Tag Archives: tagged

A Busy Day at Race Rocks

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A northeasterly wind gusting 20 – 25 knots brought clouds and moisture in the morning and against the flooding tide it really made the waves in Middle Channel stand right up, creating a bit of a roller coaster effect. It was much nicer in the afternoon as the northeast dropped to ~ five knots and remained calm through sunset.

The barometer continued to rise today and reached ~1018 hPa before steadying. The forecast calls for light westerlies and some sun tomorrow with periods of rain on Tuesday.

There was quite a bit of whale-watching activity today: 20 visits by commercial operators were observed in the reserve. The sea otter is a definite attraction as are the sea lions. Island Explorer out of Port Angeles takes the sustainability prize for the day, travelling at a very low speed, staying in the middle of the channel and giving the wildlife a respectful distance. Seven sports fishing boats were observed in reserve today. Of those, four of them were speeding and one was fishing and then speeding in reserve. Time for more communications to the boating public who might not be as aware as the commercial operators about rules of conduct in the Ecological Reserve.

The sea lions continue to crowd ashore to moult and wedge themselves in tightly together in order to raise skin temperature for their important hair change. The soil here is full of sea lion hair, moulted Northern Elephant Seal skin with very short fur and is rich in guano from the nesting seabirds. No wonder the spring flowers are so spectacular. A Great Blue Heron visited Great Race today, an unusual sight here on the rock.

No visitors today. Chores were routine and entropy fighting.

 

Steller Sea Lions sparring in the water. Note the forward pointing vibrissae (whiskers). These animals spend hours play fighting.

Steller Sea Lions sparring in the water. Note the forward pointing vibrissae (whiskers) of the animal on the right. These animals spend hours play fighting.

Collection of sealion brand observations continues. This Stellers was branded as a pup in southern Oregon.

Collection of sealion brand observations continues. This Stellers was branded as a pup in southern Oregon.

It is possible that this California Sea Lion is recovering from having a plastic strap removed from its neck. Veterinarian Marti Haulena of the Vancouver Aquarium removed straps from several individuals last year. Aquarium

It is possible that this California Sea Lion is recovering from having a plastic strap removed from its neck. Veterinarian Marti Haulena of the Vancouver Aquarium removed straps from several individuals last year. Aquarium

Sea lions silhouetted by a beautiful Race Rocks sunset.

Sea lions silhouetted by a beautiful Race Rocks sunset.

 

 

 

 

Double-Billing (Thursday-Friday)

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Thursday was a howler. The wind started early and blew ferociously all day. Although it developed into a classic westerly, it actually started out from the west-northwest, which is closer to the direction running down the outside coast of Vancouver Island (NW). Most of the day, it was westerly from 30 – 40 knots and late in the afternoon there gusts over 40 knots. The fog that formed early on the Port Angeles side of the Strait was blown away early and the sky stayed clear until just after sunset when clouds became visible in the west. The barometer has been rising since Wednesday and the forecast is for continued gale warnings and mix of sun and cloud.

 

It really calmed down on Friday. The westerlies with a touch of southwest, continued but at moderate speeds of 15 -25 knots. Although there were clouds to the west early in the morning, they evaporated quickly and it was full on sunshine all day. The barometer is dropping from a high of 1020 hPa and the forecast is for strong winds and mostly clear skies.

There were no whale-watching boats, or sport fishers on Thursday, as the weather and sea conditions were just too wild. Friday was a totally different story with 16 whale-watching vessels observed, visiting the Ecological Reserve. Some vessels made multiple visits.

There was a lot of whale activity within and around the Ecological Reserve. Both a Minke Whale and a large Humpback were feeding just to the southeast and south respectively and three different pods of Killer Whales moved through the area in the afternoon and evening, including small group of Bigg’s Killer Whales (Transients), two pods of southern residents ( J-pod and L-pod according to the whale-watching boats). One of the SRKW pods came right into the Reserve within fifty meters of South Rock, heading east. There were two large adult males, one small calf and about 15 individuals all together. Another ~ 20 individuals were travelling in the same direction about one mile to south, at the same time. It appeared as though the two groups met up and mingled to the east of Race Rocks. Time for the sockeye to be running.

gwgu on nest juniper

Other ecological happenings are progressing as has been reported on for the past few weeks. I started a Glaucous-winged Gull nest survey Thursday and finished surveying about one third of the island. On Friday the female Northern Elephant Seal # 5866’s tags were noted. Chunk and Floyd have been peacefully moulting, sleeping and travelling up and down the ramp for several swims a day (more like lolly-gagging in the water).

Thursdays are animal census day. It is worth noting that the winter resident bird species such as Black Turnstone, Harlequin Duck and many species of gulls that nest elsewhere are gone now and so are the transitory migrant shorebirds and other migrants that stop off briefly or for a while. The sealions are at their lowest number which is expected since they too should be on or heading towards their breeding grounds. Census results follow.

Northern Elephant Seals 10 (including 5 on Great Race)

Harbour Seals 218

California Sealions 5

Northern or Stellers Sealions 2

River Otter 1

Sea Otter 1

Canada Geese 24 (= 10 goslings + 14 adults) (many appear to have swum away)

Pelagic Cormorants 3

Double Crested Cormorants 5

Bald Eagles 2 (1 adult, 1 sub-adult)

Black Oystercatchers 10 (5 nesting pairs all incubating)

Kildeer 2

Pigeon Guillemots 110

Caspian Terns 2

Glaucous-winged Gulls total 424 (402 adults in nesting areas; 22 sub-adults in roosting/resting area). Most gulls are incubating now, although some are still getting started.

There were no visitors on Thursday and two visitors Friday, who did a retreat in the science house. They came and went in Second Nature with Chris.

Chores and maintenance were routine today and I am glad to report that I am able to wash windows again.

 

Chunk Came Back.

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Not surprisingly it was another day of westerly winds ranging from 15 to 20 knots. There was also thick fog almost all day, with only a few minutes here and there, with good visibility. The barometer didn’t do much and ended up where it started at ~1015 hPA and the forecast is calling for the usual strong wind warning and fog patches.

Five whale watching vessels were observed in the Ecological Reserve and there could well have been others, but I couldn’t see them due to the thick fog.

The demolition range at Rocky Point was very active today. There were some very large explosions, which when in succession, had the effect of scaring the Stellers Sealions into the water. The Northern Elephant Seals didn’t even flinch and the California Sealions became alert and then went back to sleep after a bit of barking.

Chunk returned to Race Rocks today after an absence. He seems to have itchy flippers.

Chunk returned to Race Rocks today after an absence. He seems to have itchy flippers.

Chunk looks older and wiser.

Chunk looks older and wiser.

Chunk came back today. His absence has had me wondering whether he had met his fate in the deep or far offshore. I haven’t seen him since winter/spring 2014 and he is even bigger now. His unmistakable star shaped scar (the chunk that was torn out) is still prominent making identification straightforward.

Chunk fills the marine railway as he heads down for a swim. Floyd is lurking at the bottom in the water.

Chunk fills the marine railway as he heads down for a swim. Floyd is lurking at the bottom in the water.

Chunk turns and heads up and around tank shed to avoid Floyd.

Chunk turns and heads up and around tank shed to avoid Floyd.

The interactions between Floyd and Chunk were interesting; Chunk tried to avoid Floyd, at one point rotating 180 degrees on the jetty ramp and then “hustling” up the ramp ahead of Floyd, who was also ascending. Floyd followed and Chunk went all the way around the tank shed and back down the other path to get into the water without an interaction.

Tagged Northern Elephant Seal female #5086 was spotted today. Her tag is getting a little worn, as is her flipper where it rubs. Earlier a male was biting her on the tale hard enough to draw blood.

5086F Mian

5086F Mian

This little female loves chasing her own  tail in the water.

Round and round in the water, chasing her own tail. You can see from this photo how loose her skin is getting during this moulting fast.

Round and round in the water, chasing her own tail. You can see from this photo how loose her skin is getting during this moulting fast.

There were no visitors and chores were routine.

Strong Wind Warning Continued.

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The west-southwest wind continued unabated, varying only in speed, which ranged from 15 to 35 knots and favoured the high end. Race Rocks was shrouded in thick fog until late afternoon and when it cleared, the fog retreated past Beechey Head, west towards Sooke. The air temperature hovered at 10oC after it cleared; just a fraction of a degree above sea surface temperature and 12 oC colder than Pedder Bay. The barometer was fairly steady at ~ 1008-1009 dropping towards the end of the day to 1007 hPa. A strong wind warning remains in effect and the forecast calls for a 30% chance of showers tomorrow.

Nine whale watching boats were observed working in the Ecological Reserve today. We could hear them well before we could see them due to the fog. After the fog lifted several more vessels arrived.

orca spirit

One of the two Orca Spirit whale watching vessels approaches Middle Channel slowly and cautiously.

Military blasting mid-day was large and shook the houses knocking things off of shelves in the science house. The Northern Elephant Seals did not even open their eyes or roll over while the Steller’s and California Sealions put their heads-up and a few of the larger individuals went into the water. The loud noises did not seem to ‘phase’ the other animals.

The ecological happenings include synchronized nuptial flights and dives by Pigeon Guillemots, mating and nest building by the gulls, Pigeon Guillemots and Black Oystercatchers. The Canada Goose goslings are putting on an incredible growth spurt, not surprising, I suppose as they eat all day. In the opposite extreme the Northern Elephant Seals are losing mass and girth as their moult continues and some of the smaller ones especially, are starting to look like they need to eat. Fourteen elephant seals graced the garden today. Tagged female #5086 is six days into her moult and is still less than one third moulted.

5086 day 6 molt

This female (tag # 5086) is on the sixth day of her moult.

huddle

Most of these young animals, with the exception of the second from left, are almost finished their moults. Occasionally they wake up rearranged themselves do a bit of jousting and then go back to sleep.

Thursday is usually census day but the fog was too thick to do the counts at the optimal times, so it is postponed until tomorrow.

Don came back to the island with me yesterday evening to help out and have a visit. This afternoon Courtney brought Guy & Christine out in Second Nature to finish training on the generator and desalinator. Emil, a PC student, his brother and parents came along as well for a bit of an island tour and had a chance to observe the Northern Elephant Seals.

 

Chores were of the mundane and routine variety.

 

Great Tide at Great Race.

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Fog in the morning, fog in the evening, sunshine in the afternoon: this is the weather pattern right now. Strong westerly winds from 20 to 33 knots blow all day and all night. It is really all about equilibrium with that huge mass of cold Pacific water and cool air temperatures rushing in to cool a rapidly warming ‘interior’. Yesterday afternoon there was a ten-degree air temperature difference between here (in fog and wind) and the Victoria airport (in brilliant sunshine). Off in the far distance to the east, thunderheads are visibly forming as that warm air rises and takes moisture with it.

Today, as yesterday, the barometer climbed until about noon and then fell by about the same amount, ending up at ~ 1014 hPa., in the late afternoon. The forecast is for continued strong wind warnings and patches of fog.

There were no vessels observed in the Ecological Reserve today.

Excellent daytime low tides continue and a few more species of algae have been added to my list. Pleurophycus gardneri, the broad-ribbed kelp was growing at 0.2m as was Saccharina groenlandica, the split kelp, which used to be known as a Laminaria. A couple of reds included Endocladia muricata, an important species used as settling substrate for California Mussels and a branching coralline species in a tidal pool, possibly Corallina vancouverensis (jury still out on that id).

Lam groenPleurophycus

corallinaclimbing pup

On the elephant seal front, the small, tagged male 9807, decided to climb up a very steep hill and he had quite a time getting back down. Rock climbing is just not an strong point for elephant seals. It probably seemed like a good idea to go up in order to get away from the boisterous larger males but coming down a different and much more difficult route, he looked a little worried and wane, with his big eyes and his baggy skin.

Ten students, two teachers and a small child came out for an advisee group retreat overnight and they are well ensconced in the science house.

Chores and maintenance were routine today.

 

The Long Weekend.

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Fog followed an overcast dawn and was repetitively beaten back by sunshine throughout the day. While the sun was out, it was intense (900 Watts/meter2), but fog lingered just to the west and Beechey Head was repeatedly obscured as the fog came and went. Eventually in early evening, pushed by the west-southwest wind, the fog rolled back in and enveloped Race Rocks. For most of the day day the wind blew west a fairly steady, 10 – 15 knots. The fog wind was more intense though, pushing 25 – 30 knots. The barometer went up a bit in the morning and then, after noon it dropped by a little more than it had gone up, ending up at ~1014 hPa and falling. The forecast is for a strong wind warning, (more westerlies), mainly sunny, with a few clouds.

No whale watching vessels were observed in the Ecological Reserve today. Several private, sportsfishing boats went through at a respectful speed and they were not fishing in reserve. One rental boat from Pedder Bay Marina was fishing in the Rockfish Conservation Area on both the east and on the west side of the houses. The people seemed to know that they were not supposed to be there and were playing a bit of hide and seek. Two couples were all fishing for and keeping rockfish in the Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA). Whether or not they exceeded the limit for outside RCA (1 rockfish per day) is open for speculation.

Two large male Killer Whales were spotted travelling east, along the north edge of the Ecological Reserve in Race Passage. As is often the case with Bigg’s Killer Whales, they seemed to be evasive, perhaps exhaling underwater. They were spotted again near nNorth Rocks and then skirted around to the south. From their behavious, it is likely that these were Bigg’s Killer Whales.

It takes a lot less energy to play when suspended in water.

It takes a lot less energy to play when suspended in water.

The Northern Elephant Seals have been sticking very close to shore during their swims, preferring the shallow sub-tidal in the bull kelp fringes. The young males who love to play fight when they are hauled out continue their sparring activity in the water. I wonder if the Bigg’s Killer Whales could hear them?

A small seal with new tags.

A small seal with new tags.

Another new (to me) Northern Elephant Seals showed up today, well tagged with #9836 on the right and #9807 on the left. All four tags looked really new as did the seal. The smallest one ashore since I arrived in March, it had almost completed its’ moult and the skin was looking too big for it, so I venture to guees that it has been hauling out on Middle Rock moulting for a while and came over to Great Race because of all the bustling seal activity here.

This small animal is starting to look like her skin is a bit too big for her.

This small animal is starting to look like her skin is a bit too big for her.

Both routine chores and seasonal maintenance were accomplished today. The grated, aluminum ramp on the jetty was repaired and trouble-shooting completed on the Whaler’s electrical system. There were no new visitors today.

Musical Rocks

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It was another west wind kind of day. It was already blowing 20 knots at dawn and stayed a fairly steady, 15 – 20 most of the morning and afternoon. It increased to 20 – 25 in the evening. A strong wind warning remains in effect with a chance of showers and drizzle predicted for tomorrow. The barometer remained fairly steady all day, just below 1010.

A dive charter operator worked in the Ecological Reserve today with divers and tourists top-side as well. Two whale-watching vessels were observed in the Ecological Reserve. There may have been more as I went ashore for a few hours.

Sealions are starting to haul out on the jetty again. When I arrived in March and for April they were hauling on South Islands. From there, they moved to West Rocks and now juveniles of both species are moving back to south Islands and seem interested in Great Race, especially the jetty.

Sealions are back on South Island after trying out the other rocks.

Sealions are back on South Island after trying out the other rocks.

The elephant seals continue their daily rituals of interacting through fighting, piling up against each other, sleeping, moulting and for most of them, taking at least two ocean swims daily. The tagged female 5086, just starting her moult was here again today as was the young male 5850, who is almost finished his moult.

Female #5086 on day two at Great Race.

Female #5086 on day two at Great Race.

Mian5086 length

Floyd spent a long time in the water today, tucked in behind the kelp bed in his personal little bay. Like 5850 he spent quite a bit of time draping kelp over his head and playing around with it.

floyd's kelp bonnet

Floyd as a tiny weightless animal in the ocean.

floyd's thalassiotherapy

Kelp wrap anyone? Great for an epidermal moult.

Floyd singing his very nasal ocean song.

My family has arrived for a visit. Chores are routine and there are lots of hands on deck to help with maintenance and repairs.

Great Guy at Great Race (Covering May 13 & 14)

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Wednesday and Thursday were both westerly days, wet in the mornings, clearing in the afternoons, with winds increasing through the day. Wednesday winds reached 25 -30 in the evening and it was much quieter on Thursday with an evening breeze of 10 – 15. on Fog reduced visibility to about a mile this morning but quickly burned off. The barometer stayed fairly steady around 1010 hPa both days and there is a strong wind warning (20 – 30 knots) in effect for Friday afternoon.

Wednesday, two whale watching vessels were observed in the Ecological Reserve and none on Thursday. Several sport fishers passed through at a respectful speed both days. There was military blasting on Wednesday with no apparent effect on the wildlife other than Steller’s Sealions neck craning.

A large male Northern Elephant Seal arrived at Great Race yesterday along with a record (for me) number of seals 17 ashore here for the moult. More length measurements were made on new arrivals and the big guy who were calling Floyd in honour of large portions, measured 3.22 meters from the tip of nose to tip of tail. He seems a mellow fellow but very large and I suspect, still growing.

Floyd resting up in preparation for the herculean effort of hauling himself up the path.

All paths leading up from the jetty had heavy traffic today.

Floyd

Floyd resting up in preparation for the herculean effort of hauling himself up the path.

A new (to me) female who is just starting her moult arrived today. She is tagged and her very worn number is 5086.

This female is larger than the other tagged animals I have seen. You can see the first few roles of skin and fur as her moult starts on her hind flippers.

This female is larger than the other tagged animals I have seen. You can see the first few roles of skin and fur as her moult starts on her hind flippers.

Thursday is census day and here are the results

Northern Elephant Seals 35 (including 18 on Great Race & 17 on Middle)

Harbour Seals 101

California Sea lions 27

Northern Sea lions 24

Canada Geese 24 (+18 goslings)

Harlequin Ducks 3

Pelagic Cormorants 18

Double Crested Cormorants 19

Bald Eagle 1 adults, 2 sub-adults

Black Oystercatchers 12

Whimbrels 8

Pigeon Guillemots 227

Glaucous-winged Gulls total ( adults in nesting areas; adults in roosting/resting area; sub-adults in roosting/resting area)

Common Raven 1

Barn Swallows 2

Savannah Sparrow 2

American Pipets 3

Wednesday Courtney brought Guy and Christine out on Wednesday for eco-guardian training and to trouble-shoot electrical generation issues. While she was here she and Guy cleaned the battery tops of water and attempted to fix the Lister’s over-speed issue. With load (boat winch), it went to over-speed, which shut it down and the power to the main house. Running the de-salination unit did not affect the generator. Christine trained on seawater sampling, faunal observations and had an introduction to the house and island.

 

More Than Radical Moult?

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The east-northeast breezes that came with dawn, soon turned to west-southwest and became light winds by early afternoon. The early morning sky was quite hazy with smoke and “marine air”. A gale warning was in effect today and when the wind picked up to 20 knots in the late afternoon it cleared the haze temporarily, but then the “marine air” (with brown tinges) thickened and started to feel like a chill fog. The wind rose to 30 knots in the evening. The rising barometer leveled off for the afternoon then started dropping. The usual forecast continues.

 

I was surprised that a vessel of this size would use Middle Channel but she was well driven, slowly and carefully.

I was surprised that a vessel of this size would use Middle Channel but she was well driven, slowly and carefully.

It was a busy Saturday on the water and a parade of whale watching boats came through the Ecological Reserve to observe the usual cast of characters. A total of 20  commercial whale watching boat visits to the Ecological Reserve were observed today.  All but one of these vessels took their time while in the ER, minimizing potential impact on wildlife by driving slowly.Their passengers probably saw more that way. The one vessel that seemed a bit pressed, just had a momentary lapse and dropped his speed after clearing away from a sports fisher also observing.

Some of the vessels that came through Middle Passage seemed a mite large. One of the smaller, open vessels took the passage between Great Race and South Islands. There really isn’t much room in there and there are a lot of animals in the water and on the rocks of that narrow passageway. Not a good practice, nor is it really following the regulations or guidelines.

A few sports fishers came through the reserve to have a look at the animals and they also drove slowly and kept their distance. There were several rental boats in the Ecological Reserve today, all but one behaving. One rental packed with people sped right through the “rockpile”, not slowing for wind, current or Ecological Reserve. A dive charter from Ogden Point dove a couple of sites in the Ecological Reserve today, All very calm and professional.

The Northern Elephant Seal moult continues with most animals sleeping in a pile and making the trek to the water at least once a day for a soak and a swim.

Waking up en masse one seal at a time.

Waking up en masse one seal at a time.

Some of animals are starting to look like their skin is a bit too big for them,

Some of animals are starting to look like their skin is a bit too big for them,

The little female A114 came back today. She is in terrible shape with many open sores, continuously bleeding on the ventral side, which leaves trail of blood and she is often shivering or maybe it is trembling? She smells really awful, perhaps not long for this world, or is it just a super radical moult? I think it is pathological.

This little female, A114/ A473, has serious skin problems. More than just a radical moult.

This little female, A114/ A473, has serious skin problems. More than just a radical moult.

A114 appeal

The flies covering her are called kelp flies but they seem to thrive on elephant seal body fluids.

A114 skin cracks

Where the skin folds above the foreflippers, the folds have become open cracks.

Psoriasis Sister looking fairly healthy (in spite of the moult), compared to A114.

Psoriasis Sister looking fairly healthy (in spite of the moult), compared to A114.

Out of the ~20 animals observed closely, there are three with the ‘more than a radical moult look’; two females and a male. Earlier, I confused A114 and the “Psoriasis Sister”. I now know they are very different animals of different size. A114, the smallest is definitely the worst for wear with her gouges, deep cracks and ventral bleeding. All of these animals keep to themselves (separately) and have not been seen sleeping in the skin to skin “pile” with the healthy looking, very social seals.

Pairs of Pigeon Guillemots, Black Oystercatchers and Glaucous-winged gulls are mating. Three pairs of Canada Geese are walking their goslings, successful broods of eight, six, four and three. There seem to still be two pairs who have not nested and the other six pairs are still incubating.

There were no visitors and chores were routine.

 

 

 

 

 

May 8

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Although it started out from the north-northeast, for most of the day, the wind blew from the southeast. Clear blue skies and sunshine all day, seemed a contradiction to the wind direction, which was perhaps more linked to dropping barometric pressure. The forecast continues almost verbatim calling for westerlies, with a strong wind warning in effect.

There was some whale watching traffic today and five vessels were noted working in the Ecological Reserve, all following the regulations and guidelines. Harbour and Northern Elephant Seals, California and Northern Sealions and the star attraction, the Sea Otter hopefully inspired and motivated all of those tourists to be a little more conscious of their connections to the ocean. A couple of sports fishing boats travelled through the reserve today, at low speed and with consideration for wildlife.

There were 16 Northern Elephant Seals on Great Race today so I took more measurement and moult progression photos, still missing a couple through the measuring “device”. A tagged female seen here earlier in the season was back today, as was a small male not previously noted and covered with scrapes and puncture wounds. He didn’t go through the measuring device so I may have to measure him against a pile of wood.

Mian7688 mina no measure

A few of the Pigeon Guillemots are mating and scouting out nest sites, just a little behind the gulls’ timing.

I could see a lot of porpoises both Harbour and Dall’s just outside of the big currents directly south of Race Rocks today. They were probably a mile outside the Ecological Reserve Boundary.

Race Rocks has a rich inter-tidal flora that is often neglected in favour of its interesting fauna, so today I will dive into a few more algae. Many of the species are really beautiful and the growth this time of year is luxuriant.

Sexy Ulva

This two toned Ulva lactuca is going reproductive (aka sexy seaweed).

spongemorpha

Spongomorpha is a green algae with tiny little hooks that bind the strands together like dreadlocks.

costaria2

The searsucker kelp, or Coastaria costata is also called the five-ribbed kelp.

cymathere 2

Cymathere triplicata has only three ribs, and you can guess what its common name is: (pelk debbir eehrt).

 

nori2

This is one of the many species of nori found on the shore here. I am not sure if it is Porphyra or one of the new translations. The Whelsh name for it is laver.

smithora2

Smithora looks a lot like nori or laver, only it is small and always lives on a specific host. Here it is growing on surfgrass.

Odanthalia

Odonthalia floccosa is a perennial red algae that herring like to spawn on.

 

Constantinea is another perennial red. It grows like an umbrella with the stipe (stem) in the middle.

Constantinea is another perennial red. It grows like an umbrella with the stipe (stem) in the middle.

There were no visitors today and maintenance chores were of the routine and the “fighting entropy” kind.