Steady west wind 15-20 NMPH most of the day. Bit of hail in the evening.
Chunk went off the island last night and is back on middle rocks with the female elephant seals. I have been trying to get a closer look at the Oyster Catchers to get the ID from the banded one but have not been able to see it yet.
-Cut, chopped, stacked firewood
-Cleaned solar panels
-Installed rain water container on down pipe of energy building to use for cleaning solar panels.
Clear skies. Strong NE winds. 4-5ft wind waves this morning. The wind and the waves eased by the evening.
This weather is making my departure day a bit unsure, but it is totally worth it because it made the HUGE male elephant seal that’s been lounging on Middle Rock come over to Great Race. He spent the day on the grass next to the energy building. Whoa! He is way bigger than I thought. Despite his size, it is impossible to take him seriously with that massive nose. Since I have never been formally introduced to the Elephant seal I am assuming that this is the one that previous Eco-guardians named Chunk because of the scars from Misery on his back.
See sparring in previous post https://www.racerocks.ca/2013/06/10/les-miserables/
At lunch time today the River otter was rolling around in the sun on the wood platform by the crane. I think it lives under the walkway.
-worked on SOPs
-Did a final shift-change tidy
30 knot winds at North Race
The wind since Sunday evening has been very strong and even reached over 50 knots on Monday just before midnight. The photo shows North Race during a 30 knot wind. As the wind carries the water in the photo, it also sprayed the house windows which now are in sorely need of a clean.
During the winds, the Coast Guard paid a vist.
Coast Guard helicopter passing by a quick visit to the island, hovering over the helicopter pad for several seconds without landing and then taking off again. It looked like it was having trouble with its stability in the wind.
Another noise-maker for the past two weeks have been the blasts on DND. There have been as many as 5 or 6 per day on severals days since my arrival June 24.
Juvenile female elephant seal
A new female visitor came to the island Wednesday night. I noticed a juvenile elephant seal
Tuesday evening resting near the fire hose box. She was gone the following day but returned at around 22:30 when I ran into her with Chunk and Misery in the shallow water near the jetty while taking a water sample. Something that has been interesting upon her arrival is that Chunk and Misery have both changed their regular resting spots. Possibly just a coincidence, Misery has always been the one closest to the female.
Parent oystercatcher with chick
On a bird note, the new oystercatchers have left the nest. The two have been exploring the jetty and surrounding area accompanied by two adults who become very vocal when any danger is in sight. The eggs on the opposite side of the island have yet to hatch.
Elephant seal in workshop
Hi, I’m Julie and I’m going to be taking over for Mike starting in July. Over the past week and a half he’s kindly been showing me the ropes of the place. More elephant seals have been visiting and currently we have about ten in the reserve. A couple of days ago, one crept into one of the buildings where we take the salinity measurements. He stayed for a number of hours and seemed very pleased to have found himself a cool, shaded, and sheltered area. Fortunately, he left on his own accord and no damage was done. Mike and I will be sure to keep a closer eye on the doors in the future!
Basking Chunk
Our largest male, Misery, has alas begun to moult and has lost a significant amount of pelage in the past day and a half. Chunk, our second largest, has been losing weight and we predict he will take off and return to the sea in the next few days.
On another note, the red flags were put up on Bentinck Island yesterday morning and there have been 4 blastings today by the military. Although the elephant seals don’t seem to be bothered terribly, the hundreds of glaucous-winged gulls go haywire each time this happens before settling back down again.
Yesterday, Mike spotted humpbacks passing south of the reserve in the rain.
This morning Zeke and Misery were both back on Great Race. At some point in the night they must have come in contact and Zeke took a beating.
Ed Note : We now thinks Zeke and Chunk are the same male individuals. Scar patterns match.
There are multiple puncture wounds on his back and the one large open gash looks about 8″ long. His right eyelid is also slightly to torn.
Misery chased Zeke again today over onto the rocks to the edge of the cliff. This time Misery followed him onto the rocks but Zeke managed to make his way down the steep rocks on the West side and into the water. He is currently hauled out on Middle Rock out of harms way for now.
As mentioned previously, Misery seems to be a bit more aggressive now that Bertha is gone. Yesterday after chasing the pup around the house he took off after Chiunk, the younger male, who had been lying near the helicopter pad.
Misery chased him onto the rocks to the edge of a cliff. Chunk was stuck but Misery didn’t seem to want to venture onto the rocks, a standoff ensued.
Eventually Misery gave up and made his way down to the boat ramp and into ocean. Later on Misery was in the water near Middle Rock sounding off his horn. Chunk took his time to get off the rocks and eventually made his way to the ramp and into the water. Just before dark I could see Misery in the water by the jetty and throughout the night I could hear him sounding off.
Sometime during the night Zeke and Misery must have had an encounter and it did not go well for Zeke…
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.
The winds have died after last nights’s Westerly 60 knot gales. All the remains is a massive groundswell sweeping up Jaun de Fuca Strait, remnant and reminder of the power of the wind. I replaced the wind instrument on our ground weather station. It seems to be working fine now. Today I will sweep off the boat ramp of debris left from the big Sou’Easter a few days ago. For now the rain has moved in and I think I’ll bake muffins!
The young male e-seal has been spending most of his time by the boat house. He goes down the ramp for a dip a few times a day. He is clearly drawn here by the scent of the female but Misery has put the fear into him from their first bloody encounter. 
