Boats/Visitors
Ecological
I was able to get out to Race Rocks Ecological reserve with Guy today and went with former student Joao Luis de Castro and Yan Corriveau. I wanted to check on what changes have occurred on Great Race Rock Island since my last visit. Since it was an exceptionally dry summer, the effect on vegetation was evident. The spread of hauled out sealions into parts of the island traditionally not invaded also has left a significant impact on vegetation. It will be important to follow up on vegetation recovery once the rains start.
This year the sea lions have hauled out and inhabited many parts of the island formerly not used as a haulout . I am concerned that erosion because of obliteration of most of the plants in the area of the First Nations burial cairns could be detrimental to the cairns. It will be inprtant to check on this once the sealions have left again.
The lack of precipitation since May has resulted in a shrinking of the stonecrop that covers the top of the Reservoir. I had never seen it quite this dry before.
The sealion haulouts at Race Rocks do not segregate by species as they do in some other parts of the coast. Note the cookie-cutter shark bites on the California Sealion on the right hand picture.
Garry Fletcher, Sept 25, 2017
Boats/Visitors
Ecological
Notes
Sorry about my last 10 days being absent but I am back now and here is an updated census.
Weather
Boats/Visitors
Ecological
Census
Weather
Boats/Visitors
Ecological
Weather
We have an alternating mode of days with no wind and some very windy days, raising to more than 40 knots (actually 44 knots on the 28th in the evening). Generally speaking the wind gets stronger almost every afternoon. We can also see some very strong currents around 12 knots with the tides…very impressive even when you are used to… Some fog but not very often .
Ecological
The most interesting fact at the end of July is the number of harbor seal babies . they are everywhere on the rocks and very nice to look at.Early one morning the number of Pigeons guillemots closed to the jetty, their camp base on the rock,was impressive.The elephants seals are not so numerous now, between 1 and 5 at the most.One huge sea lions(a Steeler) was fishing alone closed to the jetty and the rest of the colony is on Middle rock.
Other
Many, many whale watchers …it ‘s getting a problem when the huge ones with more than 100 people aboard, come very close to the jetty (I would say 30 meters ) and move the waters to the point that is white everywhere because of the turbines…
4 helicopters came, all at the same time on the 28th. They stayed for at least 3mn all around the tower. I guess for a control
Maintenance
The solar panels need attention everyday . I have to pump sea water with the high tide and sometimes in the night. The soft water pump broke …needs to be replace quickly.
Visitor
Mr Tyrone Pile came with the Vice – Admiral of the Victoria Naval Base for a short visit
Weather
From the 9th to the 13th the wind was never lower than 20 knots from west and reached 42 knots on the 10th and all the time a gust in the afternoon
Ecological
The usual elephants seals are on the rocks sleeping or playing in the water; that means at least 6 of them.More chickens every day and very nervous adults gulls.
Maintenance
Heavy cleaning of the solar panels everyday.Desalinator on and sea water pump too for the sea water underground reserve. New propane tank on and 200 liters more in the main house. Cleaning of the boat and shed.
Vessels
Whale watchers : they stay longer if the elephant seals are there for a show . Kyle went around the rock with people aboard .
Visitors
For 2 days from Monday to Wednesday morning I took a student with me. Ibrahim from Egypt is working in the kitchen for the whole Summer so it has been a good break for him.
Weather
If July 5th,on Wednesday, was calm with a light South West wind and a good visibility It was not the same situation for the following days:on Thursday the wind raised to 31knots from West and on Friday the 7th, it was very windy the whole day to almost 40 knots in the afternoon. The barometric pressure is depending the days around 1019/1020MB. The water temperature is 10 to 11.9 degrees Celsius at the most.On Wednesday for 30mn we couldn’t see around the rocks farther than 100 meters.
Ecological
The babies are born now and the parents are very nasty! Difficult to go across the rock ; if you want to be safe helmet and coat are not optional! 7elephant seals like usual this Summer.I saw a river otter wrapped in kelp to stay on the same spot! they are smart!
Maintenance
The sea water pump has been working a lot this week too, even in night time depending when it’s high enough. I had to repair the handle of the high pressure cleaning tool. and I transfer 150 liters of fuel in the main house tank. Solar panels very dirty
Visitors
Kyle and Jeff came to bring 600 liters of fuel. and we transferred from the big tank on Second nature to 3 barrels .
Weather
If the last days of June were quiet and without wind July began with a gale warning and the wind reached 34 knots and more from West on the 1st …Beautiful scenery with white crests and a sky clear…the 2nd and 3rd the wind was almost all the time around 25 knots
Ecological
Census
Cormorants :5
Sea lions :0
Harbor seals :105
Elephant seals :7
Oyster catchers :10
Pigeon Guillemots :25
Sea gulls :460
Eagle :3
Vessels
Like usual..except we could count on Saturday 1st, 7 cruise ships: 3 in Victoria harbor,1 at anchor,and 3 going out!!!
Maintenance
I got the sea water pump fixed and put in on ..we need more water in the reserve. I changed the filter and put some weight to be sure that it stays in the water. I noticed that the wooden ladder on the light house tower needs to be repaired or changed .
Visitors
Aziz Sonawalla came back for the long Week End . He is right now working for the Summer at the college and with him 2 volunteers Sheryl and Jules came overnight
Weather
On Thursday June 15th : Wind:gale warning for the afternoon to 30/35 knots North East wind . Calm sea early at 5:30 and later in the morning rain and fog visibility drop from 10 miles to 2.The temperature was around 11dgrees with 82% of humidity.On the 16th Friday early the wind was 24knots and again same pattern a gale warning for the afternoon . clear sky 15 miles visibility and 11.9 Air temperature. The rest of the week we had a calm sea with light winds
Ecological
We have between 6 and 9 elephant seals on the rock mainly younger one with always Chunk the old timer. A very young one surprised me : 5 months at the most. The rock is becoming pretty dirty …poo and flies everywhere . It’s getting yellow and white with the birds even the roofs have changed; not so clean anymore…We have less nesting gulls this year. A few oyster catchers couples like usual at this time and on the same spots. The tides are strong those days.by example:on the 15th low tide at 13:30: 2 feet and high tide at 22:30: 8 feet.Slag are long too
Vessels
I had to phone 2 times this past week to Pedder Bay marina because 2 of their renting boats were very closed and worst fishing ; Asian people each time . So for the fist boat they left as soon as contacted but for the second i had to use horn and shouting to get the same result.Many eco-tourism vessels. Big coast guard boat seen on Friday
Maintenance
The generator has not been used for 10 days…Very efficient solar panels. work like usual in and around the house
Visitors
Christine arrived on the 19th for a few days on the rock and the same evening we had a nice visit of Kyle and Sabrina with Sabrina’s parents and the little 10 days old baby girl Tyler.
Other
1 Helicopter and 1 plane above