My first bit of rainfall at Race Rocks arrived this morning, a welcome change from the consistent sunshine as the cozy fall vibes set in. The lovely artwork the gulls paint on the solar panels every day is being washed away with hardly an effort on my end. To top the day off I saw perhaps the most epic sunset I’ve had here so far (picture below).
Wildlife Notes
- The usual humpbacks around, however more so outside the reserve
- Lots of black turnstones feeding around the edges of the island
Facility Work
No water sample was taken today as the YSI device was suddenly unresponsive to turning on. I’m unsure of what’s wrong but Jennifer from DFO will likely have to bring a replacement soon.
- Electric fence – had to fix multiple times today as the sea lions were extra unruly
- A very quick spot clean of solar panels as the rain did the job well
- Energy room check
- Food inventory taken for the Main House; organized supplies
Weather:
- Sky: Cloudy with periods of rain (16mm)
- Wind: 4-8kts SW
- Sea state: Light ripples
- Air temp: High 12C
Vessels:
Another fairly quiet day for vessel activity as the season for whale watching is starting to die down. However, I was disheartened to have to report a fisheries violation as a private vessel was parked inside the North end of the reserve fishing. Despite calls over the radio and approaches by nearby eco-tourism vessels, the boat refused to leave the park unwilling to accept they were in the wrong. After over an hour they finally left. I was however pleased to see the care and responsibility from the Eco-tourism industry over protecting the reserve and holding other vessels accountable to respecting the rules. They’re always quick to call out on the radio, warning of whales or of potential violations – thanks for making my job easier!
