Tag Archives: elephant seal

Winter’s Chilly Lash

Posted on by

Strong Northeasterly winds have buffeted the island for the last 4 days bringing snow, hail and breaking waves over the jetty. The Steller Sea Lions returned to their perch on the South Rocks last night, perhaps now that the worst of the cold has passed. The Phocids (the family name for seals; in our case Harbour and Elephant) seem pretty much immune to the cold. Phocids are able to divert blood flow to their blubber layer to help control their temperatures.

photos 1,3,4: Helene Cyr

Squall the newborn elephant seal seems to be doing well. His fur is thick, I suppose to make up for his lack of blubber. I refer to it as a male but since true seals have retractable nipples, internal testicles and an internal penis sheath for streamlining it is difficult to determine gender.  He sure is cute though…

Two adult males engaging in vocalization threat displays….. Big Nose wins!

Stormy Weather

Posted on by

Today it is just plain nasty outside with 35 knot nor’easterlies and blowing snow. No sign of the sea lions but the elephant seal family appears to be enduring the storm well. After a few days of poor feeding the pup and mom appear to have figured out their responsibilities and now the pup seems to be nursing vigourously. Misery, the father, is behaving well so far..

Below are some shots of Bertha and Squall, as well as the undisputed king of this island Misery of Race Rocks. Also the sub-adult male showed up last night. Does he have a name?

Newborn!

Posted on by

I was right about that fat female being pregnant. A few minutes ago she (with Mysery adding some weight to her abdomen) squeezed out a beautiful and seemingly healthy pup! Some of the students witnessed it first-hand! They told me Mysery was getting very close. I observed him snuffling the pup and wanting to be very involved in the experience. He certainly poses a threat because of his size but he seemed to bear the little pup no ill will. Perhaps it is his progeny. The pup picked the nastiest day of the month to be born with strong winds, snow and hail squalls. It will be a long and cold first night, and hopefully a long and fruitful life. I suggest he be named Squall in memory of this auspicious day.

For more info on the Elephants of Race Rocks please see:

http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/ashleyc.htm

Animal Census Jan 2012

Posted on by

Air Breathing Animal Census of Race Rocks Jan 2012

Stellar Sea Lions: 30

Elephant Seals: 6-7

Harbour Seals: 50

Bald Eagles: 5-15

Brandt’s Cormorants: 50

Glaucous-Winged Gull: 100

Herring Gull: 30

Black Turnstones: 50

Song Sparrow: 6

Peregrine Flacon: 1

Killdeer: 4

Dunlin: 2

Sandpiper: 6

Harlequin Ducks: 20

Human: 1

 

Tagged juvenile E-Seal

Posted on by

There are six E-seals on the island today. The big bull Misery, Bertha, a seemingly very pregnant large female with a distinct scar on her belly, and four youngsters resting uncomfortably on the rubble beach near the engine room.

The scruffy pup closest in the picture has a green hind flipper tag. The number appears to be #6355. I will look for info about from where and whence it cometh

Over 60 black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) are on the rocks on the south perimeter of the big island.Never have I seen a flock like this! Usually a person is lucky to see 10 together at a time. Along with the Haemas are about 40 Blackheaded Turnstones (Arenaria melanocephala).

2 divers in the water at West Rock. An Italian student and her friend are out for 3 days, as is another guest who is a professional photographer. I will try and get some good pics of the seals from her…

Elephant Seals

Posted on by

New elephant seals show up almost daily. Today Mystery is hanging out with a large female, while the teenage male does his best to get out of the way of the Beachmaster. He has some surface wounds indicating his neglect in clearing the path for the big guy. I’ll post some pics tomorrow. I have several student coming for a visit and need to prep the house and launch the boat…

Erik was out yesterday to clean the underwater camera and remove and old fridge. Good to see this place getting cleaner, leaner and greener…

New year for the Humans, just another day for the seals…

Posted on by

An enjoyable end to 2011 starting with the gale on Friday. Winds hit 50knots. I have noticed that cormorants are the last birds flying when the wind picks up. Today the islands of the reserve hold about 30 Stellars Sea Lions, 30 Harbour Seals, 2 elephants seals, 100 cormorants, 200 herring gulls, 15 oystercatchers, 20 turnstones, 10 Canada geese, a couple of sandpipers and sparrows, and one Homo sapiens sapiens. How is it that they can find food where they live but I am required to import it from the 4 corners of theglobe?

I am renaming the bull Elephant Seal Mistery rather than Misery as he was previously nicknamed. Misery doesn’t do this magnificent animal justice, plus I like him a lot; he brings me joy!

Pelican and Elephants Seals

Posted on by

The big adult male elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is back from a few days excursion. Misery is looking sleek and healthy. The small female looks to be improving. The redness of her wounded eye is diminishing.

Yesterday evening before the gale began a large adult brown pelican was noticed in front of the student house, but it is gone this morning.
Pelecanus occidentalis observed at Race Rocks