The skies were clear enough for me to enjoy a beautiful sunrise this morning. The wind has also settled a bit and I could spend some more time outside without freezing. The seals were hanging out together on the grass but eventually moved apart with Ms. B moving past the electric fence on the East side of the island and the adult female staying on the grass towards the middle of the island near the main house.

Facility work

• Battery top up
• Filled Generator with diesel
• Collected firewood

Weather

• Wind: NW 5kts, gusting 19
• Partly cloudy
• Air temp: 5C

Vessels: 1 ecotourism

I honestly wasn’t expecting to have white wet flakes falling from the sky this morning. But indeed it was snowing…well more like sleet as it didn’t stick to the ground. A chilly morning to say the least! However the seasons here change in one day and by the afternoon the sun was shining once again.

For my daily “Pupdate”: Ms. B. Lackie was having a bit of a day. The adult female (who may or may not be mom? Yet tbd) was on the opposite side of the island, laying in the grass or going to her usual spot wading in the water on the boat ramp. Meanwhile, baby Lackie was eating rocks for breakfast. Yes, literal pebbles. I later found her screaming her head off by the Desalinator bunker.

Facility work

• Fence, Generator, and Solar panel checks
• Split firewood and kindling
• Water sample
• Floors of Main house

Weather

• Wind 9.5kts NW
• Flurries in the morning, sunshine the afternoon
• Air temp: 4
• Sea temp: 8.6

The winds were strong and persistent today, with very choppy waters surrounding the islands. I did my daily checks, including checking in on my favorite pair of Elephant seals who made their way up to in front of the main house happily snoozing in the sunshine. The howling winds made for a not so quiet Sunday but the sunshine gave enough energy to make some water with the desalinator. Although too stormy at the shores to safely collect wood, I did get to making some kindling with the wood in storage so I could cozy up to the stove in the cool evening.

It is International Women’s Day, and I was reading up on the women who lived in the lighthouse in it’s early days. One of those women was Ellen Argyle – here’s a excerpt from the book Keepers of the Light:

Ultimately Ellen was not recognized or even paid for the hard work she conducted over many years serving as the Matron of Race Rocks lighthouse. Her story reflects some of the many challenges women are faced with in a patriarchal society, not just back then but continue to face today. I’m grateful to be here in her footsteps, enjoying quite a luxurious stay in comparison, with equal pay and duties to others who enjoy this job!

Facility work

• Ran Desalinator
• Water sample
• Split and chopped firewood
• Cleaned house

Weather

• Wind 15kt NW, gusting 35kts
• Sunshine, periods of rain in the afternoon
• Air temp: 8
• Sea temp: 8.8
• Sea state: 2ft chop

We had a beautiful morning with sunshine and a bit of a breeze. Unfortunately the students had to leave early as the weather was going to prevent a pickup on the usual Sunday. So I said my goodbyes and helped get them ready for their departure.

We were surprised to see that (what I assume to be) mamma Elephant seal was back! She was at the top of the boat ramp, but baby was nowhere to be seen… however I heard some little screams I was sure were hers. It took me awhile to figure out exactly where her cries were coming from, until she poked her head out from underneath the sidewalk by the Tank shed. While baby was tucked and cozy out of the wind under the concrete, mamma spent most of the day rolling around the shallows of the boat ramp bellowing from time to time.

It’s the end of the week, and my favorite day on the island – animal census day! Probably the most remarkable part of this job is living amongst all this amazing wildlife. I thoroughly enjoy every minute of observing the animals that call this place home.

Animal Census Saturday, March 7, 2026:

Mammals:

• Steller sea lion: 36
• California sea lion: 18
• Harbour seal: 67
• Elephant seal: 2

Birds:

• Glaucus-winged gull: 130
• Herring gull: 8
• California gull: 2
• Pelagic cormorant: 123
• Brandt’s cormorant: 5
• Double-crested cormorant: 2
• Black oystercatcher: 6
• Harlequin duck: 18
• Black turnstone: 6
• Canadian goose: 6
• Surfbirds: 22
• Pigeon Guillemots: 4
• White-winged scoter: 2

Not observed today, but seen recently were 3 juvenile bald eagles and a Turkey vulture. Still no whale sightings.

Facility work

• Battery top up
• Filled Generator with diesel
• Checked on student house
• Collected firewood
• Animal census

Weather

• Wind: NNW 8kts, max gust 25kts
• Sunshine in the AM, periods of light rain in the PM
• Air temp: 10.6
• Sea temp: 8.6
• Sea state: calm, <1m swell

Starting to get back into routine here on the island. My morning walk-about to check the electric fence line also includes checking in on my little friend Ms. B. Lackie. It’s very peaceful here in March, definitely not the same cacophony of noises from the hoards of sea lions in the fall and I’m not complaining.

The students arrived in the afternoon with their supervisor Andrea. I gave them a tour of the island and a debrief on how things run here as far as safety, conservation, and energy saving goes. They invited me over for taco night and I got to answer all their curious questions (a lot pertaining to Elephant seals). What lovely guests to have!

Facility work

• Inventory of fire extinguishers
• cleaned student house
• student orientation
• collect firewood

Weather

• Wind: SE 4-10kts, gusting 19
• Overcast, periods of rain
• Air temp: 8.5
• Sea temp: 8.6
• Sea state: calm

A bit of a breezy, moody day on the rocks. I went to check on Ms. B and she was happy and unbothered sleeping next to the tank shed and did not move an inch all day. Not too much activity around the reserve as the winds and waves are not ideal for boating.

Facility work

• topped up battery fluid
• cleaned floors of student house
• cleaned solar panels
• End of Month report

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 0
• Private: 0
• Commercial (other):1

Weather

• Wind 9-15kts NW
• Partly cloudy; Sunshine
• Air temp 9-11 degrees
• Sea temp 8.9 degrees
• Sea state 3ft chop, <1m swell

A beautiful day to be welcomed back to Race Rocks! It has been since September that I’ve been away, and I am very much looking forward to getting re-acquainted with the island and its residents (as well as some peaceful time to myself).

Greg, Richard and myself arrived early afternoon to sunshine and a light breeze. Richard got busy installing a new cleat to the jetty for tying up closer to the ramp, while Greg and I went over a quick review of the systems and tasks I’ll be overseeing the next few weeks.

I was most excited to meet the islands newest temporary resident – Ms. B. Lackie, the baby Northern Elephant seal. She’s grown a lot over the last 6 weeks since she was born, and is now officially a ‘weaner’ meaning mum has left her to her own devices. She might be the cutest neighbour I have ever had!

Ms. B. Lackie at 6 weeks old

Grateful to be back at this little piece of heaven they call Race Rocks Ecological Reserve <3

Facility work

• Run through of systems & duties with Greg
• Richard installed new cleats on the jetty
• Organized and settled into house

Weather

• Wind 8kts N, gusting to 52 overnight
• Mostly sunny
• Visibility 15NM
• Air temp 8-10 degrees
• Sea temp 8.9 degrees

Good morning! Here were my observations on Feb 7th –
After a sunny day with mild winds I head to the top of the lighthouse with my counter and binoculars to see what I could see. What an afternoon to be up there!

I spotted:

-Birds
10 Harlequin ducks
5 Oyster catchers
346 Cormorants
193 seaguls
1 turnstone (heard not seen)
1 not yet identified songbird
2 Canadian geese

17 California sea lions
45 Stellar Sea lions
and of course, last but not least, one adult and one sub adult elephant seal!

Later that evening I did notice that many cormorants came to rest in the reserve, mental note hat I will do my count a little bit later next time.

Since I have arrived there is little traffic, a submarine in the distance, a couple whale watching boats with suited up tourists and one or two recreational, sub 30 foot, powerboats.

Hope everyone is enjoying this sun!
Cedric

This is my last night on Race Rocks. Everything was terrific. The weather was spectacular and watching the elephant seals grow and shrink was incredible. I will miss their interactions and calls – the moms haunting bellow and the pups indignant squawks, and the calls of the gulls and oyster catchers, the chatter of turnstones, the barks and growls of the sea lions, the roar of the current… just too much to list.  It is such a blessing and a privilege be here.

Thank you Greg and Richard for your support, and welcome to Race Rocks Cedric! You have a full cistern, 4000L of fresh water, piles of firewood to split, and the joy of watching the young pup explore the island and learn how to swim.

Piles of fire wood rounds waiting for the new splitter to arrive.

Another pile of fire wood.

Facility work

• topped up battery fluid
• organized and cleaned house

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 3
• Private: 1

Weather

Marvelous day. Partly cloudy. Sunshine. Gentle to moderate breeze veering from NE to SE. Daytime temperature 9 to 11 degrees.

Wildlife notes

The wounded Olympic gull was not seen today, dead or alive. The carcass of the dead California sea lion on East Beach has gone from brown to pink, to white and is now being unwrapped.  The birds have peeled back the skin on its skull!

On to more pleasant things… an image of the elephant seals, mom and the growing pup, asleep in the hollow. In the image below, on Sylvia’s chest just below her right front flipper is a round scar.  I think she may have been here last spring to molt.  In the May 18th 2025 post is a female with the same scar. Her hatred for the gulls is not new. In the May 31st 2025 post that same female is seen bellowing at a gull.

Sylvia and Ms. B. Lackie on day 16

Facility work

• cutting firewood
• helping Richard to finish the install of the new LED lights, hang the new framed marine charts and fix the down spout on the Keepers house.

Visitors

Two groups of students came to take notes on the wildlife and view the elephant seals.

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 2
• Private: 0

DND Activity

There were no detonations today but a lot of helicopter activity and impressive exercises. They were dropping inflatable boats and swimmers into the ebbing current in Race Passage.

Weather

Partly cloudy. Winds mostly light from the northeast. Day time temperatures 9 to 12 degrees.