Tag Archives: harbour seal

heard snorting and bellowing coming from the dock area

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Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 25 Gust 33 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:09 AM
Sunday, July 14, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 16.5 C Min. 10.7 C Reset 14.5 C
MARINE LIFE: One mature bald eagle flew overhead late evening and as usual the gulls drove it off but the birds took 30 minutes or so to settle back down.The Pigeon Guillemots take off to sea when the eagles are around and are quick to dive if the big bird flies near. This morning one of the Elephant seals hauled out on the boat ramp next to the boat house door,it took him a while to find just the right spot, but once he found it he settled in for the rest of the day. The last couple of nights we have heard snorting and bellowing coming from the dock area and it sounds like more than one elephant seal but even with a fairly strong flashlight can’t see well enough to tell for sure.This evening there were 4 female harbour seals with pups in the water by the dock, at high tide it is a fairly sheltered area,away from the swells coming in from the west.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 6 pleasure craft, 3 Ecotour boats and 1 boat with 7 or 8 divers.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM

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

There are 6 females with pups in the east bay area, 4 with red umbilical cords so very new but swimming like pros,

Posted on by
Sunday, July 07, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 20.0 C Min. 10.5 C  Reset 12.0 C  Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: There are 6 females with pups in the east bay area, 4 with red umbilical cords so very new but swimming like pros, they do have some awkwardness while trying to pull themselves up onto the rocks, several tries and they make it to be rewarded with a good feed! The dead pup is still by the boat ramp, the mother has not left it’s side and continues to be very protective.There were three bald eagles this afternoon ( 1 mature ) which managed to land on the southeast rocks in spite of the gulls. The 2 juvenile eagles were fighting over some very bright red matter that looked like seal placenta,the adult raptor watched for about 10 minutes from about 20 metres then made it’s move towards the two juveniles which backed off immediately and surrendered the prize scraps.The gulls were just too bothersome so the big bird took off flying low over the water with the ‘food’ clutched tightly in it’s talons, the gulls did not give up the chase until they were well past North Rocks.
HUMAN INTERACTION: A fairly quiet day considering the water was so calm and a weekend. There were 5 pleasure craft and 9 ecotour boats, 2 dive charters -one that came through at 16:30 full speed and too close, left at about 17:40 again full speed, both times leaving a large wake! Will pass the boat registration number along to fisheries.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:11 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 5 Knots  Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:09 AM

again a number of small fish balls

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Saturday, July 06, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 21.0 C  Min 9.7 C  Reset 19.7 C
MARINE LIFE: The birds were fairly quiet today except for trips out to sea for food, again a number of small fish balls mostly in and around the kelp beds to the east of Gr. Race. With several days now of sunshine and little wind the air is not as ‘fresh’ as one would like but we do get used to it after a while- air fresheners inside help, especially at meal time! Except for one or two small patches, the grass is brown and tinder dry. Still no seal pups in the dock area but sadly one female hauled out this morning with a dead pup which seems to be several days old. The female is very protective of the dead pup although she did let me close enough to have a look, I couldn’t see any obvious wounds and it seemed to be average in size so don’t know why it died. The mother stayed with the pup all day and often tried to push it’s head up with her nose and patted it every once in a while as if to ‘wake’ it up. Have had pups die like this in past years and the female has stayed with it for three days or more, it’s sad.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 dive boat, 21 ecotour boats and 9 pleasure craft today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind Calm �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:57 AM

Pigeon Guillemots diving for blennies today

Posted on by
Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.1 C  Min. 9.2 C Reset 11.9 C
MARINE LIFE:There were more Pigeon Gillemots diving for blennies today ,before long there will be a constant stream of adults to sea and back with food for the chicks.No Eagles until near 20:00 then one mature made several attempts at low flights over Gr. Race but was kept away by the gulls and Oyster Catchers.The gulls have the advantage in numbers but the oyster catchers are tenacious and to my eye sometimes get too close to the eagle when they dip and dive at it’s head, they are so agile and fast.We should be seeing Harbour seal pups any day now, as of yet the 7 or 8 females that usually haul out on the boat ramp to give birth have not turned up .A fantastic sunset tonight -maybe a good omen ‘ red sky at night’………? Would be nice to be rid of the wind ! but shouldn’t complain, better than sweltering in the heat wave back east.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 4 ecotour boats, 7 pleasure craft some on their way to the halibut grounds just outside the M.P.A. boundaries 1 white inflatable # 2H79606 with divers, too fast and too close to shore,disturbed feeding birds.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 13 Knots Sea Rippled to 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:29 AM
Monday, July 01, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.3 C  Min. 9.9 C Reset 13.3 C
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:02 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Clouldy   Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 16 Knots  Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:17 AM

they are so nervous from the eagles and in the wind the eggs can cool very quickly

Posted on by
Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.0 C  Min. 9.1 C Reset 11.7
THE DAY: Part Cloudy Vis 12 @ 6:30 15 Miles Wind West 15 Gust 21 Knots  Sea 2 to 3 Foot Chop All Day
MARINE LIFE: One mature Bald Eagle spent most of the day on North Rocks and made two tries to hunt over Gr. Race but was driven off each time.The gulls and oyster catchers are on the alert at all times especially the past week or so.Most gulls have nests now and soon we should see eggs hatching from the early nesters. Don’t like to disturb them as they are so nervous from the eagles and in the wind the eggs can cool very quickly.There are still 4 Northern Sealions on the southeast rocks, one was swimming in the east bay area with about 30 harbour seals which had been hauled out on the rocks until the rising tide washed them off.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Chris and Ryan in with Second Nature – 5 trips with diesel fuel. 2 pleasure craft through the reserve.
posted by at 6:05 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Cloudy  Vis. 12 Miles  Wind 21 Knots  Sea 2 to 3 Foot Chop
posted by at 5:33 AM

young Northern Sealions hauled out on the southwestern slope

Posted on by
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.5 C Min. 9.5 C Reset 12.5 C  Rain 0.8 mm
THE DAY: Part Cloudy  Vis 15 miles  Wind West 15 Till 9:00 then 20 Gusting 33 Knots Sea 1 – 2 Foot Chop until 10:15 Then 3 to 5 Foot Moderate
MARINE LIFE: The birds continue to sit on nests and when alerted take to the air to ward off the one mature Bald Eagle that made several unsuccessful hunting flights over Gr. Race. The Eagle left the area just after noon,then again just after sunset a lone mature eagle made one last flight along the shoreline before heading across Race Passage towards Bentinck Island.3 young Northern Sealions hauled out on the southwestern slope of the southeast rocks along with approx. 13 Harbour seals.Counted 7 small to medium size elephant seals on middle rock,did hear loud bellows and snorting near the dock last night that could be the larger bull elephant seals but have not seen them hauled out for a few days.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Chris and Ryan delivered 2 loads of diesel fuel with the Second Nature in the morning and 1 tour boat was through the reserve today.
posted by at 6:06 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 17 Knots  Sea 1 – 2 Foot Chop
posted by at 6:03 AM

Sean Leroy doing Masters Thesis on MPA Advisory Process

Posted on by
Thursday, June 13, 2002
TEMPERATURE Max 20.8C  Min 11.1C  Reset 19.2C
MARINE LIFE: The harbour seals are becoming very nervous of human presence, several times today they swept into the water at the sight of people on the pathways. The 4 pairs of Oystercatchers all have chicks now, a good sign that perhaps the river Otter has left the island. Two octopus were sighted in the low intertidal over near the surge channel this morning.

Sean Leroy at Race Rocks

HUMAN IMPACT: Five eco-tourism vessels through the reserve and five fishing vessels on the reserve’s perimeter.

Garry and Hyaku docked with two visitors this morning, Sean LeRoy, Graduate Researcher, Georgia Basin Futures Project
Sustainable Development Research Institute, University of British Columbia and Dr.James Tansey also of UBC. They came to participate in the webcast with Garry and Ryan on Marine Protected Areas this morning with Tim Langois, Leigh Marine Laboratory University of Auckland, and Anne Saloman, University of Washington, Zoology Department .

langoisgroupAfter a tour of the Island and a great discussion about MPA’s in Canada and New Zealand they all left in the afternoon.
posted by at 10:49 PM

Good Morning:
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 8 miles  Wind 0-5 Knots from West  Sea 1-2 Foot Chop
posted by Garry Fletcher at 5:03 AM