (Glaucous gull): Larus hyperboreus – 1 (Glaucous Gull)
Larus thayeri (Thayer’s gull): Larus glaucoides thayeri – 3 (Thayer’s Gull)
Rissa tridactyla (Black-legged Kittiwake): Rissa tridactyla – 1 (Black-legged Kittiwake)
Larus galucesens x occidentalis  -1 (Olympic Gull)
Order Charadriiformes: terns
Hydroprogne caspia(Caspian Tern): Hydroprogne caspia – 1 (Caspian Tern)
Sterna paradisaea – 1 (Arctic Tern)
Order Gaviformes: Loons
Gavia pacifica (Pacific Loon) Gavia pacifica – 2 (Pacific Loon)
Order Procellariiformes: albatrosses,shearwaters:
Phoebastria mutabilis (Laysan Albatross):
Ardenna tenuirostris (Short-tailed Shearwater) Ardenna tenuirostris – 2 (Short-tailed Shearwater)
Order Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae cormorants
Phalacrocorax penicilatu (Brandt’s Cormorant): Urile penicillatus – 18 (Brandt’s Cormorant)
Phalacrocorax pelagicus (Pelagic Cormorant): Urile pelagicus – 9 (Pelagic Cormorant)
Phalacrocorax auritas (Double Crested Cormorant): Nannopterum auritum – 5 (Double-crested Cormorant)
Order Pelecaniformes: Pelicans and Herons
Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown pelican): Pelecanus occidentalis – 5 (Brown Pelican)
Ardea herodia (Great Blue Heron): Ardea herodias – 1 (Great Blue Heron)
Order Cathartiformes: Vultures
Cathartes aura (Turkey Vulture):
Order Acciptriformes: hawks and eagles:
Pandion haliaetus (Osprey): Pandion haliaetus – 1 (Osprey)
Haliacetus leucocepfalus (Bald eagle): Haliaeetus leucocephalus – 34 (Bald Eagle)
Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk): Buteo jamaicensis calurus – 1 (Western Red-tailed Hawk)
Order Strigiformes: owls:
Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl): Bubo virginianus – 1 (Great Horned Owl)
Bubo scandiacus (Snowy Owl): Bubo scandiacus – 1 (Snowy Owl)
Strix varia (Barred Owl): Strix varia – 1 (Barred Owl)
Aegolius funereus (Boreal Owl): Aegolius funereus – 1 (Boreal Owl)
Order: Coraciiformes 
Megaceryle alcyon  ( Belted Kingfisher):
Order Falconiformes: falcons:
Falco peregrinus (Peregrine falcon):
Order Passeriformes: corvidae
Corvus caurinus (North Western Crow): Corvus brachyrhynchos caurinus – 1 (Northwestern Crow)
Corvus corax (Common Raven): Corvus corax – 1 (Common Raven)
Order Passeriformes: Alaudidae
Eremophila alpestris (Horned lark): Eremophila alpestris – 1 (Horned Lark)
Order Passeriformes: Hirundinidae
Progne subis (Purple martin):
Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow): Hirundo rustica – 1 (Barn Swallow)
Order Passeriformes: Regulidae
Regulus satrapa (Golden-crowned kinglet): Regulus satrapa – 1 (Golden-crowned Kinglet)
Order Passeriformes: Troglodytidae
Troglodytes pacificus (Pacific wren): Troglodytes pacificus – 2 (Pacific Wren)
Order Passeriformes: Sturnidae
Sturnus vulgaris (European Starling):
Order Passeriformes: Turdidae
Turdus migratorius (American Robin): Turdus migratorius – 1 (American Robin)
Order Passeriformes: Motacilladea
Anthus rubescens (American Pipit): Anthus rubescens – 1 (American Pipit)
Order Passeriformes: Fringillidae
Spinus tritis (American Goldfinch) Spinus tristis – 1 (American Goldfinch)
Order Passeriformes: Calcaridae
Calcarius lapponicus (Lapland Longspur): Calcarius lapponicus – 1 (Lapland Longspur)
Plectrophenax nivalis (Snow Bunting): Plectrophenax nivalis – 1 (Snow Bunting)
Order Passeriformes: Passerellidae sparrows
Junco hyemalis (Oregon Junco): Junco hyemalis – 1 (Dark-eyed Junco)
Passerella iliaca (Fox Sparrow): Passerella iliaca – 1 (Fox Sparrow)
Zonotricha atricapilla (Golden-crowned sparrow): Zonotrichia atricapilla – 1 (Golden-crowned Sparrow)
Passerculus sandwichensis (Savannah sparrow): Passerculus sandwichensis – 1 (Savannah Sparrow)
Passer domesticus (House Sparrow): Passer domesticus – 1 (House Sparrow)
Melospiza melodia (Song Sparrow):
Order Passeriformes: Icteridae
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Yellow-headed blackbird) Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus – 1 (Yellow-headed Blackbird)
Agelaius phoeniceus (Red-winged blackbird) Agelaius phoeniceus – 1 (Red-winged Blackbird)
Molothrus ater (Brown-headed cowbird):
Order Passeriformes: Parulidae
Dendroica coronata (Audubon’s yellow-rumped warbler): Setophaga coronata – 1 (Yellow-rumped Warbler)
Setophaga townsendi (Townsend’s warbler) Setophaga townsendi – 1 (Townsend’s Warbler)
Now if anyone wants to volunteer to do the same with the other Chordates, the  invertebrates, algae and fungi on the Race Rocks Taxonomy , examine  iNaturalist records for other Ecological Reserves, Ernie Chang  has produced this handbook: https://ecoreserves.bc.ca/2024/11/29/using-ecoreserves-of-bc-umbrella-for-birds/

Animal Census November 25 2024

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RR Ecoreserve ANIMAL CENSUS .
recorded by Derek Sterling
2024-11-25 2024-12-18 2024-12-25
Elephant Seal(male)
Elephant seal (female) 1
Steller’s Sea Lion 289
California Sea Lion 263
Harbour Seal 23
Sea Otter
Orca
Humpback 3
Gray Whale
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Canada Geese 27
Harlequin Duck 4
Black Oystercatcher 12
Black Turnstone 28
Surfbird
Whimbrel
Killdeer 3
Dunlin
Black-bellied Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Rhinoceros Auklet
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Glaucous Winged Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous X Western Gull Hybrid
Iceland(Thayer’s) Gull
Heerman’s Gull
California Gull
Short-billed Gull
Gull Species unknown 226
Gull Species 2
Gull Species 3
Cormorant total
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double-Crested Cormorant
Cormorant species unknown 283
Pelagic Cormorant
Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle Juvenile 4
Bald Eagle Adult 6
Peregrine Falcon
Raptor Species 1
Raptor Species 2
Raptor Species 3
Western Crow
Raven
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Pacific Wren
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Other Species 1
Other Species 2
Other Species 3

 in addition to the “Regular” birds i saw large flocks  (up to about 70 birds each) of Black Oyster Catchers and Black turnstones.

  • Animal Tracking and Injuries:          
    • 1 California Sea Lion identified as “Tuck” disentangled last year at Race Rocks…. still has a large open wound on the back of his neck, but it is quite well healed compared to the original injury

Mixed Weather

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Ecological Notes:

  • Female Elephant Seal has left the ramp area…… back to sea for now it appears.
  • Sunday night high winds brought down the pier fencing, and the Sea lions sure took advantage of that fast!

  • Very young, tagged,  Elephant Seal visited the ramp area briefly. I saw him coming up fast, so I left the area. When I returned a couple hours later, there were sea lions on the ramp and the Elephant Seal was gone. This was at the same  time the adult female left.
  • A known California Sea Lion, that was freed of an entanglement last year is around the north side. Although the wound still looks rough, the last Ecoguardian (Kendra) assured me this is a good improvement.
  • In addition to the expected numbers, there have been a couple very large flocks of both Black Oyster Catchers, and Black Turnstones. Groups were seen briefly, before flying off.
  • Nearly double the normal number of Canada Geese here still. 

  • There are still many Humpback Whales viewable from the park, and Transient Orca have passed by nearly every other day.

Visitors:

  • Work crew still working on the windows on the Student and Science centre, as well as finishing the inside of the last window on the main house.
  • A small group of donors, and a couple college staff visited for a tour of the facility.

Facility Work:

  • Ongoing repairs and upgrades to the electrical fencing. Awaiting new connectors to replace a couple sections and add a new section.
  • Fuel transfers and an extra check on battery electrolyte levels.
  • Although not overly high, wind direction has blown some doors off, including the boat shed …. minor items, but they add up!

  • Taking advantage of the rain periods to clean the sidewalks (mostly goose poop), as well as cleaning the salt off the windows.

  • Cleaned the windows on the tower, inside and out.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Still a few Ecotourism vessels
  • 2 Jet skis have visited the reserve a couple days in a row.

 Noted Infractions:

  • The first time the jet skis were scene, they were doing doughnuts and high speed passes in the main channel, disturbing birds and sea lions. My camera was charging, but i signalled to them with the blowhorn siren and waved them off.

  • The next day, they stayed out of the reserve, playing in one of the standing current waves a little further out. They did a wide sweep around the area on their way back (hopefully realizing they were being watched).

Weather Events:

  • Monday, November 11:
    • Sky: overcast with frequent sunny breaks
    • Wind: Morning Westerly winds to 25kts, veering to west at 5-10 kts in the afternoon
    • Sea: 1 meter swell, calming to slight chop by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 12oC, High 18oC
  • Tuesday, November 12:
    • Sky: Overcast, with sunny breaks
    • Wind: mixed N-NE 5-10 kts
    • Sea:  slight chop, but a swell wrapping around into the pier area by afternoon
    • Temperature Low 10oC, High 112oC
  • Wednesday, November 13:
    • Sky: Overcast with light rain later in the day
    • Wind: Variable direction Northerly winds, 5-10 kts, shifting to WSW later in the afternoon
    • Sea:  light chop, some tidal swell in the reserve
    • Temperature Low 9oC, High 13oC

 

 

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

 

Weather – Current:

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

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Our Last Census Day!

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Sunday, September 29, 2024

Today was our last census!!!

We took our coffees up to the tower for the 7am Low tide.

Animal Census:

Birds:

  • Gulls: 1580
  • Cormorants: 22
  • Canada Goose: 22
  • Turnstones:
  • Shorebird: 1

Would love help on the ID of this.. email us if you know!

Mammals:

  • Stellar Sea Lion: 306
  • California Sea Lion: 834
  • Harbour Seal: 81
  • Elephant Seal female: 2

Animal Tracking and Injuries:

Spotted a Stellar Sea lion with fishing line wrapped around his neck ☹

Reported to DFO.

Since we are leaving on Tuesday, we spent the day cleaning the house, and washing the windows.

As well as our daily fence repair. It’s a particularly nauseating feeling to wake up each morning, look out at the beautiful view, and survey the extent of fence damage that has happened overnight…. This is a task I definitely will not miss.

Weather: Sunny all day, Very windy all night (35+ Knts, dropping all day to around 20knts W/SW)

Whale Watching Vessels: 10

Private Vessels: 2

**Loads of Humpbacks hanging about 😊

Yippee we made it

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Jump for joy

Wildlife notes:

The chicks near the house that hatched on June 28 made it past their 4 week birthday. Seeing what goes on around here, that is an accomplishment! At three weeks old their wing feathers were just starting to grow.

Four week old chicks

The other exciting news is two whimbrel visited the east beach briefly.

Whimbrel

 

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • topped up battery fluid
  • weeding around desalinator building

Vessels:

13 ecotourism

Weather:

Fog lifting by noon, sunny afternoon. Moderate westerly breeze most of the day, building to near gale in the evening. Daytime temperature range: low 10, high 15.

Tiny fishes

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Wildlife notes:

The gulls are feeding their chicks the tiniest of fishes. The gulls are large compared to the pigeon guillemots. Seems incongruous when you compare the size of their catch to what the pigeon guillemots brings back.

The male elephant seal is travelling further afield. He used to hang out in the water near the jetty and bellow but today I heard him call at the east beach and then at the west shore.  Nobody answers him. I wonder if he will leave soon.

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • cleaned windows on Student Building and Keeper’s house
  • removed vegetation at the Keeper’s house door

Vessels:

9 ecotourism, 1 private

Weather:

Sunny and westerlies. Fresh breeze most of the day, except gale force in the evening. Daytime temperatures: low 12, high 13 degrees.

Red in tooth and claw

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Wildlife notes:

These two chicks were found this morning on the walkway down to the Tank Shed. The nest was inches away from the walkway. There seems to be two likely suspects, the gulls on the rock wall a few feet above them or the ones across the walkway. The dead chick’s parents were still there, even 8 hours later, continuing to defend their tiny chick less area.

Wildlife notes:

Three short-billed dowitchers visited the east beach.

Short-billed dowitcher

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • finished weeding around Energy building
  • house cleaning

Vessels:

21 ecotourism, 6 private

Hundreds of vessels have transited the area since mid June. Generally the vessels are very compliant and only a few of the larger vessels appear to travel a bit faster that what is required to maintain bare steerage in the tidal current. Today was the first incident of excessive speed and possibly also a fishing violation (I do not have a rangefinder to be sure).

Weather:

Sunny day. Light westerlies in the morning, fresh breeze by late afternoon. Day time temperature range: low 12, high 18.

Progne subus: Purple martin – The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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On June 20, 2045 , Race Rocks Ecoguardian Christine Chourmouzis found a purple martin in her house

she writes in her log: Two purple martins were spotted on top of the tower and on roof of the Keepers’s house around noon.  At 3 pm I discovered a purple martin had made its way down the chimney pipe into the wood stove. I am so glad the ashes were cold and I was able to get it back outside! 

 

  • Purple martins suffered a severe population crash in the 20th century widely linked to the release and spread of European starlings in North America. European starlings and house sparrows compete with martins for nest cavities. Where purple martins once gathered in the thousands, by the 1980s they had all but disappeared. (Wikipedia)

They have excellent aerodynamic  maneuvering control as they fly quickly over open areas catching insects with a wide opening mouth. They are valued for their voracious appetite for mosquitoes and flies. With their food being flying insects, the island certainly provides an abundant supply of the kelp fly Coelopa vanduzeei

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Sub-phylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus:Progne 
Species: subis. (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Name: Purple martin

Physical Description:

 It is the largest swallow in North America. 
With an average length of 20 cm (7.9 in) and a wingspan of up to 38 cm (15 in), the purple martin is the largest amongst the 90 odd species in the family Hirundinidae.[9]
Purple martins are sexually dimorphic. Adult males are entirely black with a glossy steel blue sheen, the only swallow in North America with such coloration. Adult females are dark on top with some steel blue sheen, and lighter underparts. Adults have a slightly forked tail.

Relationship with humans:

Continual maintenance and protection is required, as European starlings and house sparrows compete with martins as cavity-nesters, and will fight with martins over nest sites. Thus, unmonitored purple martin houses are often overtaken by more aggressive, non-native species.[3] Purple martin proponents are motivated by the concern that the purple martin would likely vanish from eastern North America were it not for this assistance.[24]( Wikipedia)

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

June 20 2024 Christine Chourmouzis – Ecoguardian

Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Warden’s Report June 14 2024

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Garry Fletcher, ER Warden for Race Rocks visited the reserve on June 14, 2024

Greg Dickinson from Pearson College provided transport in Second Nature for the following group: 

  • Lisette and Mads – Mads is a  former student and both are volunteering at Pearson College
  • Garry Fletcher – Park Warden
  • James Tuohy – future Ecoguardian
  • Ann Nightingale and Andrew Jacobs – Rocky Point Bird Observatory

Upon docking I was struck by the number of Pigeon Guillemots on the rocks . Although I haven’t checked back in our records, there certainly seems to have been an increase in numbers 

We were greeted by the new ecoguardian  Christine  Chourmouzis .  In addition to having a general survey of the reserve, I was able to direct Christine and James through the process of entering them as editors on racerocks.ca and creating a log and posting it on the Race Rocks website. 

Supplies for the Ecoguardian are off-loaded

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pigeon Guillemots also nest on the island

 

When I was teaching at Pearson College, we often monitored a set of tidepools out on the island’s West side. I checked out those pools again and took photos which show the state of algae growth. Some observations in the tidepool files provide a baseline for comparative studies in the future.  These files are on the tidepools

Today’s observations are in the set of photos below

I checked pool #4 which has a white quartz intrusion through it to see if the white periwinkle snails were still there. 

 

A review of some of the installations on the Island

 

Due to recent notices on social media about the problems that pet owners are having when their dogs get exposed to foxtail , I was concerned about whether there was a similar problem with marine mammals. This guy certainly seems to be enjoying the location however. 

I tried to find the small patch of the rare plant  seaside  plant Romanzoffia on the rocks on the East side of the house.  Unfortunately the area was covered with knotweed now. We will have to check again in the winter. 

The Turkish marsh gladiolus is now in bloom. This is a good example of a garden escape, planted by lighthouse keepers probably as much as 80 years ago, they still come up every summer .

 

 

Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink

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Water delivery:

A desalinator is used to produce fresh water at the Rocks. It hasn’t been working for several weeks, and while waiting for parts, we needed to boat in fresh water. Today Greg and Cedrick ran two fresh water delivery trips to the island. The water is pumped from a tank on the boat to the fresh water tank near the house using fire hoses.  Over the past week since I arrived, the water reservoir went from 1600 L to 1500 L. This an average use of 15L a day for the mandatory solar panel and window cleaning and for house use but with careful conservation (e.g. no daily dish washing, few and quick showers). An interesting water note: with the 10m run from the hot water on demand system to the shower, about 8 L of water will run from the faucet before hot water reaches the shower. In our city homes we let this amount of water run down the drain all the time – here I catch it in a bucket.  With today’s delivery of 1400L water today, our supply is up to 2900 L.  After tomorrows delivery, the tank should be full and I can consider doing a load of laundry at a cost of 150L of water!

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • water delivery
  • thistles
  • “weed whacking” – cutting grass from the walkway

Wildlife notes:

Eagles visiting again, the four Canada geese remain, and the elephant seal flattened at least one more nest. The gulls who had the interaction with the seal in yesterdays post, lost their last egg today – cause unknown.

Last to leave South Seal Rocks on the flooding tide

Eagle leaving the SW shore with what appears to be a sea creature not a gull.

Vessels:

> 5 Ecotourism boats

Weather:

Sunny day winds westerlies 10 – 20 knots