Wind NE 15 knots becoming SE up to 30 knots at night. Stronger winds down the the straight produced large swells that battered the NE side of race rocks and broke over jetty throughout the day.
2 Canada Geese landed briefly on great race
Still no more sighting of female elephant seal
Maintenance
Stocked up firewood supply in main house
cleared ramp
cut wood
communications from tower went offline in the evening
Other
DND blasting continued however there were less blasts and they were much less loud. Smoke trails were coming out of the forest following the blasts instead of right on the coast as usual. This seemed to make a big difference in buffering the sound, it didnt feel like a car crashing into the house as it usually does.
Wind NE 20 knots becoming 10-15 before noon then increasing to 20 again in the evening. Atmospheric pressure has continued to trend upwards since the 5th and appears to have peaked today around mid day at just over 1020 hPA. For the first time in 2 weeks of steady NE wind with little precipitation the forecast is calling for a shift tomorrow towards SE wind followed by Westerly along with rain.
The large female e-seal went into the water via boat ramp before I launched. On my way across I passed by Middle rock to check but there were no e-seals present there. I assume she is taking advantage of her last chances to feed and build up her reserves before giving birth.
Vessels
I went off island before noon and returned before dusk. One eco tour vessel was leaving from the direction of Race Rocks when I was returning.
Maintenance
Brought one empty diesel drum to campus. Picked up food supplies.
The large female elephant seal was at the centre of the Great Race in the morning, sleeping quite soundly. Chunk hauled out mid morning and made his way towards her. The interaction seemed normal for pre-birth as compared with previous years: he was agressive but restrained, not really bitting her, no intercourse observed. He got on top of her so that her mobility was limited, she wriggled and vocalized. Eventually she got free of him and moved about 20 ft and he followed repeating their interactions but less vigorously and eventually both tending towards sleeping. (photos to come)
Vessels
2 pleasure-craft. One was speeding in the Reserve and passed too close to harbour seals on West Rock.
After shutting down generator around 10 pm I noticed a large, likely pregnant, female elephant seal freshly hauled out of the water coming up the path from the boat ramp. I couldnt make out any clear identification marks, she does not appear to be Bertha.
Census:
Black Oyster Catchers: 50
Harlequins: 11
Crows: 2
Raven: 1
Bald Eagles: 10
Cormorants: 453
Surf Scoter: 7
Gulls: 6
Dunlin: 2
Surfbird: 8
Rock Sandpiper: 1
Black Turnstone: 27
Sparrow: 1
Elephant Seals: 2m 1f
Northern sealions: 133
California sealions: 97
Harbour Seals: 21
Vessels
1 ecotour
Maintenance
Cleared ramp
Cleaned camera 5 dome
Started pressure washing derrick deck and boardwalk
saw a Kildeer during the day, usually only see and hear them at night.
Both male elephant seals had been off great race over night, Chuckles was back on great race with some fresh wounds on his back this morning, I think he had been on Middle rock when Chunk got him. Chuckles spent Monday night near bedroom window vocalizing unreservedly.
Wind 15-20 knots NE increasing to 25-30 overnight. Sky partly clear.
First flock of Canada Geese on the island since I arrived, they didnt stay very long.
Bulk Carrier, The Orient Sun, passing South of South Islands
Chuckles vocalizing for Orient Sun
Vessels
1 pleasure craft, appearing to travel over speed limit in reserve
On Dec 30 an incident was recorded involving an eco tour vessel passing through the narrow channel between south islands and great race. We received an email from the captain Dec 31. I replied to his email Jan 2.
Maintenance
cleared boat ramp
cleaned battery terminals and contacts on derrick engine
Wind NE 15-20 increasing to 25 knots, clear sky, temperature low.
Census. Numbers are low or zero for some species likely due to persistent cold temperature and wind which causes them to seek more shelter. Notable there is a relatively high count of Califiornia sealions, most of which were sheltered on the leeward, south side of Great Race:
California sealions: 102
Northern sealions: 72
Elephants seals: 2M 1F
Harbour seals: 53
Bald Eagles: 2A 1J
Cormorants: 27
Gulls: 40
Harlequin ducks: 4
Vessels
2 ecotour
Maintenance
Reboot of overloaded UPS in tower, communications restored.
Wood clearing, cutting and chopping
checking for potential freeze ups due to cold temperature
