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On my first look at Rabbit Island at 0628 I found Ewa Girl (RS00) & Duke (RA12) ,once again together at 2BS on RI. The would move down to cool off, mid morning, and move up again with the rising afternoon tide. There was never any interaction observed.
On a pan at 0900 I found Aukai snoozin' on the water front rocks, 60 ft left of Seal Rock Inlet. She would enter the water with the rising tide, and despite relocating to the Makapuu Overview I could not find her. On 1700 recheck from the Makapuu Overview, I found her at 3BS. Ewa Girl and Duke were still there also. Unfortunately I also found 3 kayaks with bad guys just departing RI at the left end. Since the 8-4 law enforcement crew was not available the bad guys got away clean...........................again.
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Gayle called at 1206 with the report of Kaiwi (RK96) at Lanai Lookout.
At 1258 she called again to advise that Buster (RV08) had arrived at Lanai Lookout, and both animals were playing in the inlet. Buster would move on at 1305, and Kaiwi would return to her "cave" and snooze away the rest of the day. (see post with the videos... they are worth seeing especially the first one.)
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Team Billand checked in at 0936 with the report of RI37, 1 mile west of the Nimitz Jetty. An overhead aircraft (C-130) spooked her and she took off at 1037.
At 1243 the Billands reported that Pohaku (RO28) had returned to Secret Beach. The Billands and posse member Linda had done a morning check and found no Pohaku, but did find a killer rainbow, and also saw a group of Pohaku's adoring fans who were distress to see that she was not there.
Vera Cober called at 1431 to advise that Clay Gates had called her to report that a molting Rocky (RH58) had hauled out to Iroquois Point.
In the "Yesteday's News" department, Zeeny send photos from her shift yesterday at the Mokuleia pup site.
RI37 resting until
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a giant mechanical bird came along and scared her away
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Has to be one of the best rainbow shots! Great color
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Pohaku's adoring fans
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Robert hard at work
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Snoozing without a care in the world
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Rocky on the tail end of her molt
she's just got a few more pieces to peel off
thank you Vera
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3 comments:
Wow, look at RH58, MOLTING and doing it so fast. Good. Amazing.
Now about the KoOlina seal...Pohaku. She has given all of the visiting folks such an education, you wouldnt believe. Folks come down for the past three weeks to check if she is still there at her spot, Secret Beach. Its really cool to meet so many fine humans, that understand what we are trying to do..EDUCATE and Protect our seals, so they can do their thing, molt, rest, then go on their way.
Many are very curious as to WHY this seal remains on shore. Well, as I always say, we are not Scientists, nor biologists, just two old guys on shore...keeping our seal safe. We dont know why she chose this Secret Beach spot, but she loves it here. Small beach, hundreds of folks passing daily all day long. Why does she stay???? Who knows....
Maybe she is still gaining her strengths back since newly molted. Then she will be on her way to another location. At least thats what we think. We been with many other seals who molted, stayed for the duration of their molt...
We know how long before the molt begins, they rest on shore for days. Then the first molt spot shows on the chest, neck or even under the foreflippers. They dont go out to eat, just remain on shore, snoozing, cooling off going up and down each day.
They get itchy, irritable, Pohaku didnt like the heavy rain, same as Makaiwi...these two got so many things in common.
They sometimes enter the water for a short swim, come back REFRESHED and snooze some more. Its adorable to watch every single day.
We learn a routine day by observing a monk molting, get to know the routine and some times predict what they will do next. I love this stuff!!!!
Of course they fool us alot, just when we think we got the system all down, they surprise us.
Pohaku had us all fooled she was on her way to another location when none of us volunteers could find her in the am. So all the signs, ropes were taken down..the beach looked so empty.
And guess what, the munchkin showed back up at 12:27pm, same spot, middle beach to take a nap as usual. We had to hussle up all the equipment again and the adoring fans got word...they all came back to check on Pohaku. She is quite a celebrity out at KoOlina. She is gaining international awareness...many tourists from all over the world are vacationing here.
Pohaku is a cutie, touching everyones heart with her cuteness. But we all got to remember, she is a wild seal, not a labrador puppy and needs her space, her quiet to sleep, her respect to STAY WILD. We can not befriend her...so please keep the distance...
Ok, time to get the gear and head out to KoOlina for another adventure with Monk Seals.
Thanks to all involved with this lovely creature known as R028...Pohaku!!
Oh and that double Rainbow in the am was so beautiful..Linda, Rob and I were moved by its beauty and thought it was a good bye and thank you for caring for me SIGN from ...... Pohaku. And then she came back....he. he. he.
Yesterday I was at Yokes. Sometime around mid morning, as I was frolicking in the water, I spotted a seal cruising by along the shoreline. All I saw was the tail at first. Then it popped up it's head and looked towards shore as if it wanted to haul out (looked like a Benny move, how he stretches his neck way out of the water) It was about 10 or 15 yards away from me. This was near the lifeguard stand near the reef where the surf breaks. No surfers in the water at the time, and the beach had just a couple of people. Sorry, did not get an ID. It surfaced several times as it continued in the Kaena direction. I felt thrilled and blessed! :D
Lauray
Oh aint that cool???? Sounds like it could have been...DA BENNY. He always travels, head above high, looking for chicks. Maybe going to check out 912, to see if she is weaned off her pup yet...guys do that in monk seal world and its spooky. Especially if Mom is still with the pup. Remember Benny and Irma at AD's????? Diane got the best video of that event...the best footage ever!!!
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