Tag Archives: glaucous-winged-gull

Enjoying watching the 5 little goslings

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Thursday, May 16, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.1 C  Min. 5.9 C Reset 9.9 C
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature Bald Eagle today.Enjoying watching the 5 little goslings,they sure cover a lot of ground in a day trying to keep up with the adults. They are pretty wobbly on their feet but cute! We are watching the other pair of geese carefully but so far no more chicks.No Oyster Catcher eggs have hatched yet but should be any day now.The gulls are gathering bits of grass and building nests but have not seen any eggs as of yet.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 3 pleasure craft through the reserve today.Station boat to Pedder Bay and back early a.m. for groceries and mail.Second trip after 17:00 to bring Grandsons(and their parents) over for long weekend visit.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:28 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear �� Vis 15 Miles �� Wind West 7 Knots �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:27 AM

gulls are getting much more territorial,

Posted on by
Sunday, May 12, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.2 C  Min. 7.3 C Reset 15.1 C
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature,1 juvenile Bald Eagle today.The gulls are getting much more territorial, there are constant skirmishes with intruders being dragged unceremoniously across the yard by the neck,tail or wing.It looks pretty brutal but we seldom see any serious injuries.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 9 pleasure craft and 12 ecotour boats throughtthe reserve today. The Second Nature was in the morning. Garry and Laura busy getting things set up for the exam tomorrow-nice job on the tank! Too bad the exam was not today -the weather was incredible- the forecast for tomorrow not very good, calling for wind and showers!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:21 PM

Good Morming

WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis 15 miles  Wind East 5 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:54 AM

Pigeon Guillemots seek out ‘tunnels’ in the rock piles

Posted on by
Wednesday, May 08, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max.11.0 C  Min. 5.5 C  Reset 9.0 C
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature bald eagles today-still 3 geese.The gulls and Oyster Catchers kept the eagles on the move, every time the big birds approached Gr. Race they were ‘herded’ away and so spent most of the day on North Rocks.Although it is not as warm as it usually is for May, the sun is so welcome -it has been a strange spring. The birds are pretty well all paired off now except of course for the 3rd goose! The Pigeon Guillemots seek out ‘tunnels’ in the rock piles to lay their eggs and will sit for quite a while guarding the entrances, they are however so striking with the white wing patch and bright red feet that it is easy to find the nests.It is interesting to note the differences of bird behavior as far as protection of the eggs. The Gulls stay with the eggs and fend off intruders while the Oyster Catchers use the ‘distraction’ method of flying some distance away all the while chirping frantically. Have not seen any chicks yet but the oystercatcher eggs in the east bay area should soon hatch,will check the nest in the morning.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 4 pleasure craft and 13 ecotour boats through the reserve today,station boat round trip to Pedder Bay.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:45 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 9 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:54 AM

Enviro. systems field lab.

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Wednesday, May 01, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.3 C  Min 7.7 C  Reset 9.9 C
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature and 1 juvenile bald eagle,still the 3 geese. A few gulls have managed to gather bits of grass to build nests in spite of the wind, the never ending wind!.Will check the usual areas for more Oyster Catcher nests tomorrow if the winds abates somewhat. Don’t want to disturb any egg sitting especially since the temperatures are so unseasonably cold.Usually by the first of May the garden is 1/4 planted with the snow peas,green onions and radishes up.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats today. 2nd Nature in with Garry, Laura and students for Enviro. systems field lab. The very low tide with the brisk westerly makes landing at the dock tricky to say the least-well done Laura!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 8:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 5 Miles – Fog  Wind West 29 Knots  Sea 4 Foot Moderate – Low South West Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 AM

2 Black Oyster Catcher nests,

Posted on by
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.0 ºC »» Min. 7.1 ºC »» Reset 8.8 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature Bald Eagle. The gulls kept the big bird moving from rock to rock. Every time the eagle settled down the gulls, in groups of 5 or 6 heckled it until it flew off to another spot.Finally just after 14:00 the eagle took off towards Whirl Bay. Still 3 Geese, the loner follows the pair all around the island but if he gets any closer than 5 metres or so is driven back with much honking and neck waving.Checking the area just above the high tide line turned up 2 Black Oyster Catcher nests, which are really just depressions lined with pebbles and bits of shells and are about 20 cm across. The nest by the East Bay has 3 eggs but the nest on the north side just east of the winch house is empty -will check again tomorrow.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 5 Ecotour boats and 1 Pleasure craft through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind West 9 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:21 AM

gulls are getting territorial and aggressive towards the eagles

Posted on by
Saturday, April 27, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.1 ºC »» Min. 5.9 ºC »» Reset 10.1 ºC »» Rain 0.8 mm
MARINE LIFE: 3 mature and 2 juvenile bald eagles today which were kept moving by the gulls and Oyster Catchers.Now that nesting season is getting closer the gulls are getting territorial and aggressive towards the eagles.One of the mature eagles landed by the chopper pad and was immediately the target of 20 or so gulls and a pair of very daring Oyster Catchers.The big bird ducked and snapped it’s beak as the smaller birds dove at it time and time again,finally the eagle flew off to West Race followed by 10 or so gulls which circled the eagle a couple of times then returned to Gr. Race and things settled down until another eagles flew overhead.No other eagles landed as they were headed off as soon as they flew near.
HUMAN INTERACTION: we had 29 ecotour boats and 5 pleasure craft through the reserve today. There was a small pod of Orcas reported in the area of Albert Head and William Head and although it is too far to see the whales one could not miss the myriad of boats which accompanied, followed, pursued these whales for hours.The great, gleaming white cruise ship we could see docked in Victoria no doubt carried many tourists who enjoyed a ‘whale watching tour,evidently this was the first of 21 visits by the liner- the season is just beginning but I am not ready for it.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind North West 3 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 AM

chasing the eagle first en masse

Posted on by
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
Good Evening
WEATHER: Max. 9.1 ºC »» Min. 4.9 ºC »» Reset 6.1 ºC »» Rain 4.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: 1 mature bald eagle, 2 pair geese. The eagle spent most of the day on the southeast rocks then near sunset flew over to the high point on the northwest ridge of Gr. Race.Every 15 minutes or so the eagle circled Gr. Race. The gulls and Oyster catchers all took to the air noisily, chasing the eagle first en masse, then breaking off into smaller groups of 7-8 gulls. The eagle returned to the ridge,but the gulls took 5 minutes or so to settle back down then all was quiet again for about 10 minutes until the eagle took flight again.This activity went on until it was almost dark and the eagle headed off towards Bentinck Island.The gulls have quite a number of distinctive calls that are associated with everything from courting to reacting to danger. It does not take long to recognize these various calls.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 4 ecotour boats and 1 pleasure craft through the reserve today.posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 12 Miles »» Light Rain »» Wind North 11 Knots »» Sea 2 Foot Chop »» Low West Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:35 AM

Gulls–starting to get territorial and this precipitates many fights

Posted on by
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max 10.0 ºC »» Min. 6.1 ºC »» Reset 8.0 ºC »» Rain 3.6 mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 mature Bald Eagles today, the geese are still here, I am begining to wonder if they will nest here, usually by now they have moved inland.We hear the gulls morning,noon and night now.They are starting to get territorial and this precipitates many fights.As two gulls drag each other about the rest of them chime in with a lot of squawking, I can’t decide whether it’s encouragement or condemnation for such rowdy behavior,in any case it looks worse than it is and the results are usually no more than a few lost feathers. The Pigeon Guillemots continue to spent the morning ashore,taking flight en masse at the slightest hint of danger, they are very nervous birds and we take special care not to disturb them.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 6 ecotour boats and 2 pleasure craft through the MPA; 2 College boats with Garry,Chris and students for a dive – unfortunately there was a break in the interview cable so no live video.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:38 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 12 Miles – Light Rain »» Wind North 7 Knots »» Sea Rippler
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:07 AM

The eagles kept the gulls on alert most of the day

Posted on by
Monday, April 08, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.3 ºC »» Min. 3.1 ºC »» Reset 9.3 ºC »» Rain 0.4
MARINE LIFE: 3 Bald Eagles,2 mature. The eagles kept the gulls on alert most of the day flying back and forth over head. Usually the eagles will sit for hours at a time in one spot but today they were very active. The gulls are busy with their courtship displays -sometimes you can see them on camera 1 or check out the video clips in the archives -they are fun to watch except when they grab each other by the wing or tail for a drag along the ground.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 4 pleasure craft, 2 ecotour boats through the MPA today
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:37 PM
Good Morning
WEATER: Sky Part Cloudy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind North 7 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:32 AM

Start of the Canada Geese

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-2002-04-02′, ’16:13:49′, ‘Good Evening TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.1 1?4C ?? Min. 4.0 1?4C ?? Reset 7.7 1 4C

MARINE LIFE: Not much activity this morning, the north wind was really cold but the afternoon sun was very therapeutic.While I was out picking a few greens the geese waddled over to see what I was up to, they are quite tame and a bit like puppies. As I worked my way along the garden they they kept up about a foot behind me.They enjoyed the carrots I threw on the grass and they spent an hour or so after I went inside, up in the garden scratching about for more. The small pond was popular this afternoon with the gulls and crows. The geese tried to join the gulls in the pond but the gulls squawked and took off , the geese happily shared with the crows and starlings About 14:00 a Blue Heron flew over from Pedder Bay and sat majestically on the east ridge of Gr. Race and is still there as the sun sets. HUMAN INTERACTION: 2 Ecotour boats and 2 College boats this afternoon with students for a dive with Chris and filming with Garry.

Mike and Carol