Tag Archives: sealion

Orcas and whale watchers

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.9 ºC »» Min. 7.5 ºC »» Reset 11.1 ºC
MARINE LIFE: There were about 50 Cormorants in the reserve today some on North Rks. but the majority along the ridges of the Southeast Rks. There are also over 60 Heermann’s Gulls. The geese family landed for a very short visit- about 15 minutes- but the real excitement was provided by the Orca, believed to be T10 group, transients. First sighted was the large bull near William Head just before 11:00. The Orca spent some time in the entrance to Pedder Bay then moved along the shore of Bentinck Island.After a wait of 10 minutes or so they then surfaced midway between North Rks. and the dock. While watching for the whales we listened to some of the tour boat operators on the VHF reporting the animals movements for the benefit of other boat operators.As the whales made their way heading east in front of the station the ‘Wildcat’ was entering from the west and followed the whales and at one point were so close I thought they were going to run over top of them! The whales moved south along the edge of the kelp bed to the east of Gr. Race then west along the southeast rocks and Gr. Race quite close to shore .2 boats Pr. of Whales (princess) and SeaFun Safaris followed along even though they were well within the reserve’s southern boundary which is the Rosedale buoy.The whales moved through the reserve passed West Race to the Pedder Bay area again and then about 14:00 headed West. At last report they were near Secretary Island. With all the sea lions and seals in the water, some Northern Sea lions in tight groups following quite closely I expected the Orca to have a kill, but then there were all those boats coming and going and staying????? for hours!
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 4 pleasure craft and 28 Ecotour boats through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Part Clouldy »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind North East 5 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:14 AM

Salmon predation

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 18.3 ºC »» Min. 9.9 ºC »» Reset 15.1 ºC
MARINE LIFE: The fishing is good these past few days at least for the birds and sea lions, have seen some fair size salmon taken just off the end of the dock -a couple looked to be about 3kgs. The birds, especially the gulls rush to pick up any bits of fish that fly about as the sea lions toss and slap their catch at the water surface. There are also a lot of smaller fish which we see jumping, some clearing the surface by a foot or more.

HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature out with Garry and students(divers) for live web cast, also Hyaku with Angus and two guests from the Jason Project.The weather could not have been better, over a week now of clear skies and calm seas! There were 5 pleasure craft and 11 Ecotour boats through the reserve, unfortunately at approx. 15:00 one boat from Sea Fun Safaris approached the south shore of North Rks. too close and about half of the 50 or so cormorants took flight.Several sea lions sat up but fortunately did not rush into the water. The sea lions near the dock are quite used to us moving about as long as we move slowly, and don’t make a lot of noise or try to get too close.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM

Fall weather

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 17.0 ºC »» Min. 9.1 ºC »» Reset 15.7 ºC
MARINE LIFE: The sealions seem to enjoy the near fall sunshine as much as we do, many of them with their bellies up, soaking in the warmth.The nesting gulls are all but gone, the odd juvenile returns to search the old nest area for a free meal maybe but finding only a few feathers to peck at soon flies back out to sea.We are not too sad that the ‘bird’ season is pretty much over- spent the day scrubbing and washing down the porches – will take a few roaring northeasters to really clean things up! The sunsets are fantastic (check out camera # 1in the evening) and with the clear skies, the moon light is so bright, have to close the blind to sleep!
HUMAN INTERACTION:There were 7 pleasure craft, 6 kayakers( too close to North Rks.- scared about 20 sealions into the water),13 Ecotour boats,2 dive charter boats and 1 Fish charter boat-SeaStar- which we contacted via VHF to advise that they were approaching too close and disturbing wildlife ( sealions into the water and cormorants took flight)
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM

Branded sealion #169

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.3 ºC »» Min. 10.1 ºC »» Reset 11.8 ºC

MARINE LIFE: The small east bay is the favoured haul out spot these past few days for about 90 Harbour seals with the rest scattered about the other rocks. The Sea Lions are spread out also, a few preferring spots quite far inland.One California sealion by the dock has a semi-circle wound on the tip of his left front flipper and another is branded on his back #169. HUMAN INTERACTION: Even with the fallish weather there were 24 Ecotour boats, 4 pleasure craft and 3 Charter Dive boats in the reserve today. posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM

Whales and sealions

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TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.1 ºC »» Min. 9.6 ºC »» Reset 14.0 ºC
MARINE LIFE: The chatter on the marine radio reported sightings of some Minke whales and also a Humpback but not unfortunately close to us. We did see several Orca a mile or so beyond the MPA boundries.This morning we counted 172 California, 9 Northern Sea lions hauled out on West, Middle and North Rocks. The group hauled out at the dock and along the north shoreline of Gr. Race still numbers 13-15 California and 2 Northern.Most of the day they spend sleeping but through the night get quite vocal. Most of the young gulls have stopped returning to the nest areas and are usually chased off by the adults.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 37 Ecotour boats, 2 Charter dive boats and 7 pleasure craft through the reserve today.Station boat to Pedder Bay and back this morning.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:27 PM

Several chicks have been blown into unfriendly territory

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Thursday, August 08, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.9 C  Min. 10.8 C Reset 13.9 C
MARINE LIFE: The gull chicks are growing rapidly, a lot of wing flapping, unfortunately getting airbourne has it’s risks.Several chicks have been blown into unfriendly territory ie- a neighbouring nest, been attacked and have died. Most of the wounds were around the head and neck. The chicks still unable to fly in any organized way, run but in a panic just get farther from the safety of their nesting area. The adults treat a chick from a neighbouring nest as they would any other threat to the safety of their own young, they chase and peck at it and of course the squawking attracts other gulls and so there is the helpless chick set upon by 20 or so adult gulls. Fortunately most of the time the chick is able to get to neutral territory and by trial and error make it’s way back to the relative safety of it’s own nesting area.Six of the geese were back this morning, one of the adults was missing – we know the missing one is an adult because the five young are still making the ‘peeping’ sounds and do not show the ‘threat’ behavior of neck waving and hissing. Just before 20:00 they flew off towards Pedder Bay, wonder what happened to the ‘missing’ goose? There was another group of California sealions in the area last night just after 2 a.m. – sounded like a larger group, maybe 15 or so judging from the barking
which woke me up but this morning counted only 6 floating about in the kelp.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 23 Ecotour boats and 4 pleasure craft in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:40 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 10 Miles Wind West 21 Knots  Sea 2 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:52 AM

number 624 branded

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Sunday, August 18, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 14.1 C  Min. 9.0 C  Reset 12.0 C
MARINE LIFE: A correction on the tag number for the California sealion that has been hauling out on the dock, closer look shows the number 624 branded on his back and yellow tags on the front flippers show # 568
HUMAN INTERACTION: At 09:00 Orca Spirit travelled too close to islands and too fast. There were 19 Ecotour through the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:08 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Obscured �� Vis. 1/8 Miles Fog �� Wind South West 11 Knots �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:40 AM

the sea lion shakes the fish back and forth at the water surface and the gulls rush over to pick up any bits that break awa

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Saturday, August 10, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 19.0 C  Min. 9.9 C  Reset 11.5 C
MARINE LIFE: Middle rock is the favoured haul out spot for the 20 or so California sea lions now in the reserve, the fishing is good and have seen several good sized salmon caught. There is great activity as the sea lion shakes the fish back and forth at the water surface and the gulls rush over to pick up any bits that break away.Many of the gull chicks are able to fly but are still not following the adults out to sea to feed, they peck persistently at the adult’s bill hoping for food and do eventually get some but the push is on for them to learn how to feed themselves.There are fewer Pigeon Guillemots coming ashore everyday now and the Black Oyster Catchers are away for long periods of time.
HUMAN INTERACTION:There were 25 Ecotour boats, 1 pleasure craft and the Marine Mammal Monitor boat in the reserve today. The station boat made a return trip to Pedder Bay and a trip to the Campus in the afternoon to return Ryan back to civilization – Thank you Ryan!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:31 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Partial Clouds  Vis. 10 Miles – North East To South 5 Miles Fog  Wind West 16 Knots  Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Ryan Murphy at 5:33 AM

The was a lot of boat traffic, mostly recreational fishers, in the area all day

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Sunday, July 21, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 23.0 C  Min. 10.3 C  Reset 14.5 C
MARINE LIFE:The Orca were in the area again today and with the boat from Marine Mammal monitoring the whale watchers, things seemed well under control. Did hear some boat operators report sightings of a couple of Minke Whales but did not see anything in or near the reserve. A couple of transient Orcas passed through just on the southern boundary in the afternoon, they seemed to be moving fairly steady pace. The was a lot of boat traffic, mostly recreational fishers, in the area all day. One California and one Northern sealion hauled out on the south tip of the southeast rocks, unfortunately a rental boat from a marina moved in too close and sent them into the water. Ryan who had a group out for a tour in the Hyaku went along side and informed the sightseers of the guidelines. Feel sorry for the birds in this hot weather,they all sit around with their beaks open, panting – didn’t even get the evening westerly we look forward to cool things down.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 23 ecotour boats and 11 pleasure craft through today,also the Hyaku, M3 and station boat to Pedder Bay and Back
posted by Carol or Mike S at 8:17 PM

Good Morning

WEATHER: Sky Clear �� Vis. 15 Miles �� Wind North East 8 Knots �� Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 4:59 AM

young Northern Sealions hauled out on the southwestern slope

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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