Sunny, patches of rain the afternoon
Wind: W 4-17 knots, calm in the late evening
Air Temperature: Low 7.7°C, High 10.7°C
Ocean Temperature: 8.9°C
This afternoon, a ring-necked california sea lion was observed on the South Islands. It had something tightly wrapped around its neck, which is digging into the flesh.
While observing the sea lions, a small creature appeared on the edge of the rock ten metres away from them. Much smaller than the sea lions, at about one metre long, it was eating the molluscs in the intertidal zone. To my great excitement, it was a sea otter (enhydra lutris). The sea otter ate, dove, rolled and swam around the South Islands for about two hours.
- Bald eagles in chase
- The california sea lion in the centre has something wrapped around its neck, possibility a plastic strap.
- A sea otter forages for food in the intertidal zone of the South Islands. In the background, sea lions float in the water.
- The sea otter wrapped in bull kelp.
- The sea otter swimming
- A close up of the sea otter
- The sea otter with harbour seals in the background
- Surf grass in an tidal pool