Category Archives: Facility work

Time for fencing

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Personal Note:

  • On my last day here at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, I’m very thankful for the opportunity and experience provided to me. My normal employment calls me back, but I hope to return to continue experiencing the reserve in a different season!

Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Male Elephant Seal and one Female Elephant seal in the grass area up by the power building

    Enjoying the sun

  • Although I’m sure there are more, I caught a quick glimpse of some Pigeon Guillemot chicks as they scurried back into their rock den.

Facility Work:

  • Existing electrical fence routes redone and repaired. The north field had all the fencing replaced, and a couple new gates added. A new section will be added to the south (lighthouse side) when supplies are available. As the sealions start to return, fencing plays an important roll in protecting the plant life, and structures and equipment on the island. There is also a huge safety factor for the Ecoguardians when moving around accomplishing their daily tasks.
  • Although not a pleasant topic, removed 2 old Sealion carcasses  from high above the waterline. The warmer weather really increased the smell, but the wind and heat (and bugs)  really help them to break down to an almost manageable weight for dragging. Respectably returned to the ocean.

DND events:

  • 6 to 10 detonations over Monday and Tuesday, all sealions moved from the middle rocks to the southern rocks.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Several Ecotourism vessels and at least 6 private vessels sightseeing in the reserve.

 Feature Event:

  •  Lots of  cleaning and organizing in preparation for the new Ecoguardian arriving Thursday! A warm welcome to Sierra!

 

** 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?

Desalinator and Ramp

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Male Elephant seal, and 1 young Female Elephant seal on the island
  • Transient Orca passed the entrance to Pedder Bay and Bentinck Island. 4 or 5 humpbacks seen well south of the reserve as well.
  • The young Steller Sealion, joined 4 Adult Steller Sealions and 1 California Sealion out on Middle Rock today. This could be the start of the early returns to the reserve.

“nah ….. you didn’t need to pump right now!”

Visitors:

  • The Waterfront Coordinator brought 2 contractors out today, 1 for completing the service on the Desalinator, and 1 to do some installs on the jetty.

Facility Work:

  • The Desalinator is up and running! We produced 800L of fresh water today as it was given a long run to test all the connections and fittings.

    Desalinator Concentrate Discharge

  • New ramp and ladder were installed on the jetty.

DND events:

  • 2 blasts early in the morning.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 4 Ecotourism vessels sightseeing.

Other Event:

  • CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier vessel tending the V15 Marker.

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds, 30-35 knots all day. Choppy seas, .5 to 1 meter height. Clear skies with slight haze forming in the evening.

 

** 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?

Beautiful Gull Eyes

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Male Elephant Seal, and 1 young Female elephant Seal on the island.
  • A very young Male Steller Sealion has been making a regular stop to haul out to the area next to the pier. Although it has no distinguishing marks, I think this is the small one that was here earlier in the spring with the rest of the males. Sometimes, the younger (and oldest) ones are the last to leave and the first to return, suggesting they might not actually do the full migration to the breeding areas.
  • When I took this photograph (long lens and then a tight crop), I wasn’t sure if this bird was ok. A little online research showed me this is how they look when the molt around the eyes. A close examination shows some of the bumps are showing the emergence of pin feathers. Many Gulls molt around the time of nesting, most likely as this is a good food abundance time for them.

    The “eyes” have it……

Facility Work:

  • Although Solar panels are cleaned on a regular basis, these lower ones get particularly dirty! The rocks just off from these is a major roosting area for gulls not on nests. Every time an eagle flies by, they get all flustered, and “dump” on takeoff …. just upwind of the panels.
  • Prepping the first set of stairs for preservative treatment. Cleaner, brush scrub, and then pressure wash

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • A few Ecotour vessels, and a couple private vessels checking out the reserve today. Good behavior all round!

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds, 15 – 20 knots all day, raising in the early evening to 30 knots. mostly calm seas, until the wind rose and brought with it 1 meter chop. On and off fog in the morning, gave way to mostly clear skies, with only a slight haze in the distance.

 

** 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?

Nature Continues On

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Male Elephant Seal, and 1 young Female elephant Seal on the island.
  • When they meet on the boat ramp, one of two things normally happen. If the female is above, she holds her ground and makes the male go around. But if the male comes from above, the female will rush down to the water to get out of the way. She barely goes above the 2 lowest buildings (the tank room and the boathouse), even though she was more comfortable up in the grass area when she was here before.

Picture angle is deceiving, the female is much smaller than the male. I would guess 350 Kilos compared to maybe 1600 kilos.

  • After the heatwave that did unfortunately cost some chicks lives, it’s nice to be reminded that life goes on. Fresh eggs hatching, and “families” out going about their business.

Newly hatching

Family stretching their legs

 

Visitors:

  • Waterfront Coordinator delivered groceries, fresh water for the tank, and a new fire pump yesterday.

Facility Work:

  • Fire pump allowed filling the salt water cistern so we could start up the desalinator. It appear to run well and produce nice clean water, but one of the gauges was running very high. We decided to wait and have it checked by the contractor Monday, as we couldn’t solve it over the phone.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Many Eco Tourism boats and private boat touring the reserve. No fishing in the reserve like was prevalent last weekend.

Weather Events:

  • Fog off and on most of the day, leaving light haze in the evening. Westerly winds all day near to 15 knots, calm seas.

 

** 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?

Sunny Days

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Male Elephant Seal, spent most of this hot sunny day in the water around the boat ramp. I conferred with the Waterfront Coordinator, and this is not one of the two males who was here this winter, but has been out here before.

Taking it cool

Visitors:

  • The Waterfront Coordinator came out today, to deliver 2 loads of fresh water, and helped work on the water system.

Facility Work:

  • Drained, cleaned and rinsed the freshwater tank. then refilled with fresh water brought over by boat.
  • Cleaning and prepping the wooden stairs at the student house for new preservative.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Several commercial and private vessels in the reserve today, sightseeing, and diving.

 Noted Infractions:

  • 2 private vessels went through the main channel at high speed.

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds overnight shifted to primarily southerly winds at about 10 knots for the day. Calm seas and warm sunny skies.Winds returned to westerly in the evening.

 

** 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?

Elephant Seal

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Ecological Notes:

  • A large Male Elephant Seal came to the Island today, laid by the path in the sun for a while, and then went and settled in in the shade of the student house. I gave him plenty of room!

Soaking up some sun

 

Visitors:

  • Yesterday. the Waterfront Coordinator delivered diesel fuel and repair parts.

Facility Work:

  • In preparation for the servicing of the desalinator , the large saltwater cistern was drained. As there has never been any chemicals or grey water added to the cistern, it was drained back to the ocean. Long firehose material was used to ensure no bird nests would be affected.

DND events:

  • Many inshore detonations over the last few days.

Weather Events:

  • Sunny with a few cloudy spots throughout the day, giving way to heavy fog in the evening. Westerly winds 20 – 30 knots. Slight chop all day.

 

** 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?

Nice View

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The Elwa Valley, from Race Rocks

Ecological Notes:

  • 2 Elephant Seals still on the island
  • Every time I think there can’t be more Gull nests, there is!

They’re everywhere!

Visitors:

  • Yesterday the Waterfront Coordinator delivered some fresh groceries, parts, and tools I had ordered.

Facility Work:

  • 2 of the things my father taught me – “If something in a system has failed, you’d better check the rest” and “Do you want it done now?, or do you want it done right?” ….. what looked like a couple leaks, turned into a full strip down!
  • Completed the install and venting of the NaturesHead Composting Toilet. Although temporary, it might as well work properly.
  • Interesting note: when worked and turned properly, there is no smell! The vent and fan is just to increase airflow for the compost to work better.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Several EcoTourism boats visited the reserve today, all showing proper viewing and speed protocols.

Weather Events:

  • Daily winds of 5 -13 knots ran the full circle of the compass today, but the weather stayed stable with high overcast. Very light rain briefly late in the evening. Calm seas throughout.

** All nature 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?

Gulls not deterred

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Ecological Notes:

  • 2 Elephant Seals, 1 Female, 1 Juvenile Male
  • No Oyster Catcher or Gull hatchlings noted yet
  • Heard lots of extended ruckus over by the helipad last night, found the feathery remains of a gull there this morning.

Facility Work:

  • Firewood cutting
  • Redid mount for Camera 5, cleaned and fixed mount, new screws
  • Repairs to the gas powered pressure washer

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 1 EcoTourism vessel
  • 1 coastguard type Zodiac, appeared to be sightseeing
  • Both followed proper viewing procedures and speeds
  • 1 private vessel did not

 Noted Infractions:

  • Small private vessel(set up for fishing), raced through the main passage, close to the pier

 Feature Event:

  •  A couple of days ago, I scrubbed and cleaned the east deck on the house. It’s normally out of the wind, and a nice place to sit for sunrises as well. I mounted a couple plastic Owls there, hoping to discourage the gulls.

  • Interestingly, 3 or 4 Eagles flew by quite close to check the “owls” out.
  • ………….Today, when I went to the deck, there were 2 Gulls, sitting between the owls.

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds, 5 – 10 knots all day. Calm seas with good visibility, some haze across the strait towards Port Angeles  Sunny skies in the morning, giving way to overcast and clouds late afternoon. Then back to mostly clear skies in the evening.

 

Weather – Current:

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

 

Weather – Past:

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

New and Old

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Juvenile Male and 1 female Elephant Seal still on the island
  • Fewer Sealions over the last couple stormy days

Visitors:

  • Yesterday, the waterfront coordinator brought over some packages, drinking water, and a tank of water for the large tank. Hopefully this will be the last large tank, as we’re finishing the maintenance on the desalinator and cistern this month!

Facility Work:

  • Learned how to sharpen and service the chainsaw blade properly today (thank you YouTube). Probably not perfect, but it cuts way better now.

New files really helped

  • Although done on a regular basis it was a nice day to clean the solar panels, albeit windy. This picture shows a nice juxtaposition of the new and the old, realizing that the builders of the lighthouse never envisioned what the future would hold …… yet the installation of the panels wouldn’t be needed in the absence of the lighthouse and facilities.

Daylight, converted to power, for the Night Light

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 4 Private vessels

Weather Events:

  • Last night’s wind and rain storm, with gusts up to 45 knots gave way to more westerly winds, rising from 15 knots in the morning to 35 knots by late afternoon. Wind with tide most of the day led to 2 meter swells. Cloudy with sunny patches throughout the day.

 

Weather – Current:

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

 

Weather – Past:

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

Gull Activity

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Ecological Notes:

  • Only 2 Elephant Seals left. The largest of the Females, and the Juvenile Male, who is slightly large than the female. Glad(?) to see the last male pup move to the ocean, as he was getting very thin, and looked to be loosing energy. Hopefully He’s off to regain weight and start growing again!

Not too hungry yet, we like it here!

  • The Gulls have nests everywhere, and for the most part are pretty mellow, until an eagle or tern flies over. Every now and then they fly up behind me, but drop quietly if I turn and face them.

Gull Display

Visitors:

  • Shorefront coordinator delivered groceries and supplies yesterday.

Facility Work:

  • Oil and filter changes on the Generator. Service of batteries.

Generator, used only for short periods when there hasn’t been enough Solar power to keep the batteries up.

 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 3 private vessels, short sightseeing visits.

Weather Events:

  • Westerly winds all day, 20 – 30 knots, rising to 35 – 30 knots late afternoon. Light fog in the morning, sunny and clear all day. Heavy haze in the evening, not quite dense enough to be called fog. Swells up to 2 meters, with 1 meter chop on top of that.

 

** All 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?