12/14/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Benny RE74, Lei Ola RH48, Holokai RG40, Kahulu RJ16, R3CU, Ka'ena RO40, Squinty R330, Right Spot R016, 5 Rabbit Island Critters, Rocky RH58

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D (Tammy&Dave), Gayle, Vicki and photographer Melody.

Team Billand decided to check out Nanakai first thing in the AM while it was still dark. Sure enough there was a seal. They stood by until there was more light, the waves were still big and washing over the jetty. At 6 am they were able to identify Benny sleeping in the same spot tags showing. They called the hotline.
Barbara had a close call trying to get a photo from the jetty, by getting hit by a huge wave. BARBARA!!!!! be careful you are loved and too valuable to be risking your safety.  In that she was soaked had to make a stop home to change and of course returned to da Benny. At 8:15 they left the site to check on other locations. At 12:55 they rechecked on Benny and there were two volunteers on site. Benny was moving, went through a sneezing fit and just like that he was in the water and gone. (but Barb did he pee?) 

The big news and a big sigh of relief is Team Billand finding Lei Ola RH48 at Makua Cliffs. Upon arrival they saw a slither of a belly on the rocks. They hiked down and noted a partial tag showing with an 8. She did a flex and there she was Lei Ola looking good with the exception of the hook still attached. Barbara noted she might have the start of a cookie wound under belly near her naval.  She is alert has good weight gain, clean after her molt and tags still intact.  Team Billand did not stay long to not draw attention to her.

Posse pal Vicki was out in Kahuku today and she came across Holokai RG40/41 snoozing alone quietly on the shoreline. Vicki also came across little brother Kahulu RJ16 in the same general area but not with his brother.  What is interesting to note is Holokai had just spent a couple of days at Ka'ena Point.

Team T&D made the Ka'ena Point trek today. Tammy noted the waves were big but nothing like Lesley's experience yesterday.  The first critter they came across was R3CU at Back Beach.  They also  found Ka'ena RO40 and Squinty R330.  Eventually all three critters ended up hanging out together.

Gayle decided Right Spot is on her Hawaiian Christmas vacation at Alan Davis. It really doesn't
appear that she is going out to feed, because Gayle found her again in the exact same spot as the last couple of days. There were dog footprints in the sand and the sand blasting by is not phasing her. Gayle left her at tonight in the same spot.  ( She's moved into Irma's old stomping grounds)
There were FIVE critters on Rabbit Island today.  Glad to have them out there together, I think we need a remote camera out there. 

Melody was out in Ewa to get some sunset pictures and she found two critters. One of the critters was Rocky RH58 ID'd by her NB on her left for flipper. The other seal about 50 yards away Melody believes it was Benny RE74 *BUT it turns out it was RO28 Pohaku.  While Melody was there both critters were sleeping soundly until the end of the evening a resident came by with their dog who started barking at Pohaku.  Pohaku barked back and after about 15 minutes he decided to haul back into the water and literally swam off into the sunset. 

 Benny at Nanakai - morning

 Benny leaving Nanakai - afternoon

 Lei Ola - so good to see this little girl !! 

Holokai

 Little brother RJ16 Kahulu 

 R3CU

 Ka'ena 

 Squinty

and then there were 3 - Ka'ena, Squinty & R3CU

Rabbit Island Critters 

 Right Spot

 Rocky

Benny POHAKU at sunset hanging out in Ewa