Wildlife notes
The super El Nino is bringing some rare birds to coastal BC. A red-footed booby was seen in Race Rocks Ecological Reserve on the outer rock islets hanging out with the cormorants and sea lions. This was the second sighting in BC, first for the Victoria area! It was first spotted at 3 pm but was not relocated later.
Other rare birds that twitchers have been lucky to see this summer are the Nazca booby, Cocos booby, elegant tern, Hawaiian petrel and the short-tailed albatross. These opportunities to see unusual birds are exciting but the events driving them are not always good for local birds and other wildlife or sea creatures.
Red-footed booby, Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, Sept 6 2026. Photos by Nathan Hentze, Rocky Point Bird Observatory/Eagle Wing Tours birding trip
The other highlights of the day were the first views through the windows I passed this morning. Through the first window I discovered the Jetty was held over night – the California sea lions did not break through the electric fence and this was the first time in the past week it held for 24 hours without repairs! The delight out the second window was a humpback whale tail sinking into the sea. In the third window I watched a fish leaping out of the sea pursued by a sea lion. There were many sea lions and whales out feeding. I am already thinking how hard it will be to say goodbye to this place in a few days.
Facility work
- cleaned solar panels
- ran the gas generator
- ran the desalinator
- fence repairs except on the Jetty!
- drilled more holes for new electric fence
Vessels
- Ecotourism: 26
- Private: 11
Weather
Scattered clouds. Fog in the early evening. Winds 1 to 18 knots, direction variable. Daytime temperatures 12 to 18 degrees.