The compost rejuvenation project continues with 58 more buckets of aged compost removed from the first chamber to complete stage 1. Stage 2 involves moving the compost from the second chamber over to the first, turning and mixing it in the process.
Several branded sea lions are being seen. When their histories are obtained, updates will be posted.
It has been very quiet on the water the last two days both mammal and bird-wise.
Ecological Notes:
- All three elephant seals were seen on August 16 and 17
- Only passerines seen in the last two days were Brown-headed Cowbird.
- 26 Brown Pelicans circled Great Race before heading towards Esquimalt at dusk on Wednesday.
- 2 branded Steller’s sea lions (486Y and 304Y) and 1 branded California sea lion (X759) were seen during census on Wednesday. 304Y was branded at Rogue Reef, Oregon in July 2011, and has been resighted from California to BC.
- Very quiet on the water over the last two days.
- See photos below for more ecological sightings.
Census (Wednesday, August 17):
Mammals
- Elephant seal: 3 (1 adult male, two juvenile females)
- Steller sea lion: 129 (including branded 304Y and 486Y)
- California sea lion: 115 (including branded X759)
- Harbour seal: 131
Birds
- Black oystercatcher: 9 (8 adults 1 chick )
- Killdeer 1
- Black Turnstone: 49
- Surfbird: 11
- Common Murre: 2
- Pigeon Guillemot:60
- Heermann’s Gull: 2
- California Gulls: 500
- Glaucous-winged Gulls: 448 adults 203 chicks (including 1 banded adult)
- Pelagic Cormorant: 4
- Brandt’s Cormorants: 19
- Double-crested Cormorant: 4
- Brown Pelican: 26
- Bald Eagle: 1
- Brown-headed Cowbird: 3
Weather:
- Yesterday (Tuesday, August 16):
- Sky: Foggy most of the morning; sunny in the afternoon, with light cloud
- Wind: W/WSW 15-25 kts
- Sea: up to 2′ chop
- Temperature Low 13oC, High 15oC
- Today (Wednesday, August 17):
- Sky: Clear and sunny
- Wind: variable calm to 22 kts
- Sea: calm to rippled
- Temperature Low 14oC, High 25oC
Facility Work:
- Solar panels cleaned daily. Windows washed.
- Fence east of lighthouse repaired
- Compost renewal project continues.
Vessel Traffic:
- Many Canadian ecotour boats have been nearby and heading through the waters of the ecological reserve. Cruise ships are going through daily.
- Tours from Pearson College continued on Wednesday.
Here are photo highlights from the past two days. Click on the photos for larger views and captions.
Compost chamber emptied and ready to be refilled.
On to the next chamber!
Potatoes were growing in the compost. Unfortunately not fit for human consumption.
Elephant seals
Brown-headed Cowbirds
Fence in need of repair
Glaucous-winged Gulls circling the tower
Gulls have been particularly aggressive with each other this week.
Colour-banded Glaucous-winged Gull
California sea lion
These look as though there might have been scientific equipment attached. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/marine-mammal-protection/california-sea-lion-research
Adult male and juvenile female elephant seals.
Steller’s sea lions on alert
Possibly scar from previous entanglement. No rope or line was visible.
Pearson College tour.
Branded California sea lion
Branded California sea lion
Brandt’s Cormorant (left) and Pelagic Cormorant (right) demonstrating size and shape differences.
Branded Steller’s sea lion
Brown Pelicans at dusk
Brown Pelicans
Flock of 26 Brown Pelicans
