Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.1 ºC »» Min. 7.0 ºC »» Reset 8.0 ºC »»Rain 0.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: Another day of birds coming and going, most of the feeding is taking place quite a distance outside the MPA boundries but still many birds setting down here on Gr. Race and surrounding rocks. Still too few Sea Lions for this time of year. Guess they are just too nervous to return, did hear that they have extremly good memories and are most likely avoiding the area because of the blasting.No sightings of the injured California Sea Lion.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 7 Ecotour boats and 4 pleasurecraft today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:31 PM
Category Archives: Bird Notes
Counted over 500 Cormorants just on North Rocks
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.2 ºC »» Min. 7.0 ºC »» Reset 8.1 ºC
MARINE LIFE: Another good day for sea birds feeding, thousands of birds from Whirl Bay and as far as you can see to the east , every rock including Gr. Race ‘covered’ in birds. Counted over 500 Cormorants just on North Rocks and the rocks to the Southeast and most likely at least that many in the kelp beds. Not many Sea Lions have hauled out, only 15 along the north shoreline of Gr. Race, a group of 11 Northern are bunched together on the high point just east of the house but are very edgy.Most of the animals hauled out are on the middle rock.The injured California Sea Lion was gone at first light and we have not seen him all day. There were 7 geese today.There is no standing fresh water but they do enjoy the greens. A small group – 5 or 6 – Transient Orca were hunting in the entrance to Pedder Bay and took at least one seal. There were several pleasurecraft and 7 Ecotour boats watching the kill. After the boats left the Orca moved west along the shoreline quite slowly and at times rested on the surface for 5 minutes at a time. It took them a good hour to go from the east tip of Bentinck Island to Whirl Bay, I guess they continued west but did not see them again.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There was 1 dive charter in the West Race area, 13 Ecotour boats and 7 pleasurecraft through today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 PM
Sealions still scared off by DND blasting
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.0 ºC »» Min. 4.9 ºC »» Reset 7.1 ºC
MARINE LIFE: Still large numbers of sea birds but the fish balls are fewer and less frequent. Did see a Harbour seal catch a fairly large salmon along the dock on the west side. The activity attracted a hundred or more gulls,some we lucky and flew off with nice pink chunks of fish. The seal made short work of the salmon then hauled out on one of the flat rocks to rest and digest it’s meal.The number of Sea lions hauled out is down dramatically although the conditions are very good, lots of food and calm weather. The one major problem is the effect of the blasting.These animals were getting used to the boat and people traffic but are now very stressed and spook very easily. So much for referring to this MPA as a wildlife refuge where the animals can expect to hunt, feed, communicate, socialize, rest etc. without disturbanceand interference.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 6 Ecotour boats and 4 pleasurecraft. The station boat made a trip to Pedder Bay and back
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:34 PM
Congregation of gulls
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.7 ºC »» Min. 8.9 ºC »» Reset 10.2 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: Today there are hundreds of gulls on Gr. Race and hundreds more on all the other rocks and perched on the kelp. Did see a few fish balls but mostly the gulls are just sitting on shore. The majority are juveniles. The 6 geese are here again -think they must have spent the night.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Garry was over this morning in Hyaku to work on the computer for camera #2 which has been ‘acting up’ the last few days. There were 5 Ecotour boats and 3 pleasurecraft in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:01 PM
100 metre distance from any marine animals and birds??
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.3 ºC »» Min. 9.1 ºC »» Reset 10.0 ºC »» Rain 2.2 mm
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 8 Ecotour boats, 2 pleasure craft and 1 charter dive boat in the reserve today.The dive boat came too close to shore along the northeast of Gr.Race and sent about 15 sea lions scrambling.Tried unsuccessfully to reach the boat operator on the marine radio but did talk to the charter office and asked them to please respect the wildlife viewing guidelines and maintain the 100 metre distance from any marine animals and birds.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:16 PM
Injured Northern Sealion
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.7 ºC »» Min. 7.7 ºC »» Reset 9.9 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: There is a Northern Sea Lion on the middle rock with a large raw looking wound on it’s back. Have not seen the goose that appeared to have a damaged wing, must have flown back to the mainland. Only a 3 degree drop in the temperature but the air is damp and feels much more like fall. The Sea lions are very quiet today, not as many birds today either. Did hear at least 2 Black Oyster Catchers vocalizing several times around 2 a.m. last night, I wonder what they are up to in the dark.
HUMAN INTERACTION:There were 8 Ecotour boats and 5 pleasurecraft through today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:16 PM
Boats and Planes disturb the marine life.
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.7 ºC »» Min. 8.8 ºC »» Reset 12.1 ºC
MARINE LIFE: Still quite a few birds in the area feeding, counted over 130 Cormorants, most of them on North Rks. and the rocks to the southeast.The ones on North Rks. were scared several times by boats going by but the sea lions for the most part were undisturbed.One boat that comes into the reserve about once a week, a Lifetimer 14K 38596 did approach too close and 5 or 6 Sea Lions took to the water, many others were alerted and moved towards the water but as the boat moved back they settled back down.At about 11:45 an Ultralight made several passes over Gr. Race at times too low, scaring some sea lions into the water and most of the birds took flight. The aircraft was black with orange and yellow trim-C-1FQC
HUMAN INTERACTION: The observers from LGL spent the day in the tower and departed just after 17:00. There were 11 Ecotour boats, 6 pleasurecraft and the 1 research boat (Lifetimer) in the reserve today. Hyaku (Chris) over from campus to return the station boat-repairs completed.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:14 PM
Orca sighted
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.1 ºC »» Min. 8.5 ºC »» Reset 11.8 ºC
MARINE LIFE: There are thousands of sea birds busy feeding in the many fish balls, a few inside the MPA but most of the action in about 1/2 to 1 mile past the boundaries. Many of the birds come into the reserve to rest ashore and in the kelp so there is a constant flow of birds back and forth. A small group of Orca were sighted southeast of Gr. Race travelling westsouthwest.1 Canada goose came ashore up over the rocks by the winch house causing a stampeed of sea lions. The gulls and other birds move among the sea lions all the time but for some reason, the goose rising up out of the water waving it’s neck and moving towards them was somewhat of a threat.The goose seems to have an injured left wing and moved into a protected area among some large boulders and except to pop it’s heard up every once in a while for a look around has stayed put all day. Cannot get close to the goose to assess it’s condition as any movement would disturb the 60 or so sea lions hauled out all along the shore.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 Eco tour boats and 7 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:25 PM
TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.1 ºC »» Min. 8.5 ºC »» Reset 11.8 ºC
MARINE LIFE: There are thousands of sea birds busy feeding in the many fish balls, a few inside the MPA but most of the action in about 1/2 to 1 mile past the boundaries. Many of the birds come into the reserve to rest ashore and in the kelp so there is a constant flow of birds back and forth. A small group of Orca were sighted southeast of Gr. Race travelling westsouthwest.1 Canada goose came ashore up over the rocks by the winch house causing a stampeed of sea lions. The gulls and other birds move among the sea lions all the time but for some reason, the goose rising up out of the water waving it’s neck and moving towards them was somewhat of a threat.The goose seems to have an injured left wing and moved into a protected area among some large boulders and except to pop it’s heard up every once in a while for a look around has stayed put all day. Cannot get close to the goose to assess it’s condition as any movement would disturb the 60 or so sea lions hauled out all along the shore.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 Eco tour boats and 7 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:25 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind East 11 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM
WEATHER: Sky Clear »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind East 11 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM
Sealions and salmon
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.1 ºC »» Min. 9.9 ºC »» Reset 11.5 º C »» Rain 14.9 mm
MARINE LIFE: There is still good fishing for the birds and sea lions,in the span of about 1 hour saw 8 good sized fish taken by 5 California and 3 Northern Sea lions just off the end of the dock. The Northern Sea lions seem to spend more time in the water, maybe with their greater size they feed more often. The California S.L. sleep a lot during the day but judging by the noise during the night they are quite active coming and going.This afternoon one Blue Heron sat out on the kelp for almost 2 hours then headed back towards Pedder Bay. Nice to get the rain, the birds like it even if the puddles are small.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature out with some supplies, the station boat to Pedder Bay and back with a short stop at the campus.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 3/4 Mile Lt. Rain and Fog »» Wind North 10 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:01 AM
Turnstones and Orca
TEMPERATURE: Max. 17.0 ºC »» Min. 9.9 ºC »» Reset 15.9 ºC
MARINE LIFE: several groups of 20 or so Cormorants are spending part of the day on North Rks. and the rocks on the southeast of Gr. Race. There are now about 60 Black Turnstones busy along the shoreline, you can often see them on camera # 3 hopping among the sealions foraging for sand fleas or beach hoppers.Most of the time though they are farther down on the beach where the food supply includes small crabs which they find by ‘turning over pebbles and small stones’ thus the name Turnstone.There was one identified transient Orca, a large bull known as Y1 through the reserve about 10 am. There were 4 or 5 other Orca with him including a calf. These transeints came in from the west between North Rks. and Gr. Race. They spent a while foraging about not far off the dock then circled Gr. Race rather slowly before moving off to the northwest. At about 11:15 heard a report from one of the Ecotour boats that there was a group of residents in the entrance of Pedder Bay, did see some tail slapping and breaching but too far away to identify any individuals.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature in with supplies this morning. While the Orca were in the reserve 4 boats followed them which is contrary to the guidelines. 3 of the boats were fishing charters ,Beasley, Adams and Island Outfitters. The 4th was an unidentified 5 or 6 metre open Lifetimer.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:12 PM