Tag Archives: chuckles

Highest recorded temperature, Fuel inventory, and Supplies

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Weather

  • Visibility: 5 miles, later 15
  • Wind: 5-10 knots, later 25, West
  • Water: rippled
  • Sky: rain and/or sun throughout the day
  • According to the Davis Weather Station, today had the highest recorded temperature at Race Rocks for any February 12th since the station was set up in 2006. Today’s high was 11.6 C, beating last years record of 9.8 C.

Ecological

  • In the morning Chuckles went over to Weaner’s corpse and looked at him, rolled him around, and sat on him. Then he left the island.
  • Chunk came back and rejoined the two females and pup.
  • Middle Rock mum and pup still there.
  • I decided to start calling the new female Lady.

Maintenance

  • Conducted a fuel inventory list for Jeff of Maintenance. Good news: there is more than enough fuel to last until after I leave.
  • Scraped rust off of the two empty 55 gallon diesel barrels and spray painted them to extend their useable life.

Boats

  • Jeff and an assistant came by at about 14:00 to drop off food supplies, a ramp for the diesel tanks, and to have a look at the Davis Weather Station wind reader. Unlike the other day though, the wind reader seemed to be working just fine.
  • One eco-tour boat came by at about 15:00. It seemed to be closer to the sea lions than the guidelines allow.

Too close?

Sea Lion Jumping

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Weather

  • Visibility: 10 miles
  • Wind: 15-25 knots NE
  • Water: 2′ chop
  • Sky: overcast in the morning, raining after noon.

Ecological

  • Observed several sea lions surfing and jumping arcs in the water by the South Seal Rocks in the afternoon.
  • Chunk and Chuckles were both on Great Race today.
  • The new female has moved to the bottom of the lighthouse stairs. She needs a better name.
  • The fourth mum and pup, and the grieving mother, are still together along the path.
  • Mum and pup still visible on Middle Rock.
  • Chunk went into the water at 17:00.

Maintenance

  • Stacked the collected driftwood by the tank hut to store for future firewood processing.
  • Cleared logs off the ramp once.

Other

  • An ambulance helicopter flew over the islands at about 13:00.

Ambulance Helicopter

Male Elephant Seals: Island Swap

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Weather

  • Visibility: 15 miles
  • Wind: 0-10 knots, at various times from the N, W, S, and E.
  • Water: calm
  • Sky: overcast, then rain, then sunny.

Ecological

  • Chuckles spent the day lying on the grass on the SE corner of Great Race.
  • Chunk attempted to mate with the grieving mother in the morning.
  • After mating, Chunk chased the new female and seemed to wound her slightly, before giving up the chase and going into the water.
  • Chunk spent the rest of the day on Middle Rock with the mother and pup.
  • The newest (fourth) pup is still doing well.

Maintenance

  • Finished stacking firewood under the stairs of the Students’ House.
  • Hauled away many small chunks of wood from near the ramp.
  • Noticed that the wind direction meter seems to be malfunctioning at the Davis Weather Station. Looking into what can be done.

Boats

  • One eco-tour boat passed by at 14:00 heading West, before returning at 15:30. At times it seemed to be closer to the rocks than is permitted.
Closer than the mammal watching guidelines?

Closer than the mammal watching guidelines?

Kildeer

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Ecological

  • wind NE 15-20 knots
  • saw a Kildeer during the day, usually only see and hear them at night.
  • Both male elephant seals had been off great race over night, Chuckles was back on great race with some fresh wounds on his back this morning, I think he had been on Middle rock when Chunk got him. Chuckles spent Monday night near bedroom window vocalizing unreservedly.

Vessels

  • 1 eco tour

Maintenance

  • worked on month end report
  • pressure washed North side of main residence
  • stocked up on firewood in main house
  • ran desalinator 6 hrs.

 

Canada Geese

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Ecological

  • Wind 15-20 knots NE increasing to 25-30 overnight. Sky partly clear.
  • First flock of Canada Geese on the island since I arrived, they didnt stay very long.

Vessels

  • pleasure craft-31 pleasure craft, appearing to travel over speed limit in reserve
  • On Dec 30 an incident was recorded involving an eco tour vessel passing through the narrow channel between south islands and great race. We received an email from the captain Dec 31.  I replied to his email Jan 2.

Maintenance

  • cleared boat ramp
  • cleaned battery terminals and contacts on derrick engine
  • cut and chopped firewood