DB Post Tuesday 7/28/2009

The Rabbit Island cast for today was RIP and Sadie close together at the left end of the beach, Mom & pup at the Middle Cliff area, and Duke at the extreme right end of the island. M&M and pup were only partially visible throughout the day, behind the water front rocks. I did manage to see 3 feeds and no swims.

Duke was an interesting find. He had no doubt been there all along, but I didn't notice him until 0950 on a routine pan. He was at a place I call 3rd Cave, 120 feet beyond the end of anything close to a beach. He was foraging in a tide pool on the rock flats. I saw him mouth lots of items, but can confirm the consumption of an eel, that he thashed to death and then ate.

Diamond Head posse person , Rachel , called at 1214 to advise that she had put up signs around Rocky, near the showers. This is the first reported sighting of Rocky since her trip to Ewa Beach. Rachel had responded based on a call from Tracy at around 1100.

Barbara Billand called at 1230 to report that she had been contacted by Barbara Baines KAREN BANES) at Laniakea, reporting that 2 animals had just hauled out there. One was known to have red tags. Barbara called again at 1355 from Laniakea to confirm that the red tagged animal was R5AY, but the other animal , thought to be a male (by behavior) was at that time an U/M. This is the first sighting of R5AY since weaning her pup on Kauai. A conversation with Tracy provided the info that R5AY had been attended by a male, R018 on Kauai, and subsequent photo analysis of the Billand's photos confirm that the Laniakea male was R018.

Tracy sent shots taken at Ka'ena Point on Sunday, 7-26-09, showing Kerby with a definite fish hook in the left side of his mouth. There is zero doubt in my mind that he is the same animal that I'd seen in the early morning hours of 7-23-09 at Rabbit Island. This is Kerby's 2nd fish hook incident. He returned to his birth place, at Rabbit Island on that occasion also, and the hook was removed there. This time he did not stay long enough, to be dealt with, and is obviously once again at KP. Keep your eyes peeled for a very little guy with a few big hook. DB