Monday June 19: Arrived 3.30 pm
TUESDAY June 20 Orientation of animals, systems and tasks. Counted, cleaned, performed tasks.
Wednesday June 21 Animal Census See previous post.
Thursday to SATURDAY, Days running together.
Continue to do animal counts.
Gulls seem to be diminishing (368 Sat); no chicks, yet. Lots of nests with mostly 3 eggs. Oyster catcher (single chick last seen Thur).
Only one swallow; assume one is on nest.
Thrilling to see orca: four on Thurs; single male performing
Saturday June 24; brought out the ecotours.
Two huge flocks of guillemot totalling 70.
Brandts cormorants always in same spot (7).
Seals 138; hard to determine number of e-seals—4 + large
female in front yard named Blubber Maid. At low tide she goes down the boat ramp then returns to continue moult.
Much boat traffic (sun/calm): Ecotours avg 12; Tugs/barges; freighters avg 20; pleasure boats-fishing/power/sail; Cruise
ships avg 2; military; helicopters 4 during exercises; Clipper; Coho.
Fog Thursday and Friday: fog horn began 3.30 am ‘til 8.30. Friday midnight ‘til 2.15 pm. Saturday clear.
Allen cleaning solar panels daily. Checked water in batteries. Washed keeper house windows. Ilka cleaned indoors;
counting all day and from tower x 3.
Gale force winds to 60k came in Fri afternoon until late Sat morning. Greg managed to visit late afternoon.
SUNDAY June 25 Last full day; changeover scheduled for Mon. Again, woke to foghorn –4 am to 4pm c only an hour’s reprieve.
Poor visibility most of day but counted 111 guillemots. Saw three OCs with two rejecting the third. The couple seems to be nesting. Have not seen the chicks from earlier in the week. Gulls which seem fewer still performing cloacal kissing,, building nests—still no chicks. From tower looking into clear water watched mother seal with baby on back or alongside. Impressive swimmer and quite the frolicker.
High wind and waves all day; still 10 or so ecotour vessels came out. All attempting to see Blubber Maid, our e-seal; she continues her daily trek at low tide down the boat ramp from the front yard. Lies with snout in water for a while before returning to yard. Will probably be leaving soon as moult seems complete. Saw a sealion near the jetty and heard barking from 1-2 others.
MONDAY June 26 7.30 sunny c 50k wind after wild evening and night of 60+k. Did a final gull count from tower…559—seems all gulls and more have returned. 100+ more flew in as I was leaving. Blubber Maid in one of her favourite dayspots—cross roads of walkways. Expecting Greg with changeover guardian plus two visiting ecologists for a couple of
hours only.
Cleaned house. Loved our fascinating 8-day stint.