Tag Archives: Canada geese

Sealions were hauled out all day

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Saturday, April 13, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.0 ºC »» Min. 7.0 ºC »» Reset 10.1 ºC »» 7.2 mm
MARINE LIFE: 1 immature Bald Eagle which spent most of the day on the ridge of the southeast rocks.4 pair of geese.6 large Northern Sealions were hauled out all day on the western slope of the southeast rocks and did not seem to mind the odd swell breaking over them.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 5 tour boats and 1 dive boat ‘Michelle Diana’
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy »» Vis 15 Miles »» Wind West 25 G 30 »» Sea 4 – 5 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:43 AM

When the threats didn’t work the aggressor geese chased the others snapping at their tail feathers.

Posted on by
Friday, April 12, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.9 ºC »» Min. 8.0 ºC »» Reset 9.3 ºC »» Rail 2.0 mm
MARINE LIFE: 3 Bald Eagles -1 mature. Started out the day with 2 pair of geese, near noon another 2 pair arrived. They spent most of the afternoon spread out around the island,then about 15:30 they all congregated near the shore of the little bay on the east side of Gr. Race.We think the pair that has been here the longest were the aggressors in trying to drive off all the other geese.The newcomers took to the water but were soon back to be chased off again ,this show went on for over an hour much honking,hissing and neck waving. When the threats didn’t work the aggressor geese chased the others snapping at their tail feathers until they took flight.The gulls, not the least wary of the big birds, chimed in with much squawking. Finally the geese had enough and spread out over the island, the victors took to the pond by the back door. As much as we are enjoying the geese I don’t think the island can support the food needs of 8 geese.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 pleasure craft though the reserve today.Just before noon, 2nd Nature in with Garry and biology students -webcast-intertidal.2nd Nature back about 15:00 for under water webcast.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:18 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis 15 Miles »» Wind Calm »» Sea Rippled »» Occasional Ligt Rain Shower
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:32 AM

Gulls–starting to get territorial and this precipitates many fights

Posted on by
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max 10.0 ºC »» Min. 6.1 ºC »» Reset 8.0 ºC »» Rain 3.6 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature Bald Eagles today, the geese are still here, I am begining to wonder if they will nest here, usually by now they have moved inland.We hear the gulls morning,noon and night now.They are starting to get territorial and this precipitates many fights.As two gulls drag each other about the rest of them chime in with a lot of squawking, I can’t decide whether it’s encouragement or condemnation for such rowdy behavior,in any case it looks worse than it is and the results are usually no more than a few lost feathers. The Pigeon Guillemots continue to spent the morning ashore,taking flight en masse at the slightest hint of danger, they are very nervous birds and we take special care not to disturb them.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 6 ecotour boats and 2 pleasure craft through the MPA; 2 College boats with Garry,Chris and students for a dive – unfortunately there was a break in the interview cable so no live video.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:38 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 12 Miles – Light Rain »» Wind North 7 Knots »» Sea Rippler
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM

Geese—were in no real hurry.

Aside

Sunday, April 07, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.0 ºC »» Min. 5.0 ºC »» Reset 8.8 ºC »» Rain 7.2 mm
MARINE LIFE:1 mature Bald eagle, 1 pair of geese! The geese met us at the dock when we returned, yet another trip re computer. It took us a while to bring the boat in as they just didn’t want to move out of the way. When I turned the boat winch motor on they decided it was time to move onto the sidewalk but they were in no real hurry.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 ecotour boats, 3 pleasure craft and station boat through the MPA today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:38 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind West 17 Knots »» Sea 2 – 3 Foot Modeate »» Occasional Rain Shower
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:40 AM

Tangled Elephant seal

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Sunday, February 24, 2002

 Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 6.0c >> >> Min. 1.5c >> >> Reset 4.5c >> >> Rain 0.4mm
MARINELIFE: Took some great still photos today of a very cooperative and photogenic Elephant Seal that hauled out on the South West Rocks about noon today. (we will post them soon) Some very sad Elephant Seal news from the Centre Rock however. There was some activity out there yesterday as a large animal hauled out. Today, through the spotting scope it became clear this animal has a rope around his neck just ahead of the flippers. It would appear this is quite serious as the line is very tight. Our total Elephant Seal count is four right now so it looks like this is one of our regulars. Chris Blondeau had a closer look from Second Nature this afternoon so he may have more information. I regret there is nothing we can do despite the fact this is the result of human disregard for the oceans and the critters that call it home. We would never get close enough to administer a sedative or catch the big guy before he took to the water. We will keep a close watch on him and hope he can free himself. Two mature Bald Eagles were around most of the day sometimes on the high rock here on Great Race and often on the East Rock. Our three pairs of Canada Geese are getting along much better today.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Only two ecotour boats in the MPA today. My wife Sandy and our friends Cathy Denny and David Anderson returned to the “mainland” (Vancouver Island) at 15:40 so now I am the sort of lonely eco-guardian. Great sunset and now a near full moon in a clear sky. It’s Race Rocks and there is no place like it!
WORLD EVENTS: Today Canada won Olympic Gold in men’s hockey. We caught it on CBC Radio the old fashioned way and cheered them on from Race Rocks.
posted by Angus Matthews at 7:18 PM
Good Morning
Weather: Cloudy with clearing from the East >> >> Vis 17 Miles >> >> Wind NNE 12 Knots >> >> Sea 1 foot chop.
posted by Angus Matthews at 7:57 AM

Eagles and geese

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Monday, February 18, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 7.8C Min. 5.9C Reset 6.5C  Rain 1.0 mm
MARINE LIFE: 16 mature 7 immature Bald Eagles,2 pairs of geese
on the island today.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 nd Nature out with visitors this morning,
and back in the afternoon for a dive off west race.
1 pleasure boat through M.P.A. today
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:33 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 4 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:14 AM

Canada Geese like tulips

Posted on by
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 7.1C Min. 3.3C  Reset 6.9C
MARINE LIFE: 11 mature, 2 immature Bald Eagles today and still the 6 Geese which ‘discovered’ some nice green shoots that would have been daffodils and tulips in the coming weeks! oh well, it was fun to watch them trying to pull them up.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 Tour Boat through the reserve.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:06 PM

Close call with log boom

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Saturday, February 09, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.2C Min 5.7C  Reset 6.9C Rain 0.6
MARINE LIFE: 13 mature, 2 immature Bald Eagles today.The day started out quite nice but by noon the wind was up to 20knts. from the northeast with a fair swell coming into the dock area and the lone California Sea Lion that had hauled out on the end of the dock kept moving ‘inland’ to get away from the spray. He looked old and quite thin and was still there as it got dark. We now have 6 Canada Geese which are very definitely pairs. Today they spent foraging in the southwest quadrant of Gr. Race, somewhat sheltered from the wind.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Although not quite in the reserve the tug Rivtow Capt. Bob and barge Rivtow Hercules with a full load of raw logs passed very close to the Rosedale buoy heading east. Usually these tugs are much farther out to sea near the shipping lanes.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:14 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind North East 11 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:29 AM

Canada Geese

Posted on by
Saturday, February 02, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max.7.1C  Min. 4.8C Reset 6.5C
MARINE LIFE:The bull Northern Elephant Seal still spending part of the day, usually early morning floating along the south shoreline then hauling out on the rocks below the tower.We hear him vocalizing as he spends part of the night on the north side of Gr. Race.5 Canada Geese flew onto Gr. Race late morning, we heard them some distance away as they ‘honked’ in from the Northwest.The last 7 years we have had geese visit this time of the year. Sometimes they stay a couple of days,last year two pair stayed off and on for three weeks.14 mature Bald Eagles – 2 immature today.
HUMAN INTERACTION: At 1:30 Noticed a small open boat with three persons aboard jigging in the area between West Race and Gr. Race.Launched the Whaler to take out an information pamphlet and although the fishers were familiar with the Race Rocks Web site, did not know about the ‘no take’ guidelines. 2 Kayaks ( 2 persons ) in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:58 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy Vis. 15 Miles  Wind North East 8 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:17 AM