Tag Archives: Bufflehead

Humpbacks

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Humpbacks

Humpbacks to the south west

Ecological Happenings

  • Moderate winds and seas in the morning building to strong gale force winds with rough seas later on.
  • A group of 3 humpbacks were spotted feeding about 1.5nm SW of the reserve. Group observed to be heading east before they were lost in the building seas.
  • The alpha male Elephant seal went into the ocean late last night to rehydrate and didn’t return till the afternoon today.
  • Male Bufflehead seen in the surf zone to the east of the main island.

Marine Vessels

  • None

Maintenance

  • Logs removed from jetty.
  • Electrical outlet in Tank room fixed.
  • Engine room tidied and cleaned.
Male Bufflehead

Male Bufflehead

Group of harlequin ducks

Group of Harlequin ducks

Male and female harlequin ducks

Male and female Harlequin ducks

 

Peakaboo

Peakaboo -Smaller Elephant Seal

Female Elephant seal

Female Elephant seal

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Male Sea lion appears to be blind in right eye, likely from dominance fights

Male Sea lion. Appears to be blind in right eye, likely from dominance fights

Thayer's Gull in flight

Thayer’s Gull in flight

Bull E-seal Heads to the Main Island

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Ecological Happenings

  • The bull Elephant Seal that’s been hanging out at middle rocks made its way up the main island today.
  • Male Bufflehead spotted today.
  • Great weather and water conditions today.

Marine Vessels

  • Three tour boats.
  • Four pleasure vessels  – one of which was travelling very fast within the reserve.
  • 2 helicopters just outside of the reserve.

Maintenance

  • Finalizing the boat works and cleaning it out. Boat was tested and works well.

Other

  • 2 visitors today (friends of the eco-guardians).

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Bucephala albeola: Bufflehead, Race Rocks Taxonomy

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bufflehead-female-ce30mar13

Bufflehead , Bucephala albeola photographed near Great Race Rocks March 30, 2014 by Courtney Edwards,

buffleheadmaleandfemales

Bufflehead male and females.

Classification:
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Merginae
Genus: Bucephala
Species: albeola
Common Name:Bufflehead

 

rmbuffleheadPM

Male Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola photo by Ryan Murphy

We normally see Buffleheads throughout the winter months feeding in bays and along beaches on the shores of Metchosin. The males are much more obvious from their contrasting black and white plumage. This is the first observation we have had in the Race Rocks waters.

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

March, 2014–Garry Fletcher