Tag Archives: elephant seal

Harlequins

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Monday, February 11, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.1C  Min. 2.0C Reset 5.1C  Rain 3.0 mm
MARINE LIFE: 13 mature, 4 immature Bald Eagles today. The 6 Canada Geese spent the day in the area around the Learning Centre. They kept an eye on Mike as he power washed the sidewalks but did not seem bothered by the activity.The Elephant Seal was hauled out on the rocks just below the tower in the morning and then spent most of the afternoon floating about in the East Bay.There were 7 Harlequin Ducks (4 male) also in the east bay area all morning, then saw them later much farther off shore towards the east.Counted 123 Cormorants today.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:22 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis 15 Miles  Wind West 7 Knots Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:10 AM

First of the Integrated Energy Talks

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Sunday, February 10, 2002
 Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.0C  Min. 3.0C Reset 5.7C Rain 7.6 mm
MARINE LIFE:The California Sea Lion was still hauled out on the dock but went into the water just before 8:30 a.m. There were 10 mature and 3 immature Bald Eagles in the reserve by 8 a.m. The Bull Northern Elephant Seal is still spending most of the time along the shore of Gr. Race and in the little bay on the east side. Still 6 Geese.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2nd Nature out about 9a.m. with students to manage things while we spent some quality time with family. While we were away there was quite a fierce weather system through the area and it was still blowing 29-32 knts. when we arrived at the dock, a little cold and damp but glad to be back! Chris picked up the students in 2nd Nature just as we were arriving back about 5p.m.
In the morning, Garry came out with Taco Niet and Ged McLean of ISEVIC. (University of Victoria) with 8 of the members of the alternate energy company “Clean Energy” from Vancouver. Taco presented us with his completed copy of his Masters Thesis in Engineering on the Proposed Energy Systems for Race Rocks. An excellent piece of research, parts of which we will be linking soon on our energy pages. An outline of an intriguing proposal for a current energy turbine system on which they are working was brought forward.- More later on the Race Rocks energy page.
–Garry Fletcher
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy Vis. 15 Miles Wind North East 11 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:13 AM

5 m long elephant seal

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Friday, March 08, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 4.0C  Min. -2.2C  Reset 2.9C  Snow 6.0 cm = 6.0mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature Bald Eagles arrived a little after 10 a.m. and left 11:45- don’t think they like the weather any more than we do! 2 pair of Geese today, they spent most of the time down by the desalination plant building and there are now 2 bull Elephant Seals hauling out on the boat ramp-Mike paced out the bigger one to just over 5 m long.Feel sorry for the birds with this unseasonable weather , hope it does not last as the rhubarb has started to leaf up nicely.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Afternoon
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 12 Miles  Wind West 19 Knots  Sea 3 Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 2:29 PM

Elephant seal activity

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Friday, February 08, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.3C Min. 5.0C  Reset 6.7C  Rain 3.6 mm
MARINE LIFE: 11 mature , 6 immature Bald Eagles today. 3 Canada Geese flew in from the direction of Bentinck Island just after noon and spent the afternoon in the area in front of the Learning Centre. 1 juvenile Northern Elephant seal hauled out in the east bay early a.m.A large bull Elephant seal spent most of the afternoon floating along the south shore of Gr. Race and think it must be the one that is now in the water just east of the boat dock vocalizing but it is too dark to see.We hear them just about every night when the wind is not blowing over 20 knts.I don’t know if they answer to each others calls but will hear one call close by and seconds later hear another call that is farther away, coincidence or communication?
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 small pleasure craft through the reserve.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 11 Know — Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:29 AM

Canada Geese

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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

Sealions disturbed by DND blasting

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Thursday, January 24, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 8.9C Min. 5.9C  Reset 5.9C  Rain 8.2 mm
MARINE LIFE: Today we monitored the scheduled detonations at the D.N.D. site on Bentinck Island. There were three sets of blasts,each consisting of two detonations separated by about 2 minutes.The first blast at 10:54 sent the gulls,cormorants into the air and alerted the sealions hauled out on the middle rock.About 20 animals moved towards the water then the second blast went off and caused a stampede of all the hauled out sealions. The birds as usual settled back down in a minute or two. Very gradually a few at a time, 10-15 sealions returned to the haul out areas.The Elephant Seals raised their heads and looked around but did not move away.The Second set of blasts at 11:53 and 11:55 cleared Middle Rock of sealions and also sent 40-45 Harbour Seals hauled out on the western slopes of the Southeast Rocks scrambling into the water. The Last 2 blasts( 12:48 and 12:50 ) sent the 5 sealions that hauled out again about 20 minutes after the 11:55, back into the water. Do not know the size of the detonations but they shook the cameras and most of the pictures on the walls.There are more blasts scheduled for tomorrow.There were 7 Bald Eagles – 4 mature.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:21 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind South West 17 Knots �� Sea 2 Foot Chop – Low West Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 8:13 AM

Blasting disturbs birds and sealions

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Thursday, January 17, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 6.1C  Min. 2.7C Reset 4.7C
MARINE LIFE:At 8:30 there were 150-170 Sealions, 2 large bull and 1 smaller Elephant Seals on Middle rock. With the first blast at 11:10 the gulls and cormorants took flight, most of the sealions were alerted and some went into the water. When the second blast went off 2 minutes after the first, the sealions scrambled over each other in a rush to get to the water.The elephant seals although alerted (raised their heads and looked around ) did not move off their spots. With each blast the eagles,gulls and cormorants all took flight but within 1 or 2 minutes settled back down. During the hour between blast series 10 to 15 sealions hauled out again but appeared to be somewhat ‘edgy’ and were much quicker to move into the water when the blasting occured again.There were 14-7 mature Bald Eagles in the M.P.A. today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:11 PM
The smoke, some of it coloured that can be seen at times in camera one is coming from the D.N.D. property,there may at times be blasting sounds. These exercises will continue until friday afternoon.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 9:53 AM

BLOYS return

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-2002-01-07′, ’16:10:30′, ‘The bull Elephant Seal is still hauling out on the rocks below the engine room and for a few hours, usually in the morning,floats leisurely along the shore, upright with his head and snout just above the surface. With the fairly light winds we are able to hear his distinctive ”bellow” mostly at night. Only one immature Bald Eagle visited today. The fog was very thick and right down to the water surface not the best hunting conditions. 22-24 Black Oyster Catchers arrived on Gr. Race about 11:00am, broke off into pairs and spent 1/2 hour or so in previous years nesting areas.Although they are the first of the birds to nest, January seems too early for serious courting and nest building even with the very mild temperatures!’, ‘Mike or Carol’, ’16:11:43 ,

22-24 Black Oyster Catchers arrive

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Monday, January 07, 2002 Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.3C  Min. 8.3C Reset 10.0C Rain 36.2 mm

MARINE LIFE: The bull Elephant Seal is still hauling out on the rocks below the engine room and for a few hours, usually in the morning,floats leisurely along the shore, upright with his head and snout just above the surface. With the fairly light winds we are able to hear his distinctive ‘bellow’ mostly at night. Only one immature Bald Eagle visited today. The fog was very thick and right down to the water surface not the best hunting conditions. 22-24 Black Oyster Catchers arrived on Gr. Race about 11:00am, broke off into pairs and spent 1/2 hour or so in previous years nesting areas.Although they are the first of the birds to nest, January seems too early for serious courting and nest building even with the very mild temperatures!
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2nd Nature arrived approx. 13:45 -a tricky landing at the dock with an ebbing tide and 1-2 metre swells.The supplies ( 8 pails of oil for generator oil change) and 4 passengers were quickly off-loaded and Angus waited off shore until the visitors were ready to be picked up,only an experienced boat driver can manage a landing under these conditions!.2nd Nature returned to campus 14:30.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:32 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Obscured  Vis. 1/8 Mile Light Rain and Fog  Wind South 5 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:23 AM

2500 to 3000 sea birds feeding

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Thursday, January 03, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.0C — Min. 6.9C – Reset 7.7C — Rain 1.3 mm
MARINE LIFE:Another red letter day,calm sea,blue sky and wonderful warm sunshine. There were 3 ( 1 mature ) Bald Eagles today. Counted 18 Black Oyster Catchers and again 7 Harlequins ( 4 Male ). There was a lot of feed in the water in the tide lines, 200-300 hundred metres off the reserve to the west and north,and into Pedder Bay.There must have been 2500 to 3000 sea birds feeding. The eagles were flying low just skimming the surface, talons outstretched as they hit the water.As the eagles circled,the other birds flew off and landed some distance away, except for about 7 or 8 gulls that tried to ‘herd’ the eagles away.Every once in a while the eagles would dive at the gulls, I think more out of frustration from the harassment then wanting to catch the gull- it was the fish they were after.It is so quiet with the light wind that we have heard Elephant Seals vocalizing tonight.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 4 boats through the reserve today 2 orange Ribs ( 1 whale watcher ) 1 pleasure craft-sight seeing and 1- 4 metre boat with 3 divers between Gr. Race and West Race.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:10 PM

Good Morning

WEATHER: Sky Cloudy — Vis. 15 Miles — Wind South East 3 Knots — Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 8:11 AM