Weather: the storm blew itself out and today the sun shone and the wind was 1 to 3 knots from the west
Visitors: at least 10 ecotourism boats through Race Passage today and probably more that I didn’t see as I am packing to leave. All were respectful. One I asked to slow down as the boat entered and he did. (In the time I wrote this 3 more boats have come by!)
Observations: with the wind calm and the ocean calm I was able to observe the sea otter hanging out with the seals. Also there were 12 Harlequin ducks and a return of the surf birds. Still no turnstones. I photographed a western gull with leg bands and reported it to the right place (with Ann Nightingale’s help) so we should hear about it’s history soon.
The intertidal was glorious today. I saw more starfish. None of them looking healthy. By that I mean they all looked limp. One obviously dead.
Greg is on his way to pick me up so I will wheelbarrow my belongings to the dock. What an amazing adventure every trip to Race Rocks is! I think of all the work that has gone into protecting these rocks and I am so grateful for it! Thank you Garry Fletcher and Pearson College. And thanks to Greg who goes above and beyond to make each Ecoguardian feel comfortable (and we are a strange bunch). I also read notes from previous ecoguardians and saw how knowledgeable many of them are. If you have time read Anne Stewart’s notes. A marine biologist, naturalist extraordinaire and wonderful teacher. I realize now that she is also a writer.
This was a quick trip to fill in unexpectedly because of an emergency. I did luck out with mid day low tides, a gale and a beautiful summer day.