Mammals:

• Steller sea lion: 0  (June 7: 2, May 30: 10, May 23: 6, May 15: 21, May 8: 37)
• California sea lion: 3 (June 7: 12)
• Harbour seal: 211 (June 7, 103, May 30: 90, May 23: 50)
• Elephant seal: 1 female

Birds:

• Gulls:  603 plus a group of 122 immature gulls and some visiting California gulls on the western rocks  (June 7: 645, May 30: 464, May 23: 467, May 15: 391, May 8: 114)
• Pigeon guillemot: 36 – should be more but out fishing (June 7: 82, May 30: 6, May 23: 30, May 15: 78, May 8: 153)
• Cormorants: 33
• Canada geese: 3
• Bald eagle: 5
• Black oystercatcher: 12 adults plus 5 chicks

Wildlife notes:

The highlight of the day was finding the Coast Guard oystercatcher pair’s three chicks alive and well. Unless a parent comes with a meal, the chicks are hidden in the vegetation and are impossible to spot. What a relief they survived predation from the gulls! It was also a great comfort to find the West Jetty oystercatcher pair delivering food to their chicks. The chicks remained hidden behind a rock so I couldn’t determine if all three eggs hatched.

General location of the Coast Guard oystercatchers. They are in the area of the fog horn.

The Coast Guard black oystercatcher parent and its three chicks who have come out into the open for meal time.

Other things of note were what appeared to be vomit on the solar panels and odd looking fleshy bones on the walkway. I thought maybe a Canada goose leg, but they seem already plucked and were probably flown here from someone’s backyard barbeque.

Vomit on the solar panels. I do not know whose.

D’em bones.

The last remaining female elephant seal on day 10 of her molt.

Facility work

• cleaned the solar panels
• topped up battery fluids
• fresh water delivery, another is coming on Monday and I’ll report on the final volumes then.

DND

Two of the loudest blasts I have heard so far – shook the house. Coincidently they occurred while I was reading about the Israeli strikes on Iran. I can’t image the terror of people living in war torn regions.

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 15
• Private: 1

Weather

Fresh westerly breeze. Skies with scattered clouds. Daytime temperatures: low 10 , high 12.