DB Post Monday June 9th

Kerby, Buster & R301@ RI, RIP@ HB, 6-9-08
Kerby experienced his first observed encounter today. The RI cast was Kerby, Buster (his 3 year old brother), and R301, another subadult male. Buster and R301 were snoozing close together at the left end of the beach, when Kerby hauled out at 0914. Kerby moved up the incline and Buster saw him coming, and began moving down to meet him. First contact was at 0925. It began with gentle, tentative nose to nose touches. Buster then began to make more full body contact, but there was never any heavy duty climbing on or rough behavior. They both moved to the water, and interaction continued in the shallows , but with the rough conditions I could only get the occasional glimpse. Kerby hauled out at 0950 and Buster initially followed, however Buster stopped at the water line, while Kerby moved up and to the right. Buster then returned to the wate and ultimately hauled out to join R301 again. Though all 3 animals remained on the beach all day, there was no further contact, or action.

I had called it a day and had just popped my 1st Becks, preparatory to beginning the dailies, when Betty called from HB, at 1659, asking if anyone had reported an animal, to which the answer was no. Apparently Rich had noticed an animal at around 1420, but everyone assumed that I already knew about it. When I arrived at 1713 I found RIP. Obviously both he and I had been looking for Rocky all day , and neither of us found her.