I am writing this on Thursday although the census was done yesterday.
I was happy to welcome 3 new elephant seals to the island. Yesterday the count was at 5 and from what I can discern there are 2 large female, one subadult female, 1 small female and 1 small male. The small male is tagged. Update next post when I can get the number on its green tag.
Census
Mammals
Elephant seals 5
4 confirmed female and perhaps 1 male
Stellar sea lions 19
California Sea lions 33
Harbour seals 57 (mostly on surrounding rocks at low tide)
Sea otters 3 (seen off Turbine rocks 2 days ago)
Birds
Gulls 292 mostly glaucous wing and western and hybrids (please see the amazing survey done last week by RPBO for species breakdown)
Bald Eagles 1 mature 2 immature about 1/2 and 1 year old
Turnstones 10
Cormorants 112 (roosting in the evening) the recent survey suggested the majority are Brandts, about 15% Pelagic and some Double Crested)
Dunlins 7
Surfbirds 56 (see photos below)
Rock Sandpiper? there may be some mixed in with the surfbirds see photo below
Fox sparrow 1
North western crow 1
Weather:
Clear and warm with mild variable winds mostly from the west
Visitors
Greg brought 3 boat loads of Pearson College biology students out with LAura to explore the low tides
Facility Work
Cleaned solar panels in the morning
wood to house
began cleaning fuel shed
Vessel traffic
A very noticeable change in the last several years in the marked increase in shipping traffic. I understand what a shipping lane is now. There is a CONSTANT stream of large container ships travelling by. There are about 6 on the horizon whenever I look out.