Tag Archives: glaucous-winged-gull

A solitary cormorant

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Friday, July 26, 2002
July 26- This is Ryan back on Race for a quick sojourn. The wind was brisk today, and there was little activity in the reserve. Carol saw 1 mature bald eagle being harassed away from Great Race at dawn this morning by gulls and 2 Black Oyster Catchers. A nest near the assistant keeper’s house of Glaucous-winged gulls still has two eggs in it, and one gull sits on them from time to time. A solitary cormorant (perhaps a Brandt’s) was sitting on the south-west tip of the island during the evening.
The station boat was to Pedder Bay and back at 8 this morning, and Garry brought Second Nature out to drop Joanna Brown and me off on the island while we were all treated to a presentation by Fabien of ALEC electronics. Some pretty amazing gadgets if anyone would like to save money long term on various environmental tests. Mike and Carol left around 11 for two days.
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 15 Knots  Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:07 AM
Thursday, July 25, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.0 C  Min. 10.3 C  Reset 13.0 C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 8:27 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 10 Miles  Wind West 27 Knots  Sea 4 Foot Moderate With Low South West Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 AM

Another hot day with the birds panting and the chicks seeking any shade they can find

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Monday, July 22, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 25.0 C  MIN. 10.9 C  Reset 23.1 C
MARINE LIFE: Another hot day with the birds panting and the chicks seeking any shade they can find be it under an adult or next to a rock. Not only do they get the heat from the sun above, the rocks they sit on heat up and retain that heat long into the night.Again no wind in the evening to cool things down. The geese spent most of the day following the shade around the buildings,also went swiming twice this afternoon. Still not flying but a lot of wing flapping in preparation, will be interesting to see that first try.The California sealion spent most of the day hauled out on the southeast rocks with quick dips in the sea every couple of hours and still hearing at least one elephant seal during the night down by the dock.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 13 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:06 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind South East 3 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:06 AM

Kayakers approach so quietly they can startle the wildlife-

Posted on by
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.1 C  10.7 C  Reset 14.3 C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles Wind South West 10 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:03 AM
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.0 C  Min. 11.0 C Reset 12.1 C  Rain tr
MARINE LIFE: Was nice for a change not to have the wind today,don’t mind the clouds, certainly good weather for the chicks- not too hot.The food supply seems to be holding out see lots of nice fresh fish being brought back by the gulls and everywhere you look Pigeon Guillemots returning with blennies. Some of the gulls are going quite a distance at times judging by the clam shells rolling off the roof ! They drop the clams onto roof and the sidewalks to break them open,quite noisey and very messy.
HUMAN INTERACTION: The Hyaku was in this morning,Ryan brought some mail and supplies from the college Ryan brought a group through the reserve in 2nd Nature in the afternoon but did not come ashore. This morning there were a couple of kayakers through and unfortunately they ignored the guidelines with respect to staying the proper distance from shore. This time of the year it is particularly important to follow the guidelines so as not to interfere with feeding birds and harbour seals with pups and those about to give birth.The noise from power boats at least give fair warning but kayakers approach so quietly they can startle the wildlife-please remember maintain at least 100 metres from any marine animal or bird and back off at the first sign of disturbance or agitation.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:35 PM
Good Mornng
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis 15 Miles  Wind West South West 15 Knots Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:01 AM

The eagle was trapped head first in a crevice , unable to take flight.

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Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.9 �C �� Min. 10.0 �C �� Reset 13.7 �C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:18 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 23 Knots  Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:05 AM

Monday, 2July 15,2002 Good Evening

TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.0 C  Min. 9.9 C  Reset 13.1 C
MARINE LIFE: Still the main activity centres around adult birds feeding chicks. The gulls announce their arrival and the chicks run from their hideing spots. Getting the food entails somewhat of a ritual, the adult nods it’s head a few times,then pecks at the ground a few times while the chicks gather around and finally the food is regurgitated but the chicks have to be fast because as they are attempting to pick at the food with their bills the adult is also snatching up the goodies.The first time I watched this feeding process I thought the adult was just plain mean to dump the food ,then gobble it up again as the chicks are trying to eat but I see the purpose of the exercise is to teach the chicks to be quick. It would seem the chicks that learn the fastest, grow the fastest! Survival of the fittest.There were three harbour seal pups born on the rocks along the north shore of Gr.Race today.At about 17:00 there was a lot of gull squawking and most of them were diving at an eagle sitting just at the waters edge on the northeast tip of Gr. Race. The gulls kept up a constant barrage on the eagle which ducked and put up it’s wings for protection. The eagle was trapped head first in a crevice , unable to take flight. The assault from above by the gulls continued for about 10 minutes before the eagle managed to manoeuver around enough to take off but even then with the gulls diving at it’s head it could not really fly and was forced down again but this time out of our sight. All but 3 or 4 gulls settled back down but not seeing the eagle fly away I was curious to see what happened so carefully -with sou’wester firmly in place, and not to keep the rain off- I moved slowly along the rocks to have look. The eagle was busy eating the placenta left from one of the seal births earlier in the day.I backed off quickly and left the poor bird to eat in peace which it did and then flew off towards Bentinck Island about 20 minutes later.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 3 pleasure craft in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis 10 Miles  Wind West 19 Knots  Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 AM

two Northern Sealions hauled out

Posted on by
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 18.9 C  Min. 11.3 C Reset 13.5 C
MARINE LIFE: Two mature bald eagles made several attempts to hunt Gr. Race first thing this morning and as always the gulls drove them off towards Whirl Bay everything soon settled back to the routine of feeding and sheltering the chicks.It would appear that there is a healthy supply of fish as the gulls continue to return from sea with full gullets.With any luck at all we will see some chicks fledge this year although the otter is making it’s rounds usually between 2 and 3 a.m. Most of the nests along the shore have been decimated but there are many nests farther inshore that have at least two surviving chicks.The dead seal pup has finally floated away however the female has remained in the dock area and has been joined by three other females with their pups. The geese are still here but with the vegetation so dry I wonder when they will leave for ‘greener pastures’. This afternoon two Northern Sealions hauled out on the western slope of the largest southeastern rocks to soak up some sun but were gone by 19:00.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 5 pleasure craft and 6 Ecotour boats in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:41 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis 15 MilesWind North East 3 Knots Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:19 AM

he gulls were regurgitating good amounts of nice fresh silvery fish 7-9 cm long,

Posted on by
Tuesday, July 09, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 19.0 C  Min. 9.9 C  Reset 16.5 C
MARINE LIFE: The main activity in the reserve continues to be the feeding of the young birds, today the gulls were regurgitating good amounts of nice fresh silvery fish 7-9 cm long, to the eager chicks which are now spending most of the time out of the nest but in the same general area.There are still 3 large elephant seals on middle rock but no sealions, still hear elephant seal snorting near the dock after dark most nights while they are out on their feeding trips.The dead pup is still the focus of it’s mother, she lays near it all day until the tide floats it and then she pushes it around in the water near the dock. There were three other females with pups swimming in the same area, one pup, obviously newly born but a very active swimmer approached the floating dead pup and was quickly warned off by the protective female. Anytime now the floating pup will get caught up in the current and will be taken further off shore.Will watch to see if the female remains in the dock area once the pup is gone.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:45 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind North East 9 Know  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:21 AM

Have seen 8 seal pups,

Posted on by
Monday, July 08, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.0 C Min. 10.8 C  Reset 12.5 C  Rain 3.9 mm
MARINE LIFE: A cool and breezy start to the day, remnants of a very active weather system that roared in about 12:20 a.m. The rain was very heavy for about 25 mins, almost 4 mm, at least it cleaned the roofs somewhat and the air is much fresher. I watched very carefully for the gulls bringing food to the chicks and it’s not too encouraging- no abundance of silvery fresh fish so far. A few nests are empty of chicks and eggs -I suspect the otter. Have seen 8 seal pups,the females tend to stay fairly close to shore for the first week or so then when not hauled out to sleep and nurse the pups, they spend a lot of time in the kelp beds. The female is still with the dead pup and tonight as it floated in the rising tide she pushed it along with her in the water by the boat dock. Earlier this morning I went down to see and she was hauled out about 1metre from the pup, as I approached closer she moved up to the pup, patted it a couple of times with her front flipper then nuzzled it’s face with her nose.While she was doing this she periodically looked up at me with those big, sad, dark eyes.I’m sure even seals feel loss and grieve, It affects me at any rate. The Orca were through the reserve on their way east.Saw about 7 pass by between Gr. Race and North Rocks. They moved along at a fair pace but saw some breaching and tail slapping. The tour boats were quite spread out and except for the 2 boats that were in the reserve ahead of the whales none followed them through.
HUMAN INTERACTION: there were 17 tour boats and 3 pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:23 PM

Good MorningWEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 30 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate

posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:13 AM

The Pigeon Guillemots are busy feeding young

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Friday, July 05, 2002 Good Evening

TEMPERATURE: Max 16.0 C Min. 8.9 C Reset 14.7 C
MARINE LIFE: The Pigeon Guillemots are busy feeding young while the gulls take turns nest sitting with eggs hatching everyday now. There have been ‘fish’ balls off and on all day mostly just outside the M.P.A. boundaries so far a good supply of food for the birds and their young. Only one bald eagle came into the area this evening but was driven off towards Whirl Bay before it could get close to Gr. Race, the gulls are hyper vigilant now that they have young and are on high alert to any threats. The gulls around our house are used to us coming and going but the others will dive at us to warn us away and happily use us as targets so it’s hat season and not just to keep the out the uv rays! At night there is a lot of banging and clatter on the roof from the 35-40 gulls that spend the night up there. It is hard to believe there are just birds up there from all the noise. Did not hear the birds screeching last night so I guess the otter isn’t coming around every night.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 23 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft through today; we made a return trip to Pedder Bay in the station boat and enjoyed another great sunset on a calm sea.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 11:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 6 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:27 AM

Several gulls nests have chicks since yesterday

Posted on by
Wednesday, July 03, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max 14.0 C  Min 9.9 C  Reset 12.0 C  Rain tr
MARINE LIFE: Don’t mind the clouds and cool temperatures but really the constant westerly tends to wear on the nerves, the birds don’t seem to mind it – they just tuck their bills under a wing and nap. Several gulls nests have chicks since yesterday, watched, from the front porch, the first chick hatch from the group of nests closest to the house. It’s a fairly slow process, first a tiny, dark beak breaks through the egg and over a couple of hours the chick pushes it’s way out. The adult is on and off the nest checking the progress and when finally the chick is free of the egg the shell is taken about 3 m away and discarded.In an hour or so the chick is dry with yellowy-brown down-totally unlike the adult.The Oyster Catcher chicks on the other hand look very much like the adults except for bill colour and slightly lighter plumage. The Gulls are usually 2-3 years before they take on all the characteristics of the adults.The dark cloud lurking over this wonderful new life arrives between 1and 2 a.m. creating havoc, devouring some eggs and crushing others, some chicks are crushed and some eaten all the while the adult gulls are in the air screeching piteously diving at the intruder to no avail- the otter is on the hunt again! Haven’t seen the otter for several weeks, not even any signs of it like scat in the usual places- was really hoping it had moved on, maybe to Bentinck Island.Some resident Orcas were in the reserve this afternoon moving quite slowly along the south side of Gr. Race they did a lot of tail slapping,rolling and fishing in the kelp.There was the usual flotilla of whale watcher boats which for the most part abided by the guidelines – however after the Orcas had moved east away from the reserve at about 15:30, 2 ecotour boats went by too fast with respect to the no -wake policy and 3 others were too close to shore just west of the dock where there were feeding Pigeon Guillemots. 1 ecotour operator stopped in the kelp just off the northwest bluffs of Gr Race and pulled kelp into the boat for the passengers.Since this is a protected area such activities are not within the guidelines.
HUMAN INTERACTION: there were 5 pleasure craft through the reserve and 23 ecotour boats.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis 15 Miles  Wind West 25 Gust 30 knots  Sea 3 – 4 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:25 AM

A pod of 6 to 8 Orcas moved towards Victoria

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Sunday, June 09, 2002 Good Evening

TEMPERATURE: A beautiful day, Max. 14.2C  Min. 9C  11.5C
MARINE LIFE: Today’s animal pace was quite busy. Some of the Gulls are still collecting for their nests, while others are already incubating 2 or 3 eggs. The goslings are becoming very independent, frequenting the waters with their parents and exploring the little mysteries of Race Rocks. Some fly-overs by the resident Bald Eagle this morning, however it didn’t stay very long. A pod of 6 to 8 Orcas moved towards Victoria late this afternoon, one pair had a calf with them. The Sea Lion that has frequented the docks for the last couple of days did not return today, perhaps a sign of improving health.
HUMAN IMPACT: A total of 12 ecotourism vessels in and around the reserve today. Three fishing vessels on the reserves boarder for several hours. A group of canoes and kayaks paddled around the island today, unfortunately disregarding the 100m restrictions about approaching the seals. The group’s close proximity scared the seals into the water. We often have problems with kayakers. They think they are being so environmentally responsible but in this reserve they scare more marine mammals into the water than many other user groups. At approximately 10am a Victoria Coast Guard Auxillary boat, ( rigid hull inflatable, similar to the whale watchers vessels, sped straight through the reserve at excessive speed. They came within 20m. of the divers off the docks, the two groups of divers complaining of wake, despite a dive flag being in place and the no wake policy within the MPA.
posted by at 8:52 PM
Good Morning:
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 8 miles Wind 8 Knots from West Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by at 5:43 AM