Yesterday just before dusk Bertha showed up on the main island. Misery made his way very quickly over to her and they were mating pretty soon after. He has been staying close to her overnight and this morning.
Tag Archives: Bertha
Female Elephant Seals
The elephant seal population has been steadily declining over the past few weeks. For the last few days since Jan 19 there have not been any female elephant seals visible in the reserve. This is the time when elephant seal pups have been born out here in the past so it is somewhat surprising and a bit disappointing. Both male elephant seals have been back and forth between the main island and West rock and have been chasing and trying to mount the few small females that have been around, which is likely why they have all left.
Guard seal
Small e- seal moulting
Large female elephant seal on Middle rock .. possibly Bertha?
Bertha is back!
Bertha is back after giving birth to Squall in January
Two nights ago on my way out to the jetty I was met by an elephant seal. I had originally thought it to be male but when it was on its back the following day I saw a scar that determined it was our beloved Bertha, the female who gave birth to Squall this past winter. She left early February after nursing her pup for a few of weeks and has finally made her way back to the reserve. She has gained a lot of weight since her last visit.
Another Elephant seal
Another elephant seal that has been camped near the generator room for the past number of days has remarkably made his way up past the lighthouse and towards the cistern. He has been fairly vocal today and I noticed a splash of blood on his mouth. He now sits closer to the house.
Dead Canada Goose
The Canadian geese have taken to grazing near the east side of the main house. This morning I found a dead juvenile which puts the total number of geese in the reserve (including adults) to 18.
Animal Visitors
Yesterday two Whimbrels were seen on the south shore of Great Race and this morning a posse of California Sea Lions was swimming about South Rocks barking in their distinctive manner. Garry alerted me to another weaner elephant seal pup on West Rocks. Today we have 5 e-girls here at the station: Bertha, Squall, Divot (she has raw sores/holes in her skin but seems otherwise healthy), Goat (this one crawled up to the weather station in the middle of the island), and 5086 (Fifty/Fiddy) whom I believe we first saw in December. I had thought Squall had left as I didn’t see her for a few days but turns out she had crawled up into the boathouse to get some peace and quiet!
Plenty of recreational fisherfolk are fringing the reserve. I suppose it makes a cunning sort of sense to hunt near the place where most of the fish are, but there is a self-serving element to that way of thinking that is reflective of why we need to have parks, reserves and preserves in the first place! Personally I prefer finding my dinner on the shore within the intertidal zone where I can be sure of what I am catching and can ensure there are plenty left to restock the locale. Unfortunately for me I won’t be eating creatures from the reserve though!
Today 6 kayakers lingered for quite a while at Middle Rocks; the Sea Lions didn’t like it and went in the water. We think of kayaks as benign but i have found that most animals prefer to know when the humans are coming and kayaks allow us to sneak up on them, ironically causing more panic than a motorized vessel. Yesterday I observed a huge submarine pass within 2 miles of the island. I reckon it was a Trident nuclear sub as it was escorted by the American Coast Guard. I can’t imagine the Sea Lions liked that either!
Bertha comes back!
A big sleek elephant seal arrived yesterday and proceeded to block the boat ramp until I shooed her away and was able to launch. At some point she rolled over and I saw the big scar on her belly! Bertha had returned, but was looking sleek and fully recovered from the challenges of giving birth and feeding her newborn 3 months earlier. Neither Squall nor Bertha paid much attention to one another, but I haven’t mastered the nuances of e-seal communication techniques so I may have missed something!
photos 1-3 credit Helene Cyr
A little tickle with the paddle after cajoling and pleading had no effect…
There are plenty of pigeon guillemots around to cheer up my day! I love their bright red/orange feet and the way they splash into the water when they settle down.
Bertha Departs
The last 24 hrs have been pretty active on the elephant seal front. Yesterday morning I woke up to find Squall, the pup, right up against the door of the house, Misery laying about 12 ft away and no sign of Bertha, the mother.
Bertha had been looking increasingly skinny, tired and pale the past days and had likely given the pup all the milk, and Misery all the mating, that she could give. She has been remarkably self-sacrificing and resilient, an impressive job of being a mother. I like to think that she is out there somewhere feasting on fish and getting some well deserved rest.
Now that Bertha is gone though, and can no longer distract Misery, he seems to be getting more aggressive. Yesterday he chased the pup several times and had his jaws around it twice, if he had wanted to do the pup harm he easily could have, but he did not. Apparently, in past years, Misery has tried to mate with a young pup. The pup eventually made his away around the N side of the house and hid under the staircase. Misery again chased it later around the E side of the house where it seems to be out of his reach.
The pup stayed on the East side of the house shown in the photo last night and is still there today. It has been making a lot of noise, presumably calling for its mother.
Change of Guardian
On Saturday afternoon I arrived back on Race Rocks after a month away. I will be here about two months then Mike will be returning.
Last night the elephant seal family moved from the engine room area over to the middle of the island, closer to the main house. The younger male (Chunk) was on Great Race this morning but tried to get close to Bertha and was promptly chased off by Misery. After having witnessed Misery’s brutal attempt at being a father last year (that resulted in a disemboweled and eventually dead pup), it is nice to see him being less aggressive this year and to see the pup looking so plump and healthy.
Yesterday there were 3 boats in the reserve: 1 dive boat, 1 eco tour and 1 pleasure craft. Today there has been 1 eco tour vessel in the reserve.
Wind NE 30 knots, sunny.
My Last Morning…
for two months. Alex returns to the reserve while I fly south to Mexico.
It was an amazing 6 weeks, mostly due to the Elephant Seals. To be able to spend so much time in their close proximity was an opportunity I may never have again (til next January!) Here a few more pictures taken on my tiny point and shoot. We’ll be getting a good camera and telephoto lens soon…
Bertha’s dexterous tail flexing while Squall drains her milk. He is quite persistent.
Fat and Happy
Zeke the sub-adult male…
Big Boss
Lil’ Fatso
The baby elephant seal is growing at an astounding rate. He has become a fat little sausage of a seal with lots of energy, awareness, and determination. Dad has steamrolled him a few times but he is pretty adept at wiggling out of the way and I have witnessed him take a few snaps at the “Lawn-master”, who has proceeded to back off. Spunky little dude! Mom is going into heat and Mystery getting a bit more aggressive now. I guess I am the closest thing to a rival here. I’ll post some impressive shots of him very soon!
Tagged juvenile E-Seal
There are six E-seals on the island today. The big bull Misery, Bertha, a seemingly very pregnant large female with a distinct scar on her belly, and four youngsters resting uncomfortably on the rubble beach near the engine room.
The scruffy pup closest in the picture has a green hind flipper tag. The number appears to be #6355. I will look for info about from where and whence it cometh
Over 60 black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) are on the rocks on the south perimeter of the big island.Never have I seen a flock like this! Usually a person is lucky to see 10 together at a time. Along with the Haemas are about 40 Blackheaded Turnstones (Arenaria melanocephala).
2 divers in the water at West Rock. An Italian student and her friend are out for 3 days, as is another guest who is a professional photographer. I will try and get some good pics of the seals from her…