Tag Archives: Ruddy Turnstone

Aug 14 Census

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Mammals

sea otter: 1
elephant seal: 1 female
harbour seal: 34 (6 South Islands, 1 South Seal Rocks, 19 Middle, 1 Turbine, 7 North Is.)
Stellar sea lion: 185 (48 Great Race Rocks, 136* Middle, 1 Turbine)
California sea lion: 108 (107 Great Race Rocks, 1 Turbine)

Birds

cormorant: 45 (21 South Islands, 24 Great Race Rocks)
gulls**: 761 (33 South Islands, 4Turbine, 7 North, 717 Great Race Rock)
oyster catcher: 20
pigeon guillemot: 123
surfbird: 46
black turnstone: 149
ruddy turnstone: 3
harlequin duck: 1
barn swallow: 1
Canada goose: 7
song bird: 3

*  Note: all sea lions on Middle Rock were counted as Stellar sealions, there may be a couple of California sea lions mixed in.
** Note: Gull counts do not include this season’s chicks

Wildlife notes:

The entangled Stellar sea lion was not spotted today on Great Race Rocks. A Stellar sea lion with a dark coloured stain around its neck (possibly a packing band), reported previously by naturalists on the ecotourism boats, was sighted on Middle Rock during the census.

The Stellar sea lion on Middle Rocks with a possible new entanglement is located in the bottom centre of the photo and has a dark coloured ring around its neck.

I wish I could sleep like a sea lion, on any surface, cold, hard, flat or bumpy and with only a log for a pillow.

Visitors:

Greg and Gabe came out to work on the electric fence

Facility work:

  • Clean solar panels
  • Electric fencing work – Jetty is now 3/4 electrified.

Vessels:

  •  27 Ecotourism

Weather:

Clear skies. Moderate to fresh westerly breeze. Daytime temperatures: low 13, high 15.

August 2

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I will contact NOAA and DFO to report the resighting of the California sea lion with the tag 13-2. The orange tags mean the sea lion was rehabilitated. The tag on the left flipper means the sea lion is a male. I will update the log when I hear back about his history. The rest of the California and Steller sea lions are currently hauled out on Middle Rocks. Perhaps this guy needs a break from the frat party.

Facility work:

  • Clean solar panels
  • Check guest house for supplies and cleanliness

Vessels:

  •  Ecotourism: 12
  •  Private: 3

Weather:

  • Sea: rippled in morning, up to 3′ chop in afternoon/evening
  • Sky: Partly cloudy
  • Wind: variable light winds overnight; from 07:00-12:00 westerlies 8-20 knots; afternoon/evening westerlies 20-31 knots
  • Air temperature: low 12°C, high 21°C
  • Seawater temperature at max flood: 11.0°C

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

Molting female elephant seal

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Wildlife notes:

I felt a bit odd doing it but I photographed the molting elephant seal’s private parts. It is a She, so there may be some variation in the stated molting dates (1, 2) based on sex and maturity, at least at this northern location.

Her bottom end

His bottom end

An opening only he has

A few least sandpipers and a ruddy turnstone were foraging in the vegetation away from the shore. The sandpipers are such small birds. I was surprised to see them darting around in the gale force winds. The high winds didn’t put a damper on the gulls either.  I watched a small seagull chick jump off a rock to escape with its life as a fight ensued above him.

Least sandpiper

Ruddy turnstone

A seagull chick escaping with its life.

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • topped up battery fluids
  • cleaned Keeper’s house windows

Vessels:

2 ecotourism, 1 private

Weather:

Overcast and fog in the morning. Periods of fog throughout the day.  Strong breeze in the morning, gale force in the afternoon, building to 38 knots with gusts of 43 at 19:00. Daytime temperatures: minimum 12, maximum 15 degrees.

July 11 Census

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Mammals

sea otter: 1
elephant seal: 2 (male and female)
harbour seal: 126 (46 South Islands, 6 South Seal Rocks, 18 Middle, 33 Turbine, 21 North Is., 2 Great Race Rock)
humpback whale: 1 (approx. 1 mile to the east)

Birds

cormorant: 28
gulls: 628 ( 34 South Islands, 14 South Seal Rocks, 4 Middle, 1 Turbine, 575 Great Race Rock)
oyster catcher: 10 adults, 3 chicks
pigeon guillemot: 86
surfbird: 27
black turnstone: 16
ruddy turnstone: 1
western sandpiper: 1
least sandpiper: 2
harlequin duck: 1
swallow: 1
purple martin: 1

Western sandpiper

Least sandpiper

Ruddy turnstone

Wildlife notes:

The California sea lion with the wounds on his flipper hasn’t been spotted for a few days.  The new black oyster catcher chick hatched on July 5 in the open on the western shore has been moved up higher on the rocks.  The pigeon guillemots are easy company – neither the gulls or the oyster catchers mind them around.

Another little climber. Hatched July 5.

Black oyster catcher chick eating its lunch.

Facility work:

  • cleaned solar panels
  • cleaned Keeper’s House windows

Vessels:

21 ecotourism, 1 private, 1 outrigger canoe paddler

Weather:

Sunny breezy day. Westerlies strengthening to near gale by early evening. Most of the day 12 to 14 degrees with a high of 17 at 19:00.

Animal Census with a couple quick Terns

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Birds

  • Harlequin duck                                  5
  • Bald eagle adult                                2 
  • Bald eagle juvenile                           1
  • Ruddy Turnstone                              1
  • Glaucous winged Gulls                     685 
  • Cormorants                                        72
  • Pigeon Guillemots                             327
  • Oyster catcher                                    10
  • Savannah Sparrow                              6
  • Canada Goose                                     14
  • Raven                                                   2
  • Caspian Tern                                       2
  • Barn Swallow                                       2

Mammals

  • Steller sea lion                             16
  • Harbour seal                                 79
  • California sea lion                        32
  • Elephant seal sub adult male      2
  • Elephant seal adult female          3
  • Elephant seal pups                      3

Visitors:

  • Mollie – future Ecoguardian 

Facility Work: 

  • Chopped and stacked remaining fire wood
  • Deep Cleaning of Kitchen and sorting through house hold items
  • 3 coats Stained Kitchen table
  • Sharpened Axe
  • Mounted 2 large Elephant Seal winter coat sheds for future visitors and students to touch and see. 
  • Set up Hose system from Science house up to solar panels so we no longer have to haul a 5 gallon bucket up a ladder
  • Cleaned solar panels
  • Addled Canada Goose Eggs and mapped out nests
  • Cleaned windows

 

** All 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?

August 12 and 13

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Two new visitors, Carl and Brady Hughes came to Race Rocks on Friday. They will be put into service helping clean solar panels, windows and decks. Carl will also assist with bird reports and attempt to record night-flying migrants passing over the island.

Ecological Notes:

  • Increasing numbers of California Gulls around the island. This smaller gull doesn’t tend to intermingle with the nesting Glaucous-winged Gulls very much.
  • Passerines seen in the last two days were Brown-headed Cowbird and Barn Swallow.  Readers are reminded that Race Rocks is an eBird hotspot and more detailed updates on bird sightings can be found at Race Rocks, Capital District, BC, CA – eBird Hotspot
  • Two Ruddy Turnstones continue to be seen.
  • Sea lion numbers continue to climb. A branded Steller’s sea lion (183R) was seen on the north rocks near the jetty.  Information is being sought and updates will be provided.
  • Whale action picked up on Saturday, Aug 13 with multiple sightings of humpbacks and Orca.
  • Low tides continue to expose the intertidal areas in the early morning.
  • Only one young elephant seal was seen on Aug 12 and none on Aug 13. The alpha male continues on the island, often resting near the researcher residence.
  • See photos below for more ecological sightings.

Weather:

  • Yesterday (Friday, August 12):
    • Sky: Overcast, with a few sunny periods
    • Wind: W 13-33 kts
    • Sea: up to 3′ chop
    • Temperature Low 11 oC, High 19 oC
  • Today (Saturday, August 13):
    • Sky: Cloudy most of the day
    • Wind: Variable calm-24 kts
    • Sea: calm to light chop
    • Temperature Low 13 oC, High 17 oC

Facility Work:

  • Solar panels cleaned daily. Windows washed. Two loads of water pumped from the Second Nature to the holding tank. Desalinator pump expected in the next week. Deck at the ecoguardian house partially scrubbed.
  • Compost renewal project continues.

Vessel Traffic:

  • Many Canadian ecotour boats have been nearby and heading through the waters of the ecological reserve. Cruise ship traffic is increasing.

Here are photo highlights from the past two days. Click on the photos for larger views and captions.

Second winter Heermann’s Gull

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron with California Gulls

Very large mussels (with boot for comparison)

Velvety Red Sponge

Purple sea urchins, leatherback chiton, lined chiton, see anemone exposed at low tide

killdeer

Elephant seal on the move

California sea lions

 

Gulls can have vicious disputes even in the water

Young gull swimming in East Bay

Surfbird

Black Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone

Branded Steller’s Sea Lion 183R

July 27 and 28 – Weekly Census

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Ecological Notes:

  • I counted 40 Steller sea lions hauled out on Middle Rocks, the highest number so far this month.
  • About 200 black turnstones, ruddy turnstones, and surfbirds have been hunkering down in the east bay in the strong west winds for the past two afternoons and evenings.
  • See the photo gallery below for the ecological happenings from the past two days.

Weather:

  • Yesterday (July 27):
    • Sky: Fog at 07:40 until late morning, partly cloudy until fog at 17:00 onwards
    • Wind: W 9-29 kts
    • Sea: Rippled in morning, then up to 2′ chop
    • Temperature Low 13 oC, High 21 oC
  • Today (July 28):
    • Sky: Fog overnight until late morning, partly cloudy until fog rolled in at 16:00
    • Wind: W 18-32 kts
    • Sea: Rippled in morning, up to 3′ moderate in afternoon
    • Temperature Low 12 oC, High 14 oC

Weekly Census (observed on July 27):

  • Elephant Seal: 3
  • Steller/Northern sea lions: 40 on Middle Rock
  • Harbour seals: 132
  • Bald eagles: 2 (1 juvenile and 1 adult)
  • Canada geese: 6
  • Black oystercatchers: 21 (18 adults, 3 chicks)
  • Cormorants: 6
  • Glaucous-winged gulls nesting on the main island: 189
  • Glaucous-winged gull chicks: approximately 200 (It is hard to get an exact number due to their camouflage)
  • Gulls not nesting (some glaucous-winged and some other species) on the south end of the main island and outer islands: 156
  • Pigeon guillemots: 182
  • Surfbirds: 16
  • Black turnstones: 192
  • Ruddy turnstones: 6

Visitors:

  • No visitors

Facility Work:

  • Scrubbed and squeegeed solar panels, routine tidying and checking infrastructure around the island.

Vessel Traffic:

  • Many Canadian and American ecotour boats have been nearby and heading through the waters of the ecological reserve.

Here are photo highlights from the past two days. Click on the photos for larger views and captions.

July 25 and 26

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Ecological Notes:

  • Two humpback whales passed through Middle Channel, just north of the main island, yesterday morning.
  • Yesterday afternoon’s high of 27 oC was evident with many of the gulls panting in an effort to regulate their temperature.
  • I am seeing more black turnstones, ruddy turnstones and surfbirds, especially congregating in the evenings in the east bay.
  • See the photo gallery below for the ecological happenings from the past two days.

Weather:

  • Yesterday (July 25):
    • Sky: Partly cloudy
    • Wind: E 6-11 kts
    • Sea: Rippled
    • Temperature Low 12 oC, High 27 oC
  • Today (July 26):
    • Sky: Partly Cloudy
    • Wind: Variable 1-19 kts
    • Sea: rippled
    • Temperature Low 17 oC, High 25 oC

Visitors:

  • Greg came from Pearson College today to deliver supplies.

Facility Work:

  • Scrubbed and squeegeed solar panels, routine tidying and checking infrastructure around the island.

Vessel Traffic:

  • Many Canadian and American ecotour boats have been nearby and heading through the waters of the ecological reserve.

Here are photo highlights from the past two days. Click on the photos for larger views and captions.

Wildlife Observation

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 female Northern Elephant Seal.
  • 1 male Northern Elephant Seal. 
  • Many Ruddy Turnstones, Black Turnstones, Surfbirds and Western Sand Pipers observed on the east side of the island. 
  • There are many Gull chicks running around the island! The adult Gulls are very protective and will dive down towards me as I walk the path to the main-house. 

Gull Chicks

 

Facility Work:

  • Power washing is satisfying. I finished power washing the south facing side of the student house . 

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 4 Ecotourism vessels and 2 pleasure vessels sightseeing in the reserve.

** All 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?

 

Turnstones, Surfbirds, and Pipers

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Ecological Notes:

  • 1 Big Male Elephant Seal up by the student house, juvenile Female Elephant Seal down by the Jetty
  • Seeing more Harbour Seal pups every day.
  • 1 River Otter cruising around the shoreline, most likely looking for gull chicks.
  • 2 groups of migratory birds seen the last couple days, including Ruddy Turnstones, Black Turnstones, Surfbirds and Western Sandpipers.

Facility Work:

  • Working on the next section of electric fence, as the Sealions are slowly starting to show up.

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • 4 Ecotourism vessels and 6 private vessels sightseeing in the reserve today.

Weather Events:

  • Winds Westerly 20- 25 knots most of the day, rising to 30 knots in the evening. Clear skies with slight haze to the south. Some chop when the wind was against tide.

 

** All 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?