Two of the four pups snuggle buds.
. The geese are landing daily on the island.Elephant seal pups are moving around the island and getting closer to the main house. Many eagles around the island today.
Elephant seal pups
Category Archives: Ecoguardians Log
Peregrine Falcon returns
Pam Birley from England took this image on the remote camera 5 today. Almost yearly, she has spotted peregrines on Great Race Rocks using the remote control cameras .
Falco peregrinus: Peregrine falcon –The Race Rocks Taxonomy
Sea otter back
One tour boat today in main channel. Eagles all over the island. 1 sea otter off boat ramp eating sea urchin. Canada geese are claiming parts of the island. Bird of prey is feeding at night on some of the gulls. Perhaps a owl but I have not seen it yet. The leftovers from the kills are scattered around the island every morning.
Seawater Data February, 2021
| Daily Sea Surface Temperature and Salinity Observations | |||||
| Station: | Race Rocks | ||||
| Observer: | Rod King | ||||
| Month: | Feb-21 | ||||
| Day | Time | Temp °C | Sal ppt | ||
| 1 | 16:00 | 8.1 | 31.3 | ||
| 2 | 8:30 | 7.9 | 31.7 | ||
| 3 | 16:30 | 8.1 | 31.3 | ||
| 4 | 8:30 | 7.9 | 31.5 | ||
| 5 | 16:00 | 8.9 | 31.3 | ||
| 6 | 9:00 | 8.1 | 31.3 | ||
| 7 | 11:30 | 8 | 31.4 | ||
| 8 | 9:00 | 7.8 | 31.4 | ||
| 9 | 8:30 | 7.6 | 31.5 | ||
| 10 | 8:30 | 7.9 | 30.4 | ||
| 11 | 11:30 | 7.5 | 31.3 | ||
| 12 | 13:00 | 7.7 | 31.3 | ||
| 13 | 11:00 | 7.2 | 31.2 | ||
| 14 | 15:30 | 7.2 | 31.6 | ||
| 15 | 15:30 | 7.4 | 31.6 | ||
| 16 | 9:00 | 7.5 | 31.3 | ||
| 17 | 8:40 | 7.5 | 31.3 | ||
| 18 | 8:40 | 7.5 | 31.2 | ||
| 19 | 8:20 | 7.5 | 31.2 | ||
| 20 | 10:02 | 7.5 | 31.2 | ||
| 21 | 8:15 | 7.5 | 31.5 | ||
| 22 | 9:00 | 7.7 | 31.5 | ||
| 23 | 10:55 | 7.5 | 31.4 | ||
| 24 | 10:21 | 7.4 | 31.4 | ||
| 25 | 18:00 | 7.7 | 31.5 | ||
| 26 | 13:52 | 7.9 | 31.9 | ||
| 27 | 9:00 | 7.6 | 31.6 | ||
| 28 | 13:30 | 7.8 | 31.6 | ||
| 29 | |||||
| 30 | |||||
| 31 | |||||
New stairs main house
Facility work: Contractor over today to measure up the new stairs to main house front and back.Due to high exposure to salt spray over many years, the wood has decomposed.
Weather
Sun and clouds today check this link for weather updates. http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?id=72
Census February 28, 2021
The island is busy with activity. Spring is seeing a rise in the bird population. California sea lions are back after the snow has melted. Here is the census:
Mammals
- Steller sea lion 79
- Harbour seal 75
- California 62
- Elephant seal male 2
- Elephant seal female 1
- Elephant seal pup 4
- Sea otter 1
Birds
- Bald eagle adult 2
- Bald eagle juvenile 6
- Turnstones 18
- Killdeer 0
- Gulls 84
- Cormorants 665
- Pigeon guillemots 54
- Oyster catcher 6
- Canadian geese 6
- Harlequin 9
Boats in the Ecological Reserve today
Dive boat in reserve.
Private boat speeding in the reserve.
Private vessel with two divers Sunday.
Three Eco tour vessels respectively viewed animals in main channel.
Wind is back again today SW 37 to 40 knots.
Solid whit caps around the island seas 4 to 5 foot with a big swell. Scatter clouds and sun patches.12 NM visibility.
Halibut fishing on again
The wind has stopped for a day.Wind NE .50 calm seas ski clear visibility 15nm
small boats fishing Pedder bay Beachy Head and halibut spots.
The island is full of life today. Elephant seals have been busy moving all over the island. Birds are very active today. Gaggles of Canadian geese are arriving to the island. Pigeon Guillemots are looking to nest , lots of eagles today. Spring is in the air at Race Rocks.