Gulls and Oyster Catchers are nesting

(having trouble uploading photos right now, will add photos later)

Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Young Adult Male Elephant Seal, who is very possessive of the 1 Female elephant seal also on the island
  • The yearling “pup” was very thin and wrinkly by the time he finished his molt, but appears to have left the reserve now.
  • Less than half as many as last year, but the gull have now made their nests and sitting on eggs
  • Have found 3 Oyster Catcher nests, but now they are nesting, I avoid the perimeter areas where they make the nests, so there may be more.
  • Frequent Humpback whales close to the reserve, and one actually passed withing about 5 meters of the end of the pier!
  • 4 different times, Transient orca were observed passing between the reserve and Bentinick Island

Visitors:

  • A College instructor and 2 researchers came for an overnight to take collect some data
  • The Desalination / water pump contractor came to help repair the systems

Facility Work:

  • Replaced the pressure pump and switches in the Desalinator system.
  • Consistent near daily cleaning of the Solar Panels
  • Repaired the frozen firepump used to fill the cistern with salt water

DND events:

  • Ongoing detonations at rocky point and Bentinick Island

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Very regular visits to the reserve by Ecotourism Vessels, both Canadian, and American vessels
  • Increase in private vessels also visiting the reserve.
  • Many sailing vessels passing both sides of the reserve during the Swiftsure Race.

 

 Noted Infractions:

  • All boats on best behavior. One instance of a private vessel fishing within the reserve. They were intercepted and warned by an Ecotourism vessel after not receiving (or ignoring) my radio calls.

 Feature Event:

  •  The repairs to the fire pump ended up an extended event!

    • The main pump was frozen and wouldn’t turn over, but the back up pump started easily.
    • Transferred the firehose pump fittings to the back up pump.Laid out and connected all the hose for transfer.
    • Attempted to restart the backup pump and the pull cord snapped!
    • Swapped the pull cord from the main pump and started the back up pump.
    • When the backup pump started to pump, there was a leak from the housing right at the engine mount. Did not want to dismantle that part of the pump without parts.
    • Stripped down the main pump to cleans and wire brush all the parts to get it turning over properly (which as it turns out, I should have just done in the first place!)
    • Transferred the pump fittings and pull start back to the main pump
    • Was then finally able to fill the cistern!
    • Flush the pump thoroughly with fresh water before storing!

Weather Events:

  • Full range of spring weather, no extremely high winds though.

 

** 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?