Category Archives: Ecoguardians Log

Special Guest Animal Census

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Thank you to Andrew Jacobs and his associate for this onsite survey conducted on March 8 …..

It shows the difficulty in Gull ID’s, and why I normally report ### – “Gulls”

 

Total – Species – Stationary (on water or rocks staying in area) Flying (Flying around or past the area)

8 Canada Goose : 8 stationary

25 Harlequin Duck : 25 stationary

17 Black Oystercatcher : 17 stationary

64 Black Turnstone : 9 flying 53 stationary

17 Surfbird : 17 stationary

8 Dunlin : 4 Stationary 4 flying

14 Rock Sandpiper : 14 stationary

7 Common Murre : 7 flying

35 Pigeon Guillemot : 9 stationary 24 flying

1 Marbled Murrelet : 1 stationary

19 Short-billed Gull : 5 immature flying 14 adult flying

4 Western Gull : 2 adult stationary 2 immature stationary

2 California Gull : 1 adult stationary 1 adult flying

2 Herring Gull (American) : 1 immature flying 1 immature stationary

9 Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) : 4 adults stationary 1 adult flying 4 immature stationary

18 Glaucous-winged Gull : 3 adults stationary 3 adults flying 8 immature stationary 4 immature flying

78 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull : 10 adult flying 57 adult stationary 6 immature stationary 5 immature flying

1 Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull : 1 immature stationary

1 Red-throated Loon : 1 flying

121 Brandt’s Cormorant : 20 flying 101 stationary

53 Pelagic Cormorant : 6 flying 47 stationary

9 Double-crested Cormorant : 8 stationary 1 flying

13 Bald Eagle : 1 adult stationary 5 immature stationary 7 immature flying

2 Common Raven : 2 stationary

Harbour seal 23

California sealion 18

Steller’s sealion 19

Elephant Seal Pups 3

Sea Otter 1 (reported by Eco-Tourism Vessel)

Injured Sea Lion

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Female Elephant Seal, returning occasionally late evening, spends lots of time bellowing
  • 3 Elephant Seal pups
  • 1 Sea Lion with an old injury and what looks like a tumour, spending a lot of time on the boat ramp …. moves only with front flippers, appears to be paralyzed from mid point down. Healthy looking build otherwise

Facility Work:

  • Month end battery maintenance, including equalization charge cycle

DND events:

  • Detonations during the m-f weekdays

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • An occasional Eco-Tourism vessel, including one on a regular educational tours
  • 4 different private vessels

 Noted Infractions:

  • Private vessels maybe a bit too close to the haulouts by the pier,but only minor disturbance noted

 

Weather Events:

  • Friday, March 03:
    • Sky: High overcast with sunny breaks
    • Wind: starting SW 25kts, dropping and backing to ESE 5kts by mid afternoon
    • Sea: rippled to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 3oC, High 7oC
  • Saturday, March 04:
    • Sky: High overcast
    • Wind: E/ESE 30-42 kts, gusting over 50 kts late afternoon
    • Sea:  large Easterly swells to 1.5 meters
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 7o
  • Sunday, March 05:
      • Sky: Mostly clear, with clouds  skirting both sides of the strait in the morning,leading to overcast by afternoon
      • Wind:E  10-15 kts
      • Sea:  Calm
      • Temperature Low 5oC, High 7oC

 

 

Weather – Current:

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

 

Weather – Past:

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

DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS February 2023

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DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS
Institute of Ocean Sciences, North Saanich, B.C., V8L 4B2
Please email monthly to Sebastien.Donnet@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Station RACE ROCKS
Observer Derek
YSI ID: 27 February Year: 2023
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 10:30 8.0 32.2
2 11:00 8.0 32.4
3 12:00 7.9 32.2
4 12:30 8.1 32.4
5 13:00 8.0 32.2
6 14:00 7.8 32.2
7 14:45 7.9 32.2
8 15:30 8.0 32.4
9 16:15 7.8 32.1
10 17:00 7.9 32.2
11 17:45 7.8 32.1
12 18:40 7.8 32.1
13 19:30 7.9 32.2
14 20:30 7.8 32.4
15 9:00 7.9 32.2
16 10:00 7.9 32.2
17 11:00 7.9 32.4
18 11:45 7.8 32.1
19 12:30 7.7 32.2
20 13:30 7.8 32.1
21 14:30 7.6 32.4
22 15:15 7.6 32.2
23
24
25 17:45 7.4 32.2
26 18:30 7.1 32.2
27 8:00 7.1 32.1
28 8:30 7.2 32.2

Animal Census

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Birds

  • Harlequin duck            14
  • Bald eagle adult             7
  • Bald eagle juvenile        14
  • Turnstones                     28
  • Dunlin                              14
  • Gulls                                38
  • Cormorants                    130
  • Oyster catcher                 6
  • Canadian goose              14
  • Ravens                             2
  • Green-winged Teal          23

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                      38
  • Harbour seal                          19
  • California sea lion                45
  • Elephant seal female            1 coming and going
  • Elephant seal pup                 3
  • Sea Otter                                1

 

Pinniped Notes

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Ecological Notes:

  • All 3 Adult Female Elephant seals have left the island, occasionally showing up late at night, bellowing from the high points of the island for a couple hours, then returning to the ocean. I wonder if they are calling out looking for males?
  • The 3 Elephant Seal pups have formed their own little pack and have been spending time”wrestling” and exploring the small standing fresh water pond. They also have been exploring the mud flats to the north of the house, looking out towards the water. In past years, they have followed adults down to the water via the boat ramp, but haven’t seemed to explore that way yet.

Meeting at the scratching branch

“This is our Ocean!” (not really, it’s just a mud puddle)

“The real ocean is out there….. but how do we get to it?”

  • Big Male Steller Sea Lions have pretty much taken over the prime area of rock by the crane shed. The largest each take their own rock, and are surround by smaller ones that look to me like females. Remembering that in December, I photographed 4 different females nursing young here at Race Rocks.

  • Female Steller nursing a pup!

A couple California Sea Lions in this one, but normally just big males Stellers and smaller Stellers (females?)

  • There are fewer California sea lions around, but there are reports of many hauled out at Trial Island, which has not been seen for many years.

Visitors:

  • Quick visit from Pearson staff with family members
  • Due to weather, just a quick touch and go from the waterfront coordinator for deliveries

Facility Work:

  • Swapped tires and rims off a hand truck to the pressure washer trolley while repairing the ones off the trolley
  • Gradual pressure washing of paths and grime on buildings

DND events:

  • Ongoing Detonations

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Limited Eco-Tourism in some of the weather breaks

 Feature Event:

  •  none

Weather Events:

  • Previous week was a full range of cold wind, light snow, and rain squalls
  • Saturday , February 25:
    • Sky: Overcast with Sunny Breaks
    • Wind: E to NE – 5 – 12 kts
    • Sea: 1 meter waves most of the day
    • Temperature Low -1oC, High 4oC
  • Sunday, February 26:
    • Sky: Full mix of sun, cloud, and overcast as the system moves through rapidly, including mixes of sleet and hail
    • Wind: W 35-40kts, dropping over the day to 1o kts
    • Sea:  1 meter waves in the morning, flattening as the day progressed
    • Temperature Low 1oC, High 6oC

 

 

** 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?

Biggs Orca Visit

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(trouble adding photos, will try to add more later)

Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Female Elephant Seal (mom #3), still nursing her pup
  • 1 Female Elephant Seal (mom #2) visiting nightly, bellowing loudly for a few hours, then normally leaving by morning.
  • 3 Elephant Seal pups, 1 nursing, 2 weened
  • Biggs (Transient) Orca family, T041s visited at twilight on Tuesday, milling for a long time around the Harbour Seal haul out on the south rock. They also circled the main island twice.

T041 and her daughter T041A, 2 others not in this photo as well

 

Facility Work:

  • Weekly battery maintenance
  • Main generator oil and filters changed
  • Pressure washed some slippery walk sections, and some main house windows.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Eco-tourism vessels
  • 1 Eco-tourism vessel visited a few times as a boat based classroom

 

  • Cedric, from the Pearson College waterfront team, visited the reserve with a friend by kayak, but did not come ashore.

 

Weather Events:

  • Monday, February 13:
    • Sky: Overcast with lots of high cloud cover rolling through
    • Wind: WSW 25-30 kts, veering to W35-45 kts later in the afternoon, gusting to 55 kts
    • Sea: 1-2 meter waves with chop on top
    • Temperature Low 5oC, High 9oC
  • Tuesday, February 14:
    • Sky: Mostly overcast, low clouds to the south
    • Wind: 5-10 kts, N veering around to S during the day
    • Sea: 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 5oC, High 8oC
  • Wednesday, February 15:
    • Sky: Light high overcast, with sunny breaks
    • Wind: S 0-5 kts, backing to E late afternoon
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low 5oC, High 8oC

 

 

** 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

 

Helicopter Visit

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1-2 female Elephant Seals, 1 still nursing her pup, the other coming and going. Mom #1 has been gone over a week now
  • 3 Elephant Seal pups, 1 nursing and 2 weened
  • Still no Adult Male elephant Seal
  • Bald Eagles, both mature and juvenile, continue to visit daily for hunting

“Not much, but good enough for breakfast”

Visitors:

  • 2 Coast Guard techs visited via helicopter to trouble shoot tower electronics.

  • 3 student groups of 6 to see and learn about the Elephant Seals and pups
  • A VIP group, with students, visited for a quick overview or the reserve, with particular interest in the Power System

Facility Work:

  • Replaced all pier fencing, hoping the worst of the combination king tides and storms have passed

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Several visits by Eco-tourism vessels

Weather Events:

  • Friday, February 10:
    • Sky: Overcast, with occasional light rain
    • Wind: S 5- 15 knots, veering to W 20 kts later in the afternoon
    • Sea: Waves to 1 Meter
    • Temperature Low 6oC, High 8oC
  • Saturday, February 11:
    • Sky: Mostly clear with occasional overcast skies moving through
    • Wind: W 5 – 10 kts
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low 6oC, High 9oC

 

 

** 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

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Birds

  • Harlequin duck             12
  • Bald eagle adult            6
  • Bald eagle juvenile        8
  • Turnstones                     40
  • Dunlin                              9
  • Gulls                                132
  • Cormorants                     78
  • Oyster catcher                 8
  • Canadian goose              14
  • Ravens                              2

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                      24
  • Harbour seal                          27
  • California sea lion                 84
  • Elephant seal female            1
  • Elephant seal pup                 3

 

Animal Tracking and Injuries:

  •  Currently 2 California Sea Lions dragging the hind section, apparent broken backs. They are both healed and at reasonable weight.

Spring is trying!

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Ecological Notes:

  • 2 Female Elephant Seals nursing their pups
  • 3 Elephant Seal pups. Pup #1 on his own again
  • Still no big Male Elephant Seals present
  • Although it looks chubby, a very small harbour seal pup(?) hauled out on the boat ramp next to the pier. This is only the second time I’ve ever seen any harbour seal in that location.

  • Signs of an early spring ….. the Geese, and the Black Oyster Catchers are pairing off and defending locations …… and the Early Crocus are sprouting

Visitors:

  • Cedric from Seafront Support kayaked out for a social visit.

Facility Work:

  • Cutting firewood
  • Started re-establishing the electric fencing on the pier, but had the high  winds bring a log over and took it back out
  • Made, and installed a replacement part for the toilet in the Student and science building

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • A large sailboat motored through the reserve in front of the pier, but maintained proper distance and speed while enjoying the sights.

Weather Events:

  • Friday, February 03:
    • Sky: Cloudy with occasional sun peaking through, low haze to the south, visibility to about 10 miles
    • Wind:Morning winds E 10 – 20 kts, backing to NE 20 – 35 kts by noon
    • Sea: waves up to 1 meter
    • Temperature Low 6oC, High 9oC
  • Saturday, February 04:
    • Sky: High overcast, scattered low clouds to the south
    • Wind: N winds, veering to ENE,  12-18 kts
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low  7oC, High  9oC
  • Sunday, February 05:
    • Sky: High overcast, scattered low clouds to the south
    • Wind:E winds, veering to W in the morning,  gradually rising from 2 kts to 30 kts by evening
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low  7oC, High  9oC
  • Monday, February 6:
    • Sky: High overcast, occasional very light showers
    • Wind: S winds, backing to ESE,  5-15 kts
    • Sea:  light chop
    • Temperature Low 6oC, High 8oC

 

** 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?

DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS January 2023

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DAILY SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY OBSERVATIONS
Institute of Ocean Sciences, North Saanich, B.C., V8L 4B2
Please email monthly to Sebastien.Donnet@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Station RACE ROCKS
Observer Derek Sterling January
YSI ID: 27 Year: 2023
YSI YSI
Temp Sal
Day Time ºC ppt
1 9:15 7.9 32.4
2 10:00 7.8 32.4
3 10:50 7.9 32.2
4 11:30 7.7 3.0
5 12:15 7.9 2.4
6 13:00 7.8 32.6
7 13:30 7.8 32.2
8 14:15 7.8 32.2
9 15:00 7.7 32.4
10 15:45 7.8 32.4
11 16:45 7.7 32.2
12 17:45 7.9 32.2
13 18:45 7.9 32.4
14 19:30 8.0 32.6
15 7:00 7.8 32.4
16 8:15 7.9 32.2
17 9:15 7.9 32.2
18 10:15 8.0 32.4
19 11:00 7.9 32.4
20 11:45 7.8 32.2
21 12:40 7.9 32.4
22 13:30 7.7 32.4
23 14:30 7.9 32.6
24 15:30 7.8 32.4
25 16:45 7.9 32.6
26 17:40 8.0 32.6
27 18:30 8.1 32.2
28 19:30 7.8 32.4
29 7:45 8.1 32.4
30 8:30 7.9 32.2
31 9:30 7.8 32.6