Census, Rescue, New Chicks

Posted on Wednesday,June 14, 2023 by Joan Rosenberg

I am here for another brief stint, just 4 days. After arriving in relatively calm weather within an hour boat a gale started. For about 30 hours the wind didn’t let up. Which means the electric fences came down and anything not tied down went flying or crashing (like the doors to the water tank shed).And seagull poop travels horizontally in a gale. That meant the amazing calm weather today came with some tasks, which are welcome when it is so easy to be outside. The 2 barn swallows are the only ones flying with gusto. Those two are everywhere and the wind did not seem to deter them. The gulls are sticking close to their eggs and I have only seen one eagle pass overhead. The oyster catcher eggs have hatched and it is easy to witness the chicks being fed from the lighthouse or our back porch. I saw another chick above the heli pad from the light house as well. I don’t dare go in the intertidal and scare any parent away from the nest so I didn’t record any activity in other O.C. nests.

Greg and Second Nature did a rescue today. An aluminium craft called for help as their boat engines had quit right in Race Passage. They reported “imminent danger” and Greg came and towed them back to safety! There apparently was a “very pregnant” woman on board as well so she was probably happy to get back to dry land.

Visitors

No visitors on the island

Few ecotourism boats, during the gale there were 2 or 3 and although it is flat calm today there have only been 3

Work

vacuumed and mopped the basement floor using the water that is leaking from the pipes

cleaned the science house windows and (as high as I could reach) the light house windows

cleaned the solar panels

fences, moved a bit of wood, cleaning and preparing for new resident will be done tomorrow

Census

Mammals

California sea lions 5

Stellar sea lions 1

Elephant seals 1 female

Seals 94

Birds

Pigeon guillemots 56

Swifts 2

Canada geese 2

Gulls 460 (and many nests with eggs)

cormorants 7

barn swallows 2

Insects

thousands of flies!

Second Nature to the rescue

3 chicks

feeding

Ollie, the land otter!

Posted on Wednesday,June 7, 2023 by Ann Nightingale

I’m back for a short stint on Race Rocks, and it feels strangely like home–with some improvements. I much appreciate the upgrade to the composting toilet! Yesterday, I conducted a simultaneous seawatch with Daniel Donnecke at Beechey Head. He always seems to have higher numbers of most species and more diversity, but we definitely had some overlaps yesterday. If you would like to see our respective lists for the first two hours of decent light, here are the links:
Beechey Head hour 1
Race Rocks hour 1
Beechey Head hour 2
Race Rocks hour 2

Many of the birds that appeared on yesterday’s list weren’t on today’s, as seawatch counts extend well beyond the boundaries of the reserve. On a seawatch, you can count a bird clear across the strait, if you can identify it!

The gulls and the guillemots have been very “busy” this week. There have been a lot of double-decker moments and cloacal kissing going on. There should be a bumper crop of chicks in the next few weeks!

One surprising sightings is an apparent Western Gull nesting on the east side of the island. Although they do breed as near as the Columbia River area, they are not usual breeders in the Puget Sound/Salish Sea area. She may well have some Glaucous-winged Gull genes in her lineage, but nothing obvious from her appearance.

Western Gull

The two highlights for me this week have been the continuation of the Barn Swallow pair. It seemed to me that suitable mud for their nest might have been a limiting factor, but they appear to have chosen a storage cupboard on the outside of the generator building as their potential location. This is very exciting!!

Barn Swallows

The second was a great encounter with Ollie, the sea otter. Today, during census, I found him out of the water on one of the exposed rocks on the west side of Great Race. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see a sea otter in Victoria waters, but that bucket list item was checked off when I met Ollie several years ago. I never even dreamed I would see him on land! He came out to roll around in some seaweed, straighten some fur, have a little scratch, and then returned to his normal environment.

Ollie the sea otter

Census, 7 June 2023Birds

Bald Eagle 2 adult 1 juvenile
Glaucous winged Gulls 412 many with nests, most nests with 3 eggs
Western Gull 1 (uncommon-not usual nester in this area)
Caspian Tern 2
Brandt’s Cormorant 55
Pigeon Guillemots 139
Black Oystercatcher 7
Barn Swallow 2
Canada Goose 2
Purple Martin 1 (at top of lighthouse)
Hummingbird sp. 1 (probably Anna’s)

Mammals

Harbour seal 61
California sea lion 10
Elephant seal sub adult male 1
Elephant seal adult female 1
Elephant seal pups 1
Sea Otter 1

Visitors:

No visitors so far this week
Ecotourism traffic is building. Several wildlife watching boats a day coming through now, sometimes multiple in the passage at once.

Facility Work:

Cleaned windows and solar panels
Fixed basement screen door piston
Monitored leaking pump situation. Attempted remedies didn’t work.

More photos:

** All wildlife photos taken at safe distances with high-powered zoom, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

: Most birds have paired up.

: Bumblebee in the marigolds

: Caspian Tern

: Colour-banded Glaucous-winged Gull

: Cloacal kiss – Glaucous-winged Gulls

: Gull eggs

: Gull on nest

: Pigeon Guillemots

Weather – Current:

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

Weather – Past:

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

From Land toSea , Who protects Race Rocks.. BCIT documentary

Posted on Monday,June 5, 2023 by Garry Fletcher

A documentary by BCIT students Abby Francis and Richard Davis / April 11, 2023

This documentary is provided by the BCIT News:

In April 2023 BCIT students Abby Francis and Richard Davis visited Race Rocks and interviewed Ecoguardian Derek Sterling and Race Rocks ER Warden Garry Fletcher about the Ecological reserve. This documentary is published in the BCIT News

Barn Swallows and animal census

Posted on Wednesday,May 24, 2023 by Jillian Brown

These past few weeks we have had a pair of barn swallows calling Race Rocks home. I’m certainly not surprised by this, with the overwhelming abundance of flies and fleas for them to easily feed upon and few predators. Barn swallows aren’t rare to see swoop by for a day within the reserve, however, as I watch these two now daily they appear to be scouting out the best dry locations to potentially nest. One, scooting itself up under the roof of some of the outbuildings, and into the gaps in the house fascia, while the other sits below keeping watch. The last time these birds were documented nesting and having fletchings at Race Rocks was well over 15 years ago back in 2006. A fairly easily recognized bird, and one many of us have likely seen as they can be found in every province and territory (except Nunavut) so it may come as a surprise they are actually on the special concern list in Canada; due to human impact causing loss of nesting sites, food sources and climate change.

Male Barn Swallow

Female Barn Swallow

Birds

Harlequin duck 5
Bald Eagle 2 adult 3 juvenile
Glaucous winged Gulls 590
Cormorants 33
Pigeon Guillemots 293
Oyster catcher 10
- Oyster catcher eggs 13 (3 in three and 2 in a two other nests)
Barn Swallow 2
Canada Goose 12
Black Turnstone 1
Cowbird 2

Mammals

Steller sea lion 1 (blasting the past two days has impacted)
Harbour seal 83
California sea lion 25
Elephant seal sub adult male 2
Elephant seal adult female 2
Elephant seal pups 2

: Elephant seal sleeping in the pinappleweed

: Glaucous winged gulls atop the north camera.

: Elephant seals playing int the water beside the jetty.

: pigeon guillemots floating on the current

: Oyster catcher among the pigeon guillemots, close to her nest.

: The two barn swallows.

: Pigeon Guillemots

: California sea lions on the south west bank.

: Coast Guard vessel passing by.

: Fog rainbow and gulls.

: A Pair of oyster catchers lounging on the path in front of the science house.

: Look closely and you will spot three oyster catcher eggs in the nest on top of the northern rocks.

Visitors:

No visitors lately

Facility Work:

sharpened hatchet and axe
chopped kindling
Created documents for Fire extinguisher locations and inspections
Cleaned house
Filled water in batteries
Emptied and cleaned composting toilet
Cleaned windows and solar panels
Finished all repairs and rebuilt sections of Electric fence All set for sea lion season!

** 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?

Foggy day for an Animal Census

Posted on Wednesday,May 17, 2023 by Jillian Brown

The first foggy day in a couple weeks today!

With 6 new solar panels installed along with replacements to wiring that had corroded with the salty air this week, it seems the fog is barely affected our power supply which is amazing!

A couple DND blasts at Noon through the fog made even fewer animals around the reserve today.

Birds

Harlequin duck 5
Bald eagle adult 2
Glaucous winged Gulls 527
Cormorants 31
Pigeon Guillemots 176
Oyster catcher 10
- Oyster catcher eggs 7 (3 in two nests and 1 in a third)
Savannah Sparrow 1
Canada Goose 14
Barn Swallow 1
Crow 3

Mammals

Steller sea lion 10
Harbour seal 63
California sea lion 17
Elephant seal sub adult male 2
Elephant seal adult female 2
Elephant seal pups 3

: Three elephant seals snuggled up

: Glaucous winged gulls on the tank shed

: Canada goose washing at sunrise

: Oyster catcher at sunrise in the fog

: Harbour Seals in the fog

: Glaucous winged gulls

: California sea lions on the rocks by the jetty.

: A couple playing elephant seals

: Yawning elephant seal

: Glaucous winged gull

: Small vessel going by in the fog

: Pigeon Guillemots

: A pair of Oyster Catchers by their nest on the Northern point.

: Stellar sea lions out on middle rock before the DND blasting.

: 2 of the 3 crows that landed on the helicopter pad.

: 2 female and a male California sea lion.

: Canada Goose.

: Playing California sea lions

: Swimming steller sea lion

: The two largest of the steller sea lions having a territory dispute.

: Oyster catcher

: Spill response vessel going by to the north in the fog.

: young Elephant seal

: sub adult elephant seal

: Sunrise through the fog.

: Elephant Seals playing

: Female california sea lion

: Elephant seals playing

: sleepy oyster catcher

: Elephant seals in the front yard

: Oyster Catcher eggs.

: Fog rainbow and gulls.

: Harbor seal and a canada goose

: Female

Visitors:

Race Rocks Challenge participants
3 contractors installing and maintaining solar panels
44 Marine Science students visited to write their exam
4 Pearson College Second year students came for a visit before the school year ends.

Facility Work:

Fixed Compost
Taped off Oyster Catcher nests and made map
Cleaned house
Filled water in batteries
Emptied and cleaned composting toilet
Cleaned windows and solar panels
Mopped basement
Organized and cleaned tool drawers
Fixed and rebuilt sections of Electric fence
Cleaned lighthouse

** 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?

Animal Census with a couple quick Terns

Posted on Wednesday,May 10, 2023 by Jillian Brown

Birds

Harlequin duck 5
Bald eagle adult 2
Bald eagle juvenile 1
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Glaucous winged Gulls 685
Cormorants 72
Pigeon Guillemots 327
Oyster catcher 10
Savannah Sparrow 6
Canada Goose 14
Raven 2
Caspian Tern 2
Barn Swallow 2

Mammals

Steller sea lion 16
Harbour seal 79
California sea lion 32
Elephant seal sub adult male 2
Elephant seal adult female 3
Elephant seal pups 3

: 2 Caspian Terns

: Sub – adult elephant seals

: Sub- adult elephant seals

: young elephant seal in the water next to jeetty.

: Mix of california sea lions and steller sea lions in the morning light.

: Juvenile bald ealge

: oyster catcher

: savannah sparrow

: barn swallow

: barn swallow

: Canada Goose

: California sea lion

: Glaucous winged gull in front of the moon

: one of the many large flocks of Pigeon guillemots

: more pigeon guillemots

: Ruddy turnstone

: Harbor seals in the bull kelp

: Another of the large flocks of pigeon guillemots

: pigeon guillemots

: 2 adult bald eagles on the south rocks

: female harlequin duck

: male harlequin duck

: Glaucous winged gulls

: young elephant seal conversing

Visitors:

Mollie – future Ecoguardian

Facility Work:

Chopped and stacked remaining fire wood
Deep Cleaning of Kitchen and sorting through house hold items
3 coats Stained Kitchen table
Sharpened Axe
Mounted 2 large Elephant Seal winter coat sheds for future visitors and students to touch and see.
Set up Hose system from Science house up to solar panels so we no longer have to haul a 5 gallon bucket up a ladder
Cleaned solar panels
Addled Canada Goose Eggs and mapped out nests
Cleaned windows

** 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?

Peregrine Falcon During Animal Census

Posted on Thursday,May 4, 2023 by Jillian Brown

It was a very quick moment but a peregrine falcon flew by, low along the rocks of the east shore and swooped across the north by the crane and jetty. I lost sight of it quick and was unable to snap a photo, but I was a beautiful moment to witness.

Adult Bald Eagles were catching fish today and fighting over them in the sky.

Juvenile Bald Eagle sitting on the old crane.

Adult Bald Eagle perched atop our northern camera.

Adult Bald Eagle with a fresh catch.

Birds

Harlequin duck 4
Bald eagle adult 2
Bald eagle juvenile 2
Turnstones 1
Glaucous winged Gulls 527
Cormorants 36
Pigeon Guillemots 167
Oyster catcher 8
Fox Sparrow 8
Canada Goose 16
Raven 1
Peregrine Falcon 1

Mammals

Steller sea lion 35
Harbour seal 73
California sea lion 38
Elephant seal sub adult male 2
Elephant seal adult female 2
Elephant seal pups 2

: Young Elephant Seal

: Glaucous Winged Gulls

: 3 Elephant seals sleeping on the front lawn.

: The lone Black Turnstone.

: 3 Double crested Cormorants and a Brandts Cormorant.

: Pigeon Guillemots

: California sealions in the churning current.

: Group of Pigeon Guillemots on the West shore.

: A couple oyster catchers.

: Stellar sealions on middle rock.

: Canada Goose perched guarding a now empty nest.

: California sea lions mixed with a few stellar sea lions.

: Young male elephant seal, with a freshly molted face.

Coast Guard Zodiac going through Middle channel.

Visitors:

Sarah, a women who is also a marine biologist, battling cancer who will loose her sight came out to see the elephant seals before she does.

Facility Work:

Chopped drift wood
Cleaning and organizing house and tools

** 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?

Mist Maiden, Whimbrel and Gratitude

Posted on Monday,May 1, 2023 by Joan Rosenberg

This morning the wind was less than 10 knots and it was a beautiful time to be outside compared with the howling winds the last couple of days. It is from the west and increasing as the day goes on.

Often people ask me why I come to Race Rocks and this morning was a great reminder. As I cleaned the solar panels there was a soft west wind, the sun was in and out of the clouds as it rose in the east. Two California sealions were catching fish and shaking them as they surfaced. An eagle flew over and picked up a fish only to be chased ashore by two glaucous wing gulls. There are moments here when one is called to be present. There are many moments of frustration ( the electric fence is down again) and occasional fear (the wind, the geese) and boredom but then there are moments when one just doesn’t want to be anywhere else. And how often that does that happen in one’s life?

Visitors:

Pearson College had about 6 divers in Race Channel today but did not come ashore.
Just after noon now and 10 ecotourism boats have passed by

Observations:

Mist Maiden (Romanzoffia tracyi) is blooming!
I took a picture of the chiton shells and will post below. When walking around there are so many things that are taken for granted. Like the hundreds (thousands) of chiton shells. I suppose they are a stable food source. Has it always fed these birds? Did there used to be more fish skeletons? Sometimes it is good to record the obvious.

Work:

Cleaned the solar panels this morning
continued wheelbarrowing wood to house
cleaned out the wood stove
cleaning the house for Jill’s return

: whimbrel

: Romanzoffia tracyi

: Chiton shells

: Success!

This female may be recognizable if this new puncture wound, upper right abdomen, leaves a scar

The beginning of nesting season

Posted on Sunday,April 30, 2023 by Joan Rosenberg

I am here for four days to give Jillian Brown a chance to attend to her family. It is a special time for me because it is my birthday and the fourth time that I have been here on April 30 but only my second time in the capacity of eco-guardian. This is my third day here and I have updated the SOP to include the up to date log sign in details (Thank you Garry).

The weather is currently 15 knots west but over the past day has been as high as 30 knots, SW and NW. The sky was clear for 2 days and there was enough energy provided from the solar panels to take care of electrical needs.

Below is a picture of a tagged glaucous wing gull that I saw the May 22,2022 (see log entry that date) in the exact same place. Although this may not surprise you it made me feel like the animals here are familiar. It does seem like the geese nesting by the fuel shed are the same aggressive geese as last year and the ones under the keeper’s house stairs the same mellower geese but I just never had proof. This gave me a feeling of community.

There are 6 elephant seals here, females and immatures, including the tagged yearling. I haven’t seen this year’s pup for 24 hours so perhaps all the newborns are now gone.

Visitors

Yesterday (April 29) I was surprised when 6 kayaks pulled up the jetty. They were from Pearson College and had been given permission to land. Of course the sea lions stampeded on their arrival. Luckily not many kayakers do come this way as the sea lions usually get right in the water even though motor boats come much closer without scaring them. Perhaps they should turn some music on LOUD as they approach?

There were only 2 or 3 ecotourism boats over Friday and Saturday but today there have been 8 in every size, perhaps tied to the massive cruise ship recently docked in Victoria?

Maintenance:

I am working on the wood pile, chopping and stacking in the house.
Swept the lamp room and continued sweeping the light house stairs.
Filled the batteries with distilled water.
This is month end so sent the salinity and temp chart to Sebastien Donnet.
Also have almost completed the month end report but need to review a few details with Greg.
Sent the info of tagged bird info to appropriate source.