Tag Archives: animal census

Animal Census and Blog

Posted on by

The great weather had to come to an end eventually! Despite being a dark and cloudy day we lucked out with no rain and no wind.

I had 9 extra helpers for the animal census today, the Pearson students are extra observant so this may be the most accurate count yet!

No sea otters were seen today but the two new ones have been around the past few days. Still no additional elephant seals on the main island, just our solo male! A couple of females have been hauled out on the various surrounding rocks but none of come ashore here.

March 20th Animal Census:

Birds:

Oyster catcher: 15
Harlequin duck: 12
Gulls: 261
Cormorant: 62
Pigeon guillemot: 149
Juvenile eagle: 3
Adult eagle: 4
Canadian geese: 9
Shore birds: 10
Turnstones: 28
Savannah sparrow: 1

Marine Mammals:

Steller sea lions: 17
Harbour seal: 64
Male Elephant seal: 1
Female elephant seal : 2 (north rocks)
California sea lion: 20

Injuries:
Harbour seal with facial injury


DND Activity:

  • 2 blasts at 12:55 and 13:00. They did startle the harbour seals and the second blast sent a California sea lion fleeing into the water.
  • 3rd blast at 14:15 no obvious disturbance noted. 
  • 4th blast at 15:05 no obvious disturbance noted.
  • 5th blast at 15:08 no obvious disturbance noted.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • One ecotourism vessel
  • One Coast Guard vessel
  • Three RCMP vessels

 

 

Weather Events:

  • Wednesday, March 20:
    • Sky: Cloudy all day
    • Wind: High of WNW 13 knots, Low of  SW 4 knots
    • Sea: Calm
    • Temperature: Low 8oC, High  10oC

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Growing sea lion numbers…

Animal Census and Blog

Posted on by

Time is flying by here! Nothing too wild to report today, the weather is definitely getting warmer and the solar panels are working hard. See below for more details!

March 13th Census:

Birds

  • Harlequin duck: 13
  • Bald eagle adult: 5
  • Bald eagle juvenile: 1
  • Turnstones: 16
  • Gulls, Glaucous and Western: 130
  • Cormorants: 27
  • Pigeon Guillemots: 86
  • Oyster catcher: 21
  • Canadian goose: 11
  • Surf Birds: 8

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion: 23
  • Harbour seal: 40
  • California sea lion: 27
  • Elephant seal male: 1
  • Sea otter: 1 (+ additional sighted March 11th)
  • Animal Tracking and Injuries: 
    • Injuries: Steller sea lion with head wound (see photo) 
    • Tracking: California sea lion with small red flipper tag, no numbers or markings on tag

 

Ecological Notes:

–          Two sea otters observed near the South Island on the morning of March 11th. One was larger with a dark face, the second appeared to be young with blonde cheeks and lacking the nose scar that Ollie is known for. Watched them both for 3-4 hours, they were eating urchins, crab, grooming, and exhibiting other common sea otter behaviours.

–          Still just one male elephant seal on the rocks. Female was reported on Middle Rock by an ecotourism vessel.

Visitors:

  • Greg to drop off supplies

Facility Work:

  • Gardening/weeding
  • Repaired some gaps in the electric fence
  • Full clean inside keeper’s house (on bad weather day)

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Ecotourism vessels, the same 2-3 seem to pass by each day
  • Wednesday, March 13:
    • Sky: Blue sky with some clouds 
    • Wind: Low of WNW 4 knots with high of WSW 18 knots
    • Sea: Relatively calm today 
    • Temperature: Low 6oC, High 9oC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Animal Census

Posted on by

Census done by Students of WestCoast Adventure College during their stay here for classes

 

Birds

  • Harlequin duck                         12
  • Bald eagle adult                        5
  • Bald eagle juvenile                    2
  • Golden Eagle juvenile               1
  • Turnstones                                 10
  • Gulls                                            323
  • Cormorants                                243
  • Pigeon Guillemots                      18
  • Oyster catcher                            6
  • Canadian goose                         10
  • Surf Birds                                    2
  • Dunlin                                          4
  • Savannah Sparrow                     1

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                     79, including 1 female nursing a yearling
  • Harbour seal                         25
  • California sea lion                40
  • Sea otter                                1
  • Humpback whale,                 mid strait south of Race
  • Orca                                        2 hunting in the reserve
  •                                                 6 hunting south of the reserve, waiting until the
  •                                                 2 joined them

Detailed Bird Count

Posted on by
Report by fill-in Eco-Guardian Ann Nightingale, accompanied by James Kennerley
Landed on Great Race Rock to conduct gull survey on behalf of RPBO. Principally observed birds on Great Race Rock and surrounding islands. Didn’t really seawatch from the island.
22 Species observed
+4 other taxa
871 individuals
1 Species with photos

Observations

  1. Harlequin Duck

    Number observed: 16

    Details

    Several groups, largest was eight birds. Many smart drakes. Some males moulting into formative plumage too.

  2. Surf Scoter

    Number observed: 6

  3. White-winged Scoter

    Number observed: 8

    Details

    Single group close to shore of Great Race Rock.

  4. Black Oystercatcher

    Number observed: 4

    Details

    Two pairs flying around on arrival.

  5. Black Turnstone

    Number observed: 12

    Details

    Ones, twos and threes scattered around. A few initially on grassy areas when we arrived before moving towards the shoreline.

  6. Surfbird

    Number observed: 5

    Details

    At least five singles scattered around.

  7. Dunlin

    Number observed: 3

    Details

    Scurrying around grassy area when we arrived then moved towards rocky shoreline. One definitive, two formative.

  8. Rock Sandpiper

    Number observed: 3

    Details

    Two together on south side which I had good views of through my scope for a couple of minutes as they moved in and out of view between rocks. I moved closer for a better look but they vanished either walked around the back of the little island or flew off.

    Later I had superb views of a definitive bird (see definitive wing coverts) on the north shore but only for a couple of minutes before the bird quickly moved west along the shore and around a corner.

    Media

    Rock Sandpiper - James Kennerley
    © James Kennerley Macaulay Library
    Rock Sandpiper - James Kennerley
    © James Kennerley Macaulay Library
    Rock Sandpiper - James Kennerley
    © James Kennerley Macaulay Library
    Rock Sandpiper - James Kennerley
    © James Kennerley Macaulay Library
    Rock Sandpiper - James Kennerley
    © James Kennerley Macaulay Library
    Rock Sandpiper - James Kennerley
    © James Kennerley Macaulay Library

  9. Pigeon Guillemot

    Number observed: 12

    Details

    Most moulting into alternate plumage.

  10. Common Murre

    Number observed: 4

    Details

    One in alternate plumage.

  11. Short-billed Gull

    Number observed: 25

    Details

    All loafing on West Race Rock.

  12. Western Gull

    Number observed: 4

    Details

    Two definitive, two first cycles.

  13. Herring Gull

    Number observed: 7

    Details

    At least a couple of definitive birds, a couple of second cycles and three first cycles (juv).

  14. California Gull

    Number observed: 3

    Details

    Definitive and two first cycles (juv).

  15. Glaucous-winged Gull

    Number observed: 180

    Details

    130 in main flock on Great Race Rock. 10 on West Race Rock. 40 others scattered around. Approximately 95% of adults with primaries darker than mantle to varying degrees so likely this number includes some individuals that may better fall under ‘Olympic Gull’.

  16. Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)

    Number observed: 25

    Details

    Estimate for the number of especially distinctive hybrids.

  17. Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)

    Number observed: 5

    Details

    At least a handful of ‘Cook Inlet Gulls’. Likely were more which I may have overlooked or incorrectly called ‘Olympic’.

  18. Iceland Gull (Thayer’s)

    Number observed: 292

    Details

    240 in main flock on west side. 27 on West Race Rock. 25 on north side. Approximately 90% were definitive birds.

  19. Larus sp.

    Number observed: 60

    Details

    Estimate of the number of indetermined hybrids.

  20. loon sp.

    Number observed: 2

    Details

    Distant on water and another in flight.

  21. Brandt’s Cormorant

    Number observed: 88

    Details

    Majority loafing on north side of Great Race Rock near gull flock.

  22. Pelagic Cormorant

    Number observed: 25

    Details

    Majority loafing on north side of Great Race Rock near gull flock.

  23. Double-crested Cormorant

    Number observed: 61

    Details

    Majority loafing on north side of Great Race Rock near gull flock.

  24. Bald Eagle

    Number observed: 17

    Details

    Spread out loafing on high points of islands.

  25. Barn Swallow

    Number observed: 3

    Details

    Three appeared just as we were leaving hawking low around jetty for insects.

  26. Savannah Sparrow

    Number observed: 1

    Details

    Lurking along edge of rocks. Fairly dark chocolatey and rufous bird. Slim bill. Prominent yellow at base of supercilium.

    https://ebird.org/checklist/S160741512

Animal Census

Posted on by

Birds

  • Harlequin duck                 8
  • Bald eagle adult                4
  • Bald eagle juvenile           6
  • Turnstones                        17
  • Dunlin                                 27
  • Gulls                                  132
  • Cormorants                       87
  • Oyster catcher                  23
  • Canadian goose                18
  • Raven                                  2
  • Crow                                     6
  • other shore bird                 7

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion              134
  • Harbour seal                     8
  • California sea lion           87
  • River otter                          1
  • Sea otter                             1 (reported to me by tourism vessel)

** Not on count day …. but there were transient orca in the reserve 3 days in a row last week

Animal Census

Posted on by

This last month, the daily numbers vary dramatically, possibly  due to rapid changes in weather and ultra high tides (?) Still no Elephant Seals hauling out.

 

Birds

  • Harlequin duck              – 6
  • Bald eagle adult            – 4
  • Bald eagle juvenile       – 12
  • Turnstones                    – 18
  • Gulls                               – 43
  • Cormorants                    – 74
  • Oyster catcher               – 6
  • Canadian goose             – 16
  • Dunlin                              – 4

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                   – 132
  • Harbour seal                       – 22
  • California sea lion              – 41
  • Sea otter                              – 1     (reported to me by Eco-Tourism vessel)

Animal Census

Posted on by
  • Bald eagle adult                          2
  • Bald eagle juvenile                     4
  • Barred Owl                                  1
  • Black Turnstones                      10
  • Black Oyster Catchers                6
  • Gulls                                           148
  • Cormorants  mostly Brandt’s    87
  • Canadian goose                          22
  • Ravens                                          2
  • Surf Scoters                                 12
  • Dunlin                                            8

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                          590
  • Harbour seal                                42
  • California sea lion                     380
  • Sea Otter                                      1

Several Humpback Whales visible from the reserve

Animal Census with a couple quick Terns

Posted on by

Birds

  • Harlequin duck                                  5
  • Bald eagle adult                                2 
  • Bald eagle juvenile                           1
  • Ruddy Turnstone                              1
  • Glaucous winged Gulls                     685 
  • Cormorants                                        72
  • Pigeon Guillemots                             327
  • Oyster catcher                                    10
  • Savannah Sparrow                              6
  • Canada Goose                                     14
  • Raven                                                   2
  • Caspian Tern                                       2
  • Barn Swallow                                       2

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                             16
  • Harbour seal                                 79
  • California sea lion                        32
  • Elephant seal sub adult male      2
  • Elephant seal adult female          3
  • Elephant seal pups                      3

Visitors:

  • Mollie – future Ecoguardian 

Facility Work: 

  • Chopped and stacked remaining fire wood
  • Deep Cleaning of Kitchen and sorting through house hold items
  • 3 coats Stained Kitchen table
  • Sharpened Axe
  • Mounted 2 large Elephant Seal winter coat sheds for future visitors and students to touch and see. 
  • Set up Hose system from Science house up to solar panels so we no longer have to haul a 5 gallon bucket up a ladder
  • Cleaned solar panels
  • Addled Canada Goose Eggs and mapped out nests
  • Cleaned windows

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Animal Census

Posted on by

Birds

  • Harlequin duck                                  4
  • Bald eagle adult                                2
  • Bald eagle juvenile                           1
  • Turnstones                                        6
  • Killdeer                                               2
  • Glaucous winged Gulls                  597     
  • Cormorants                                        74
  • Pigeon Guillemots                             195
  • Oyster catcher                                    11
  • Canadian goose                                 11
  • Surf Birds                                             3
  • Savannah Sparrow                             1
  • Fox Sparrow                                         11
  • Canada Goose                                     11

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                             6        – Seem to have disappeared today
  • Harbour seal                                 68
  • California sea lion                        47
  • Elephant seal sub adult male      2
  • Elephant seal adult female          3
  • Elephant seal pups(2F 1M)          3

Visitors:

  • 14 Pearson College student  and Laura visit the western tide pools

Facility Work:

  • Fire wood chopping 
  • Cleaning and organizing house and tools 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

Animal Census

Posted on by

Birds

  • Harlequin duck                                  7
  • Bald eagle adult                                2
  • Bald eagle juvenile                           5
  • Turnstones                                        11
  • Killdeer                                               2
  • Gulls                                                   64     
  • Cormorants                                        42
  • Pigeon Guillemots                             73
  • Oyster catcher                                     8
  • Canadian goose                                 10
  • Surf Birds                                             6

 

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                             23
  • Harbour seal                                 47
  • California sea lion                        18
  • Elephant seal sub adult male      3
  • Elephant seal adult female          3
  • Elephant seal pups(2F 1M)          3