Race Rocks is a sanctuary | Race Rocks Ecological Reserve-

I arrived on Tuesday April 19. I had the good fortune to arrive with Garry Fletcher and get a quick tour of the island. We found the Romanzoffia (Mist Maiden) in bloom. Derek had done a great job getting the house ready for transfer.

My first full day here the winds were E/NE up to 40 knots. Therefore it was quiet in terms of ecotourism. I wandered around familiarizing myself with the (currently) 7 elephant seals, the Canada geese nests and the sea lions all sharing the island with me.

Today (April 21) the weather has changed. Wind currently west. Sea calm.

Visitors: The Pearson College second year marine biology class are celebrating their last class today and visited the island for 2 hours. Greg was kind enough to trouble shoot a few things with me and we also had time (and bravery) to addle 3 eggs in a goose nest next to the gasoline shed. I made a map of nests so we can keep track of which eggs we have disturbed.

Four ecotourism boats have moved through the reserve today. It is such a wonderful thing to observe how respectful they are. The presence of guardians seems to have made a big difference.

Observations

Yesterday during the storm there were 2 Dunlins (I believe). I will include a very poor picture. I saw them several times close to and moving with the turnstones on the grass.

Today was a fantastic low tide. Last year I was here after the “heat dome” and the intertidal was burnt. Today it was so lush. Beautiful abundant seaweed, I will try and edit this post with the new names, Hedophyllum, Alaria, Costaria, Iridea ,Halosaccion beautifully shiny and underneath pink coralline algae, bright orange Cucumaria, tunicates and sea anemones. Abundant goose neck barnacles. Even a gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri). Oyster Catchers, Turnstones, Harlequin ducks all making their presence known as I entered their dining room. 3 eagles busy eating the remains of a dead sea lion.

The elephant seals continue their moulting. Coming and going down the jetty. The pup seems to be alone and away from the others.

The gulls are working very hard impressing each other with their nest building skills, head bobbing, vocalizations and also copulating. They are much friendlier than when they have nests.