Tag Archives: bald eagle

Breakfast

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There was a freshly killed seagull on the NE side of the island this morning. Soon after I had inspected it, a juvenile Bald Eagle came in to continue to deplume and consume it. The Eagle eventually flew off with the carcass to finish it off on Middle Rocks.

Misery was back on Great Race this morning, he has been behind the boat house all day.

For most of the afternoon there two dive boats near Middle Rocks.

I worked on a de-clogging a stubborn sink drain in the bathroom of the main house this morning.

A North wind peaked around 20 knots this morning and dropped to less than 5 knots for most of the rest of the day.

Bald Eagles

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Bald Eagles on Middle Rocks, image captured on tower webcam.

There were several bald eagles on the rocks and chasing seagulls this morning.  At around noon I counted a total of 8 bald eagles: 4 on Middle Rocks, 2 on North Rock and 2 on South Rocks.

Misery and female elephant seals have remained on Middle Rocks yesterday and today.

It has been a pretty calm, quiet, grey day. I worked on connecting a second roof downspout to the rainwater tank.  The whole South side of the roof is now hooked in, just need a good rain to test it out.

NewPup on Middle Rocks

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‘2010-01-31’,  ‘New pup heard over the sound of the boat at 100m… “Sounds like a frog ” -Jayesh -Year 35). Recognized the squawk as the pup vocalizing. Came through the West-Middle Rock channel -that is a popular and protected spot for local boat-based diving) and spotted the pup facing the three females -Scarlet and at least one of the two adults that landed on Great Race earlier in the year) but resting alongside Slash on the N side of the middle Middle Rock -out of sight of Camera 5). Beautiful day here, very nice and dry. Adult Bald eagle landed on the roof of the Science Centre, something I haven”t observed until now… probably Pam has lots of pics over the years; definitely a different season this time last year. Most of the ~40 Black oystercatchers -that had been on the south side of Great race in two large parcels around the Energy Centre this past week) have dispersed around the this part of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They were the earliest of the bird activity this morning, sneaking around the exposed intertidal well before dawn. Looking South from the Main Keeper ”s residence is a flat calm with scattered driftwood armadas of Mew Gulls. Prince of Whales came through on an always-pleasant late day flood from the West as well. The ever-colourful character Misery is slouched across the concrete pathway to the Science Centre. The safest route now is across the exposed bedrock from the Energy Centre to the foundation of the old satellite dish and the steps on the SE corner of the building. Geese and gulls on the island are beginning to establish strutting and flutter room, pairs of Geese are acting territorially.’, ‘Ryan’, ’09:47:25 ,

Elephant seal gives birth on Middle Island

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‘Elephant Seal’, 5, ‘Camera 5 user Pam Birley first spotted our FOURTH recorded elephant seal birth here at Race Rocks. The new pup is with two adult females and Slash on Middle Rocks and so far appears to be doing well. Its mother has been discouraging eagles, gulls, and black turnstones attracted to the afterbirth.’, ‘Ryan’, ’10:31:06 ,

Elephant Seal pup on Middle Rocks, 2010

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Elephant Seal pup on Middle Rocks, January 21, 2010.

Pup on Middle Rocks, with mother, placenta and bald eagle. Photo by Ryan Murphy
January 21, 2010: Today a new elephant seal pup was born on Middle Island Rock at Race Rocks. Follow the story below as we track what happens to this new pup.
elephant seal birth at Race Rocks elephant seal birth at Race Rocks elephant seal birth at Race Rocks
Early in the morning, Pam Birley, viewing on the remote camera 5 from England spotted a newly arrived pup on Middle Island Rock at Race Rocks. She sent the image above and the following message: “Looks like Slash is a Dad again !!!! He is there on middle rock with two females and….a pup.  I waited until I saw it move to be sure before I told you.   You can see it just behind Slash in front of the female.”
 Ryan was able to get the following pictures with his telephoto lens from Great Race Rock Island. Above is the complete image from the title picture. Two females and Slash the old male who has been at Race Rocks for several years now are on the island. Ryan reports that Slash had been on the main island the last few weeks (see the daily log reports) He has been trumpeting and then yesterday left and moved out to Middle Rock
elephant seal birth at Race Rocks elephant seal birth at Race Rocks elephant seal birth at Race Rocks
“Yesterday we got Camera 3 back broadcasting and at dark yesterday Slash was out there by himself.  Amazing that these two females showed up and one of them gave birth in such a short time period.” “For reference,Ninene was born the morning of February 1 last year.  The new little one appears to be doing well, though a good storm it could be washed away like the other pups born there last year.  This if the fourth birth observed here at Race Rocks.  Looks like a boy to me.” Jan 21, 2010 Check out other pictures Ryan has taken of Elephant seals on his Flickr Set.
elephant seal pup elephant seal pup
Jan. 22/10 1600 hrs the pup was spotted in the late afternoon. Closeup of next picture Jan 22. 1600 hrs.This was possibly the last this pup was sighted as there were large swells that night at high tide. Jan 23 . 1530 hrs. From remote camera 5, Garry took this composite set of a pup with the group.
February 1, 2010 0900 hrs. Another pup was sighted by Ryan over the top edge of the island, out of view of camera 5 .Possibly Scarlet’s

See the pups born on Middle Rocks in 2009

See the Elephant seal taxonomy and Gallery Index.

Elephant seals born on Middle Rocks at Race Rocks,2009

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Subject: Possible baby Elly on Middle Rock Also:
Although the Elephant Seal haulout on middle rock is over 500 metres away, from the remote camera5 we have been watching the other females still out there in the last few days… and now finally today ……..
Feb 3 10:02 AM. e-mail Exchange:

From Pam: Morning Garry…..have just been watching the middle rock with Slash and the two females.
I believe there MAY be a baby with them.  I’m attaching  a couple of blurry shots because I could not get a really clear view.  However, if you look to the left of Slash you will see a small dark shape.  In one pic it looks as though it has its mouth open, showing the red inside and in the other shot it had moved.   What do you think?   Could it be that the “injured” ES came up on to the rock to give birth?

Pam 12:22 PM – I’ve been watching for about 20 mins and am pretty sure there is an infant there, suckling from the ES with the scars.

Garry-12:28 PM-Pam I think you’re right.  and there’s a patch of blood on the top of the rock as well.. I have predicted there will be three babies from these three females as all look to be at the same level of maturity.
 
Pam-12:51 PM- Just came back up here to the computer.  Three eagles were fighting over something – most likely the placenta.  I noticed the red patch of possibly blood too.  Attached three more pics I took earlier.  Two of them show the pup feeding and the other (again very blurry) showing its head just popping up in silhouette.
Ryan – 1:08 PM- Yes, from Pam’s photo I’d definitely say that there is another baby out there.  I’ll see if I can get any closer photos later today. Ryan 2:39 PM-Lots of eagles out there for sure, certainly showing more interest over there than when the pup was born here.But Pam’s pics definitely show a new live pup out there, so that makes 2 at least!
In the picture above, an eagle is eating near the elephant seals for a few hours in the afternoon. So we think that there is at least one and maybe two more pups on the Middle Island.. More tomorow..
(click on this image to enlarge)e-mail From: Ryan
Subject: a clear shot on a clear day
Date: February 4, 2009 9:38:36 AM PST (CA)
Beautiful day out here, got this clear shot of the pup between both females.  Hard to say which is the mom, I think both have milk on their muzzles, so….?Ryan
At 4:00 PM of Feb 4. The new pup was doing well here seen on he left. Up to 5 eagles were also close by eating the afterbirth or perhaps another dead pup.. The following are from remote cam5.
And eventually by the end of the day on Feb 4, elephant seal pup 2 was on fine display and the scavenger ravens and bald eagles were still hanging around. Ryan was able to zoom in with his telephoto from Great Race Rocks to get these great shots.
In the next few days, the eagles were eating away at something and the young one shown above had disappeared. It is unfortunate they tried to have pups on this Middle island since there is just not very much room.  It is also possible that easterly winds washed the young off the Middle rocks as they are so exposed. So Ninene ended up as the only surviving pup this year, We believe that three pups were born in all at Race Rocks this year. This is the first record for any births this far north as far as we can determine.See the pups born on Middle Rocks in 2010

See the Elephant seal index Gallery and Taxonomy

The Nictitating Membrane of Eagles

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The nictitating membrane of birds protects the eye. Pam Birley captured these images of young eagles close to camera 5 in the spring of 2005 to help us demonstrate this adaptation.

You can find further information about this feature at: http://ebiomedia.com/gall/eyes/protect.html

Bald Eagle Predation on Birds at Race Rocks

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We received the pictures for this file attached to an e-mail from Pam Birley, a regular observer from England on our cameras. She saved these images from our remote camera so we have quoted her e-mail here describing the events as they unfolded…….

. ” On January 22/04, it was a peaceful scene on the cliff with a large group of cormorants and a grazing goose….when suddenly a young bald eagle swooped down and made a meal of one of the birds….

 

Note that the cormorants were swimming out beyond their perch at this point as the eagle stands on his prey . …..A passing seal kept popping up to see what was going on….

 

…….and when the eagle had finished its meal it flew off, leaving the rest of the carcas for the seagulls to finish off.. Quite a little drama. What a fantastic site – always something of interest”

 

….Pam goes on to say…” Do you know where the elephant seal is (we call him Big Guy) – I can hear him but can’t find him on the cam – he was under that rock for about a week. I belong to Whale Watchers Group on Yahoo, most of us being addicts of Orca-Live.com during the summer and we have been pasting some RR captures on that site. We do give credit to you of course and we are spreading the word about your excellent website. Thank you so much !!! .”….

(ed. note) : Well thank you Pam! We really value your observation and quick action in recording these scenes and sending them along to us as an e-mail attachment. One of our Japanese students has suggested the name “Debu” (Fatty in Japanese) for the elephant seal that spends much of his time up on the main island. If you can hear him but not see him, he is hauled out just out of range of the camera on the North side of the house. He likes the soft long grass of one of the lawns. See the marine mammals archives for several videos of this elephant seal who was badly injured last year.