Tag Archives: marine debris

High tides and winds

Posted on by

Ecological Notes:

  • As noted previously, there was a drop in all animals and birds during/after the storm surge, but they are starting to return
  • No elephant seals have returned yet …. checking past blogs, this is not uncommon, but was still hoping there would be some here before I leave!

Facility Work:

  • In addition to weekly battery electrolyte top ups, cleaned the tops of the batteries and did an extra mop up of the floor
  • Due to heavy winds and rain from the north, and the old door still in place, the battery room flooded and needed a full mop out
  • After an initial clean out, debris is starting to fill the boat ramp area again. Many logs rolled right over the jetty!
  • Did a full strip down of the jetty electric fence for now

  • Sticking as close to the proper times as possible, daily salinity and temperature readings adjusted to get safely out onto the jetty

DND events:

  • One blast Monday morning

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • High winds kept boats out of the area

 

 Feature Event:

  •  As there are ongoing concerns about the battery readings, I’ve gone to a hybrid running pattern……. leaving the system on “Auto” to avoid shutoffs from sudden low voltage readings, but shutting off and switching to “Manual” when the batteries reach 100% to avoid extending float charges (sometimes as long as 4-5 hours extra.)
  • Consulting with  technicians on further adjustments and battery corrections

Weather Events:

  • Monday, December 16:
    • Sky:Bright overcast with small clear spots
    • Wind: N 20-25kts, dropping in the afternoon
    • Sea: rippled, wind against tide chop north of reserve
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 8oC
  • Tuesday, December 17:
    • Sky: Foggy until mid-afternoon, clear and sunny to overcast, mix of cloud and sun by afternoon
    • Wind:NE 5kts veering E to 35kts mid day, back to NE 10kts  by evening
    • Sea:  3 ft swells mid day, large swells rolling into the jetty area
    • Temperature Low 4oC, High 9oC
  • Wednesday, December 18:
    • Sky:Clear overhead, some low cloud and mist in the distance,
    • Wind: W gusts to 50kts early morning,dropping over the day to 10kts
    • Sea:  2 ft chop, dropping to smooth by late afternoon
    • Temperature Low 8oC, High 12oC

 

 

** Any wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?

wind

Posted on by

Strong winds all day, switching between NE and W. Scattered showers.

 

-prepped student house for visitors
-Erik delivered propane
-made keeper’s house floor plans

Misery and 6360 back on Great Race

Posted on by

From bed I watched Misery haul himself up the boat ramp around 7:30 this morning.  He had spent the last week lying on Middle Rocks along with two female elephant seals. Over the course of the morning he made his way past the boat house and along the North side of the Student Centre before coming to rest on the North side of the Solar/Engine room this afternoon.

The female with the green tag No. 6360 was also hauled this morning, she stayed on the rocks next to the jetty all day.

6360, taken from the crane deck above.

Pam has a image capture on her flickr page taken from the webcam in the tower on Saturday of 6360 and the other female elephant seal on Middle Rocks

I counted over 40 cormorants on the South Rocks this afternoon and I couldn’t even see how many were on the south side of that island.  Pam has a great photo here from a few days ago of Cormorants preening on the South Rocks.

The NE wind and falling tide left a lot of garbage around the jetty today. I wonder what it feels like when animals accidentally swallow this stuff.