Daniel Donnecke has contributed his images and counts from a visit to race Rocks on October 30 to ebird.org
https://ebird.org/checklist/S61055064
Census update
Weather:
- Sky: partly cloudy
- Visibility: 15+ miles
- Wind: 0-10 knots NE
- Water: flat
Boats/Visitors:
-
- still a few tour boats cruising around along with some fishing and sailing boats
- had visitors recently, the marine mammal rescue team came and I will post more on that later
Ecological
- So many sea lions, here is an updated census
- Census
- Sea Lions – 1085 (365 Steller and 720 California)
- Harbour Seals – 37
- Gulls – 400
- Cormorants – 210
- Fox Sparrows – 10ish, harder to count these guys
- Canada Geese – 22
- Black Turnstones – 30
- Eagles – 6
- Raven – 1
- possibly 1 sea otter, bit hard to see from this distance
- still seeing a humpback here and there but less frequent than last week
Archive of Salinity Recorded at Race Rocks 1926 to Present
Year Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
1936 ——- ——- ——— ——— ——— ——— ——- ——- ———– 31.36 31.65 31.54
1937 31.66 31.76 31.55 31.36 31.26 31.10 30.94 31.13 31.18 31.29 30.88 30.82
1938 30.60 30.70 30.80 31.21 31.11 31.18 30.87 31.34 31.24 31.65 31.54 31.41
1939 31.07 31.18 31.44 31.53 31.31 31.05 31.03 30.78 31.34 31.77 —— – 30.93
1940 30.76 30.78 30.60 30.92 30.65 30.60 —— —– —– ——- ——- ——- ——-
1941 —— —— —— —— —— 31.49 31.50 31.25 31.49 31.62 31.45 31.31 30.97
1942 31.18 31.00 31.44 31.58 31.56 31.62 31.25 31.11 31.32 31.80 31.73 31.46
1943 31.43 31.33 31.69 31.28 31.53 31.51 31.34 31.12 31.20 31.46 31.53 31.60
1944 31.60 31.57 31.80 31.91 31.80 32.10 31.81 31.89 31.77 31.68 31.70 31.49
1945 31.37 31.21 31.51 31.58 31.78 31.65 31.60 31.54 31.67 31.82 31.88 31.56
1946 31.12 31.30 31.19 31.43 31.39 31.06 30.76 30.95 31.44 31.54 31.80 31.26
1947 31.69 31.24 31.53 31.72 31.63 31.28 31.43 31.08 31.48 31.66 31.24 31.34
1948 31.07 31.42 31.40 31.53 31.32 30.83 30.46 31.13 31.12 31.19 31.45 31.03
1949 31.40 31.56 31.34 31.59 31.37 31.29 31.88 31.61 31.45 31.60 31.50 31.08
1950 31.14 31.12 30.79 31.01 31.34 31.31 30.95 31.06 31.20 31.05 30.91 30.34
1951 30.21 30.22 30.69 31.34 31.54 31.13 31.37 31.27 31.61 31.67 31.53 31.20
1952 31.39 31.00 31.33 31.60 31.65 31.30 31.12 31.47 31.48 31.44 31.79 31.58
1953 30.79 30.52 31.38 31.45 31.44 31.21 31.20 31.00 31.14 31.37 31.26 30.63
1954 30.47 30.56 30.76 31.06 31.41 31.41 30.74 30.76 30.67 30.87 30.73 30.49
1955 30.67 30.77 31.37 31.41 31.57 31.27 31.27 30.89 30.94 31.39 30.78 30.79
1956 30.50 31.10 31.02 31.21 31.27 30.85 30.56 31.15 31.33 31.28 31.14 31.01
1957 31.22 31.30 31.17 31.28 31.44 31.20 31.15 31.35 31.24 31.12 31.35 31.29
1958 31.05 30.82 30.89 31.01 31.01 30.78 30.53 31.04 31.22 31.05 30.96 30.86
1959 30.75 30.66 30.99 31.04 31.20 31.19 30.57 30.83 31.14 30.99 31.07 30.91
1960 30.99 30.85 31.16 31.14 31.13 31.06 30.66 31.02 31.04 31.21 31.15 30.84
1961 30.63 30.65 30.43 30.75 30.99 30.52 30.60 31.08 31.42 31.56 31.52 31.35
1962 31.22 31.29 31.49 31.66 31.44 31.52 31.28 31.31 31.07 31.48 31.13 30.74
1963 30.75 30.98 31.04 31.08 31.19 31.26 31.16 31.18 31.36 31.33 31.00 30.79
1964 30.67 30.70 31.15 31.42 31.68 31.49 30.85 30.75 31.14 31.22 31.31 31.16
1965 30.47 30.86 31.21 31.61 31.51 31.24 31.65 31.55 31.40 31.77 31.25 30.98
1966 30.83 30.87 31.03 31.13 31.35 31.45 31.35 31.14 31.42 31.50 31.62 31.07
1967 30.86 30.75 30.94 30.98 31.36 31.08 30.56 30.92 31.05 31.26 30.83 31.15
1968 30.93 30.64 30.69 30.85 31.28 31.02 30.64 30.96 31.09 31.23 31.01 30.67
1969 30.55 30.75 30.94 31.08 31.06 30.83 30.86 31.20 31.07 31.12 31.42 31.15
1970 31.00 30.74 31.05 31.50 31.71 31.24 31.19 31.65 31.79 32.10 31.84 31.42
1971 31.25 31.04 31.10 30.91 31.06 31.12 30.81 30.59 30.73 31.21 31.57 31.05
1972 30.94 30.89 30.05 30.27 30.69 30.33 29.82 30.40 30.84 31.37 31.80 31.53
1973 31.25 31.09 31.45 31.66 31.94 31.77 31.30 31.62 31.83 31.95 31.64 31.12
1974 31.14 30.92 30.97 31.21 31.55 31.06 30.92 30.53 31.32 31.75 32.11 31.81
1975 31.75 31.61 31.59 32.00 32.14 32.17 31.82 31.69 31.69 32.12 31.42 30.91
1976 30.85 31.07 31.08 31.34 31.56 31.65 31.51 31.34 30.72 30.72 31.13 31.26
1977 31.20 31.40 30.86 31.59 31.46 31.24 31.54 30.97 31.31 31.67 31.52 30.73
1978 30.75 30.67 30.73 30.91 31.29 31.29 31.15 31.53 31.20 31.18 31.25 31.69
1979 31.44 31.24 31.41 31.60 31.56 31.59 31.45 31.63 31.52 31.45 31.45 31.50
1980 31.07 31.48 31.38 31.71 31.71 32.01 31.92 31.78 31.93 31.94 32.06 31.75
1981 31.15 31.41 31.16 31.62 31.88 31.90 32.15 32.25 32.29 32.03 31.61 31.25
1982 31.20 31.08 30.77 31.07 31.55 31.71 31.57 31.29 31.33 31.42 31.21 30.85
1983 30.87 30.57 30.45 30.81 30.93 31.03 31.10 31.01 31.08 31.27 31.06 30.58
1984 30.46 30.54 30.46 30.87 31.35 31.34 31.11 31.46 31.35 31.27 31.02 31.08
1985 31.18 31.21 31.81 31.63 31.93 31.60 31.57 31.87 32.05 31.96 31.45 31.72
1986 31.54 31.16 30.94 31.27 31.64 31.25 31.36 31.17 31.67 31.80 31.82 31.50
1987 30.98 31.02 31.03 31.29 31.43 31.54 31.22 31.67 31.83 31.72 31.87 31.44
1988 31.34 31.40 31.61 31.77 31.70 31.67 31.73 31.83 31.78 31.90 31.59 31.41
1989 31.44 31.42 31.46 31.39 31.89 31.99 31.23 32.47 31.81 32.55 32.12 31.71
1990 31.80 31.54 31.37 31.57 31.76 31.37 31.81 31.21 31.29 31.84 31.43 30.56
1991 30.99 30.95 30.92 30.87 31.60 30.85 30.98 31.26 31.07 31.21 31.46 31.17
1992 30.96 30.51 30.75 31.12 30.90 31.00 30.92 30.56 30.88 31.12 30.91 30.52
1993 30.62 30.35 30.51 30.83 30.71 30.21 30.50 30.76 30.78 30.97 31.10 30.85
1994 30.84 30.64 30.73 31.78 31.53 31.85 31.04 31.34 31.22 31.44 31.57 31.29
1995 30.83 30.76 30.79 30.82 31.02 31.09 30.82 31.23 31.32 31.55 31.25 30.40
1996 30.26 30.20 30.36 30.71 30.84 31.04 30.44 30.88 31.18 31.33 31.27 30.76
1997 30.53 30.41 30.73 30.64 30.43 30.58 30.34 29.90 30.74 30.58 30.49 30.52
1998 30.62 30.39 30.50 30.57 31.08 30.66 30.89 30.92 31.04 31.34 31.20 30.79
1999 30.58 30.32 30.58 30.68 30.73 30.72 30.24 30.29 30.06 30.80 31.26 30.71
2000 30.82 30.80 30.91 31.17 31.07 30.90 30.55 30.70 30.78 30.96 31.25 31.40
2001 31.37 31.19 31.67 31.82 31.79 31.81 31.42 31.37 31.32 31.61 31.49 31.07
2002 30.84 30.81 31.17 31.35 31.41 31.31 30.82 30.76 31.28 31.38 31.75 31.43
2003 31.01 31.05 30.91 30.73 31.17 30.80 31.16 31.21 31.45 31.69 31.05 31.09
2004 30.92 30.71 30.99 31.15 31.25 31.38 31.15 31.38 31.48 31.15 31.17 31.11
2005 30.92 30.58 31.05 31.12 31.11 31.15 30.83 30.83 31.16 31.41 31.17 31.21
2006 30.80 30.23 31.19 31.21 31.08 31.09 30.81 31.00 31.48 31.54 31.15 30.98
2007 30.65 30.80 30.84 30.83 30.82 30.88 30.65 30.48 30.79 31.23 31.09 31.10
2008 30.76 30.86 31.06 31.20 31.50 31.19 31.31 31.30 31.13 31.53 31.23 31.53
2009 31.25 31.52 31.43 30.04 30.50 31.31 31.23 31.39 30.97 31.32 31.27 30.90
2010 30.95 30.84 31.04 30.98 31.32 31.00 30.62 31.01 31.23 31.26 31.47 31.28
2011 30.57 30.92 30.85 30.75 30.76 30.75 30.34 30.46 30.86 30.99 31.47 31.20
2012 31.30 31.31 31.06 30.84 30.69 31.12 30.56 30.39 30.59 31.10 30.92 30.54
2013 30.54 31.10 31.27 31.27 31.42 31.09 30.26 31.09 31.00 30.97 31.29 31.45
2014 31.49 31.43 31.01 30.89 31.06 30.54 30.47 30.42 31.00 31.25 30.53 30.39
2015 29.99 30.34 30.47 30.48 30.90 30.77 31.11 31.78 31.46 31.62 31.62 31.36
2016 31.31 30.91 30.74 30.82 30.94 30.88 30.91 30.88 31.66 31.87 31.45 31.62
2017 31.59 31.34 31.31 31.19 31.17 30.99 30.99 31.33 31.67 32.01 31.83 31.39
2018 31.35 31.14 31.30 30.96 31.22 30.72 29.93 30.37 30.93 31.10 31.12 30.96
2019 30.67 ——- 30.85 ——- ——- 31.25 31.78 31.93 —— – —— – —– —
Year -Jan — Feb -Mar -Apr -May -Jun – Jul -Aug – Sep – Oct – Nov – Dec
Archive of Sea Water Temperatures at Race Rocks 1921-Present
file created: 10-Oct-2019 14:51:44
Monthly Sea Surface Temperature
Race Rocks 48.2996 123.5318
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1921 999.99 7.13 7.39 7.75 8.53 9.57 10.31 10.53 10.35 9.88 9.21 8.25
1922 6.49 6.20 6.61 7.55 8.35 9.54 10.53 10.34 10.25 9.37 8.42 7.15
1923 7.11 6.46 6.71 7.64 8.61 9.37 10.38 10.60 10.63 9.67 8.72 7.96
1924 7.13 7.39 7.72 7.97 9.05 9.83 10.51 10.37 10.28 9.28 8.83 7.36
1925 6.66 6.91 7.36 8.07 9.22 10.17 11.16 10.86 10.24 9.27 8.39 8.20
1926 7.90 8.04 8.64 9.25 10.10 10.72 11.18 10.90 10.57 9.82 9.15 8.55
1927 7.65 7.44 7.83 8.07 8.86 9.80 10.57 10.91 10.41 9.70 8.67 7.60
1928 6.93 7.33 7.90 8.62 9.79 10.29 10.82 11.00 10.39 9.20 8.62 7.92
1929 7.16 6.41 7.13 7.86 9.07 9.83 10.82 10.82 10.81 9.86 8.84 7.88
1930 6.58 6.66 7.15 8.30 9.38 10.06 10.66 10.89 10.61 9.50 8.65 8.08
1931 7.90 7.90 8.25 8.85 9.90 10.62 11.57 11.18 10.73 9.66 8.64 7.75
1932 7.12 6.83 7.33 8.24 9.33 10.44 10.82 10.98 10.74 9.65 8.92 7.74
1933 7.14 6.73 7.12 8.08 9.14 10.26 10.59 11.53 10.12 9.68 8.64 7.72
1934 7.87 7.99 8.39 9.23 10.04 10.88 10.97 11.70 10.71 9.72 9.25 8.41
1935 7.29 7.27 7.51 7.81 9.21 10.20 10.58 10.59 10.77 9.71 8.23 8.15
1936 7.90 6.76 7.05 7.89 9.32 10.47 11.30 11.32 10.52 10.13 8.62 7.99
1937 6.62 6.49 7.73 8.74 9.95 10.92 11.77 11.53 10.91 9.93 8.51 8.19
1938 7.44 7.29 8.19 9.41 10.63 12.34 12.74 11.91 11.10 9.93 8.64 7.51
1939 7.42 6.67 7.13 8.64 10.32 11.43 12.20 11.15 11.47 9.75 —- 8.58
1940 7.98 8.28 9.06 10.09 11.49 11.69 —— —— ——- ——- —– ——
1941 —– —– —– —– 10.07 10.54 11.29 11.05 10.66 9.97 9.07 8.60
1942 7.99 7.91 7.85 8.59 9.70 9.87 10.61 11.03 10.34 9.52 8.44 7.92
1943 6.83 6.71 7.16 8.25 8.89 10.03 10.35 10.68 10.39 9.62 9.06 8.13
1944 7.72 7.54 7.37 8.06 9.29 10.58 11.09 10.92 10.58 9.67 9.24 8.13
1945 7.87 7.79 7.64 8.02 8.87 9.86 10.16 10.58 10.09 9.52 8.18 8.10
1946 7.80 7.38 7.71 8.16 9.48 10.28 10.78 10.81 10.33 9.50 8.16 7.78
1947 7.13 7.08 7.77 8.47 9.53 10.48 10.67 11.00 10.57 9.92 9.12 7.96
1948 7.60 6.97 7.26 7.92 9.02 10.28 10.86 10.74 10.48 9.55 8.21 7.08
1949 6.15 6.13 6.97 8.31 9.45 10.20 10.37 10.30 10.52 9.54 8.77 7.88
1950 6.25 5.87 6.65 7.75 8.72 9.48 10.10 10.43 10.31 9.32 8.58 8.08
1951 7.53 6.95 6.72 8.12 9.25 10.31 10.45 11.09 10.93 9.58 8.53 7.76
1952 6.97 7.13 7.64 8.29 9.02 9.69 10.48 10.54 10.23 9.81 8.69 7.95
1953 7.85 7.96 7.69 8.16 9.33 9.82 10.64 11.07 10.62 9.94 9.35 8.56
1954 7.16 7.35 7.55 7.97 8.80 9.32 9.93 10.08 10.07 9.43 9.16 8.46
1955 7.53 7.20 6.78 7.52 8.42 9.38 9.81 10.26 10.00 9.00 7.58 6.70
1956 6.72 6.43 6.35 7.69 8.79 9.69 10.26 10.46 10.17 9.22 8.12 7.12
1957 6.39 6.24 7.25 8.13 9.38 10.10 10.35 10.51 10.59 9.82 8.90 8.35
1958 8.09 8.31 8.66 9.39 10.38 10.77 11.55 11.56 11.04 9.97 8.77 8.15
1959 7.63 7.45 7.93 9.12 9.77 10.50 11.32 11.08 10.51 9.73 8.37 7.82
1960 7.17 7.52 7.52 8.63 9.67 10.34 11.43 10.80 10.13 9.53 8.67 7.98
1961 7.99 8.21 8.41 8.86 9.41 10.36 11.00 11.32 10.67 9.45 8.30 7.51
1962 7.21 7.36 7.37 8.39 9.33 10.05 10.47 10.53 10.60 10.08 9.41 8.75
1963 7.53 7.55 7.87 8.50 9.68 10.25 10.50 10.85 10.62 10.32 9.99 8.76
1964 8.26 8.00 7.77 8.25 8.85 9.66 10.30 10.50 10.07 9.41 8.34 7.46
1965 6.92 7.11 7.28 8.00 8.90 9.83 10.07 10.21 10.32 9.70 9.21 8.52
1966 7.72 7.61 7.75 8.54 9.05 9.12 10.63 10.75 10.17 9.57 8.76 8.64
1967 7.95 7.75 7.62 8.15 8.91 9.64 10.34 10.59 10.53 9.78 9.15 8.04
1968 7.40 7.36 8.04 8.37 8.78 9.50 10.24 10.25 10.45 9.36 8.82 7.81
1969 6.53 6.39 7.23 8.12 9.13 10.21 10.47 10.51 9.88 9.28 8.73 8.16
1970 7.59 7.78 8.00 8.08 8.76 9.64 10.26 10.30 10.09 9.06 8.38 7.59
1971 7.10 6.94 6.72 7.57 8.58 9.16 10.07 10.67 10.43 9.34 8.30 7.37
1972 6.47 6.29 6.92 7.68 8.82 9.57 10.56 10.69 10.30 9.15 8.47 7.37
1973 7.05 7.27 7.98 8.45 8.70 9.29 10.14 10.40 10.09 9.25 8.25 8.04
1974 7.28 7.24 7.36 8.20 8.56 9.74 10.07 10.93 10.65 9.78 8.61 8.26
1975 7.33 6.81 7.23 7.73 8.73 9.48 10.20 10.42 10.41 9.62 9.28 7.85
1976 7.27 7.07 7.01 7.85 8.75 9.37 10.14 10.16 10.09 9.44 8.69 8.13
1977 7.63 7.98 8.09 8.35 8.83 9.79 9.97 10.89 10.31 9.29 8.62 7.97
1978 7.66 7.96 8.34 8.99 9.45 10.38 10.49 10.91 10.59 9.81 8.22 7.37
1979 6.58 6.90 7.57 8.38 9.54 10.01 10.90 10.77 10.51 9.87 9.08 8.61
1980 7.79 7.66 7.97 8.69 9.50 9.52 10.66 10.95 10.52 9.96 9.30 8.61
1981 8.31 8.39 8.87 9.24 9.47 9.91 10.35 10.59 10.21 9.73 9.38 8.60
1982 7.25 7.51 8.00 8.88 9.99 10.74 11.42 11.80 11.41 10.38 8.81 8.35
1983 8.63 8.67 9.36 10.07 10.65 11.33 11.79 12.46 11.49 10.30 9.54 7.77
1984 7.53 7.86 8.43 9.07 9.74 10.34 11.42 11.60 10.66 9.77 8.56 6.99
1985 6.82 6.88 7.25 8.20 9.63 10.62 11.56 11.64 10.83 9.63 6.89 6.44
1986 7.05 6.68 8.08 8.43 9.48 11.07 10.95 11.84 10.88 9.82 8.46 7.88
1987 7.61 7.99 8.39 8.98 9.82 10.68 11.15 11.57 11.14 10.07 9.08 8.25
1988 7.46 7.53 7.58 8.62 9.70 10.49 11.07 11.41 10.62 9.63 8.77 7.91
1989 7.01 5.87 6.83 8.27 9.51 10.80 11.31 11.24 11.09 9.96 8.96 8.23
1990 8.18 7.72 8.24 9.08 9.90 10.87 11.88 12.14 12.18 10.79 9.97 8.22
1991 7.13 7.80 7.98 8.43 9.79 9.78 10.83 11.09 11.24 10.14 8.93 8.31
1992 7.97 8.18 9.50 9.51 10.26 10.80 11.13 11.45 11.02 10.01 9.10 7.81
1993 6.71 6.79 7.68 8.70 9.78 10.85 11.07 11.20 11.00 10.19 8.58 7.92
1994 8.05 7.46 8.61 9.31 10.13 10.62 11.63 11.59 11.36 10.75 9.38 8.41
1995 8.27 8.63 8.86 9.22 10.21 11.21 11.88 11.53 11.38 10.26 9.42 8.91
1996 8.26 7.87 8.47 9.22 10.06 10.41 11.51 11.50 10.59 9.91 8.76 7.68
1997 7.75 7.95 8.10 9.02 10.35 10.98 11.77 12.26 11.66 11.39 10.00 9.31
1998 8.75 9.28 9.77 10.00 10.44 11.41 11.78 12.34 12.11 10.70 9.87 9.00
1999 8.07 7.80 8.17 8.91 9.58 10.48 11.12 11.57 11.91 10.14 9.01 8.52
2000 7.57 7.74 8.20 9.11 10.08 11.16 11.35 11.72 11.44 10.36 9.02 8.02
2001 7.93 7.73 8.10 8.80 9.75 10.68 11.33 11.41 11.40 10.23 9.25 8.36
2002 8.11 7.91 7.79 8.80 9.46 10.54 11.28 11.78 11.36 10.08 9.09 8.84
2003 8.87 8.54 8.74 9.29 9.96 10.98 11.39 11.49 11.41 10.93 8.99 8.47
2004 7.87 7.91 8.34 9.11 10.46 11.10 11.87 11.97 11.30 10.65 9.49 8.67
2005 7.75 8.01 8.84 9.48 10.71 11.22 11.69 12.17 11.50 10.40 9.53 8.40
2006 8.61 8.49 8.41 8.75 10.08 10.87 11.66 12.09 11.49 10.55 9.29 8.54
2007 7.84 7.78 7.86 8.95 10.03 10.19 11.23 11.66 11.03 10.01 8.97 8.03
2008 7.46 7.33 7.68 8.06 9.36 9.78 10.84 11.30 11.16 10.14 9.39 7.87
2009 7.29 7.20 7.46 8.35 9.54 10.39 11.44 11.74 11.80 10.62 9.35 7.70
2010 8.11 8.69 9.12 8.96 9.45 10.36 11.16 11.93 11.08 10.37 8.98 8.06
2011 7.77 7.49 7.77 8.53 9.32 10.35 10.76 11.38 11.17 10.14 8.66 8.01
2012 7.29 7.35 7.63 8.73 9.82 9.76 10.37 10.98 10.93 9.66 8.85 8.32
2013 7.64 7.44 7.48 8.27 9.05 9.72 10.96 10.76 10.65 10.10 8.69 7.68
2014 7.63 7.25 7.90 8.80 9.72 10.30 10.79 11.36 11.20 10.72 10.14 9.03
2015 8.75 9.00 8.96 9.40 9.88 11.17 11.97 12.23 11.30 10.55 9.61 9.01
2016 8.45 8.77 9.05 9.71 10.21 11.16 11.90 12.52 11.27 10.40 10.42 8.63
2017 6.96 7.03 7.94 9.08 10.24 11.21 11.70 11.87 11.29 10.15 9.10 8.45
2018 8.06 7.71 8.00 8.81 10.31 10.63 11.40 11.50 11.11 10.27 9.54 8.72
2019 8.45 —- 8.96 10.05 10.87 10.98 11.26 10.85 ——- —– —– ——
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Pacific wren in the lantern room
Stormy day –wind 25 to 30 knots from the east
When I entered the lantern room around 9 a.m. there was a wren. It went through the metal hatch on the floor where there is a hole but soon came back. eventually, I opened the door and it flew out.
The winter wren was previously recorded in October 2016 and April 2014.
-
- Pacific wren : Troglodytes pacificus
-
- Pacific Wren
Humpback Whales Breaching!!!
Wind from the east at 25 to 30 knots
In the light house around 9 a.m. and noticed splashing to the south.
My binoculars caught the flukes of the whales hitting the water.
I watched and counted the flukes smashing the water 10 times.
Then the whales started breaching.
I counted 50 breaches. When I counted in the teens the 2 whales breached in synchrony, for about 3 breaches. Then one whale seemed to take a break and I saw a few breaths but the other kept leaping! After I counted 36 breaches both whales seemed to take a breath ( I saw 2 breaths ) then started up again until I counted 50.
So beautiful!
It was a wild, windy day
banded immature eagle
wind 11 knots north east
sky clear
water calm visibility >15
Started the day watching the sunrise from the light house as I have for the past 7 days. This was the first morning whales were not visible. the water surface was like a mirror. There was no wind. Many groups of birds, between 20 and 50, were headed south. In the course of 30 minutes I saw over 10 groups. They looked like Alcids and I suspect common murre. There is a poor picture below but when I enlarge it I can make out the markings..
I saw what I believe was a dolphin twice. Just a blow much smaller then the whales and almost no animal visible. I only saw each blow because I was looking through binoculars at the birds, otherwise I would have missed it.
About an hour later I took this picture of an immature eagle eating a gull and when I looked online I could see its’ tag.
The humpback whales were visible again around 10 a.m. and I watched 2 of them for about an hour. There were lots of pectoral fins,dives and mouths breaking the surface followed by bubbles.
Maintenance
Greg and Guy came out today and filled the water tank, pressure washed around the generator house. We cleaned up some oil that is leaking in the generator house from the coast guard abandoned machinery. Brought fuel up to the generator. This week I brought almost all the wood from under the porch into the house and today I started moving the pile of driftwood by the jetty up under the porch. Also I am planning to have the lighthouse stairs swept by tomorrow (20 left to go). Electric fence mending continues daily.
Whale Watching boats
I have been pleasantly surprised at how respectful the whale watching boats have been. There has not been one incident of the sea lions plunging into the ocean. The boats go slowly and seem to watch the sea lions behaviour and veer away if they notice any activity suggesting anxiety. BUT TODAY after I had watched the humpbacks a boat zoomed over way too close and kept following the whales. they did not drift but actively pursued the whales for over an hour within 10 metres of them or closer. I took lots of photos and will send them to Tyron Pile. it was upsetting to watch. Maybe a new driver?
census
visibility greater then 15 kms.
sky clear
wind 6 knots from the northeast
sea calm
Sea Lions 1072 (including the islets)
Gulls 1660
Cormorants 180
Canada Geese 21
Seals 36
Eagles 2
black turnstones difficult to count because they are so camouflaged (see picture below) but more then 50
Many humpback whales
?dolphin
4 distinct groups of whales this morning. Because they were so entertaining I watched them both from the lighthouse and the back porch for several hours. I also saw what I believe was a dolphin, it just broke the surface and it’s spout was much smaller then the whales. It’s spout was straight. I saw it blow several times about 5 minutes apart but I didn’t see it’s body. it was only about 100 mtres from the lighthouse nowhere near the whales.
harlequin ducks were seen yesterday 2 males and one female
Sandpipers
one group of about 200 sandpipers flying south today
I saw 5 groups on October 25 during gale force winds but none were as large as this group.Those were between 10 and 100 individuals.
CAS week
- 8 students and Laura, their instructor were here for the week.
- They carried out several interesting studies, including counting the sea lions 5 times/day, watching animal groupings according to the wind direction and intensity, keeping track of the tagged and branded sea lions to watch their movement.
- I was grateful for their help when I drove Laas to Pearson College in the whaler. The winch is much easier to use with several hands!
sick California sea lion
Yesterday I spotted this sea lion when I was clearing the jetty
Today he looks worse. He is lethargic and thin. He does not ambulate normally. I did contact the marine mammal vet but I am not hopeful there is anything to be done. I am wondering about the diagnosis. Is there such a thing as a fractured baculum? I noticed online that genital cancer is a diagnosis in marine mammals.
There are over 1000 sea lions here and most look amazingly robust. it is expected that there will be disease and I noticed on this blog that many pictures of ill animals are posted. As this is my first time coming to stay here I was overwhelmed by the many many posts of sick, injured and neck banded sea lions. It is heart breaking but now that I am here and wrestling daily with the feisty beasts I am relieved that the posts, although necessary, certainly do not represent the majority! That is why I have added a sunset picture!
