Wind: yesterday variable 3-13 knots, today mostly E 0-13 knots
Sea State: both days calm
Visibility: both days 15 NM
Sky: both days clear
Temperature: yesterday 3-11 °C, today 4-9 °C
Atmospheric CO2: 414.35 ppm (recorded by NOAA at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii)
It’s still officially winter, although it’s looking a lot more springlike. The ground is drying out, after lots of sun and little moisture lately. The elephant seal pups are now fending for themselves, as there are no signs of adults around. The female, tagged T563, hasn’t been seen for three days.
Today marked the first day this winter with more than 12 hours of daylight. The sunrise was at 7:21. The sunset was at 19:23. Each day adds three and a half minutes of light.
The pressure washing continues, in an effort to clean algae off the exterior walls of the buildings. Other maintenance tasks are happening like cleaning the solar panels, chopping wood, keeping the paths clear and running the desalinator. There is still lots of time leftover for watching the seal pups, eagles, pigeon guillemots and learning about this amazing place.
Yesterday, there were two tour boats in the ecological reserve. Today, Pearson College’s boat Second Nature and captain Greg came to deliver fuel for the generator. This afternoon, there was a pleasure craft touring, quite quickly at times, around the islands. With lots of marine mammals in the water and along the shore, it’s important for people to drive at a slow speed in the ecological reserve.
-
- For the first time all winter there have been no adult elephant seals on the island. Here are the three pups lounging in the centre of the island.
-
- The gulls are slowly spreading out around the island. Gone are the winter days when they gathered in large flocks near the shoreline. The spring will bring mating and nesting for the gulls.
-
- Most mornings and evenings lately have shown colourful displays on the horizon. Here are the three elephant seal pups yesterday, as the sun is about to rise behind them.
-
- A bald eagle perching on top of the camera housing on the high rock.
-
- Pigeon guillemots with their big red feet
-
- Pigeon guillemots line up along the jetty