Tag Archives: sealion

Rosedale Light misplaced!

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.7 ºC »» Min. 7.1 ºC »» Reset 10.3 ºC
MARINE LIFE: A perfect day for the thousands of sea birds feeding in the many fish balls, most of the action was some distance outside the reserve but many of the cormorants and gulls landed to rest in the kelp and along the shore. Birds coming and going all day, the fishing seemed good for the sea lions as well, saw several 8-10 lb salmon caught just off the end of the dock.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 22 Ecotour boats and 7 pleasurecraft in the reserve today. One pleasure craft – open aluminum Girgor, approx. 4metres long 14K 33165 4 persons onboard were fishing in the reserve between Gr. Race and North Rocks.Reported this infraction to Fisheries. Near noon noticed a tug towing a log barge very close to the Rosedale light buoy, shortly after could not see the buoy and recieved several calls on the marine radio from sports fishers that they also noticed the buoy missing. Sometime later ‘found’ the buoy about 1 mile southwest of it’s designated position. Called Coast Guard and hopefully they will soon reposition the buoy.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:37 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear »» Vis. 15 Miles »» Wind East 7 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:22 AM

DND Blasting Disturbs Sealions

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.7 ºC »» Min. 8.3 ºC »» Reset 9.7 ºC »» Rain 0.6 mm
MARINE LIFE: Another unsettled day for the wildlife with another day of blasts at DND. The fog rolled in very thick last night and until just after noon we were only able to observe the sea lions and Harbour seals along the north shore of Great Race.The first blast at about 10:12 alerted the sea lions, the second blast about 1 minute later sent 35 of the 79 sea lions hauled out prior to the blasting into the water, of the 13 Harbour seals hauled out in the dock area 2 took to the water on the first blast,9 on the 2nd blast, the birds that we could see took flight ‘en masse’ and most settled back down fairly quickly. The second series of 2 blasts was approx 1 hour later and 9 more sea lions went into the water from those hauled out along the north of Gr. Race. The sea lions were unsettled the rest of the afternoon. Most of the Northern S.Lions stayed in the water swiming about in groups of 5 to 12. The ones still hauled stayed close to the water, they were very agitated, there was a lot of noisey head butting.Most days, left undisturbed the sea lions are fairly quiet. Just around 17:00 a small group of Orca appeared along the northeast boundry of the reserve, looked to be T10 and T11 group. There were a lot of seals and sea lions in the water, several groups of Northern S.L very close to the whales but did not see any hunting action. The Orca disappeared as quickly and quietly as they had appeared. There were 9 Ecotour boats and 3 pleasurecraft in the reserve today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM

Branded Sealions

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.7 ºC »» Min. 8.0 ºC »» Reset 10.3 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: California Sea Lion hauled out in group of about 80 ( 11 Northern ) has a brand # 823 and a yellow front flipper tag # 925.The Sea Lions are still being disturbed by boats approaching too close especially along the east tip of North Rocks and along the north shore of Gr. Race. They are very used to us coming and going along the dock, in fact there are 3 that particularly like the last step on the dock as a haul out spot and often stay put as we come alongside in the boat.Unfortuately the mess they leave behind does not always wash away with the high tide! Four Black Oyster Catchers spent several hours along the east ridge but were very quiet and did not see any of them feeding, mostly resting on one foot with bills tucked under their wings.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 pleasurecraft, 2 dive boats ( 1 charter, 1 milatary dive club ) also the LGL crew via zodiac – preparing for monitoring the DND blasting exercises tomorrow.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 10 Miles »» Wind West 7 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:13 AM

Sealions and salmon

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Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.1 ºC »» Min. 9.9 ºC »» Reset 11.5 º C »» Rain 14.9 mm
MARINE LIFE: There is still good fishing for the birds and sea lions,in the span of about 1 hour saw 8 good sized fish taken by 5 California and 3 Northern Sea lions just off the end of the dock. The Northern Sea lions seem to spend more time in the water, maybe with their greater size they feed more often. The California S.L. sleep a lot during the day but judging by the noise during the night they are quite active coming and going.This afternoon one Blue Heron sat out on the kelp for almost 2 hours then headed back towards Pedder Bay. Nice to get the rain, the birds like it even if the puddles are small.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Second Nature out with some supplies, the station boat to Pedder Bay and back with a short stop at the campus.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:05 PM

 

Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 3/4 Mile Lt. Rain and Fog »» Wind North 10 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:01 AM

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