MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: January 2018

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

1/31/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: Benny RE74, Rip RR70, U/U@Campbells, Buster V08, Right Spot R016, Rabbit Island Critters, Ka'ena RO40, Holokai RG40, R3CU,

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Gayle and Lesley.

Team Billand started their morning at 5 am with a blue, blood, Benny moon. They were taking pictures as the eclipse was finishing up and there was a shadow by the Naupaka. Benny RE74 was by the footpath and naupaka bush sleeping even snoring. A zone was put up in case the moon chasers would show up. The hotline was called and they left a message. They left at 6:13 am.

Next stop Leeward beach they saw him coming in go to lower rocks haul out and stayed put. They were able to ID Rip RR70. He was there when they went back, but moved to the water hole.

Team Billand found a U/U foraging off of Campbells. Critter had a clean coat 5 minute dives in victory at sea conditions, very hard to get any shots at all.

Gayle found Buster V08 early today at Sandys he was snoozing at 15:15 when she left him. She also spotted two critters on Rabbit Island. Gayle also found Right Spot today and it looked like she spent the night on the beach. Good she got some rest and was on dry land.

Lesley spent some time at Ka'ena point today doing some outreach talking with some old pals. She answered lots of questions about the albatross and seals. While hiking she stopped to enjoy the show the whales were putting on today. She spotted Momma Albatross and "chicky" in full view. Her first seal sighting was RO40 Ka'ena hauled out at the bottom of the Runway. He was still there on her way out. At the point she found RG40 Holokai and R3CU hauled out near the waterline of Back Beach.

And then there was this beautiful moonrise. Thank you Lesley.

Benny by Moonlight

Rip

UU @ Campbells

Buster

Right Spot

good to see she is getting some rest on land

R3CU

Holokai & R3CU

Ka'ena

a whale of a show

Blue Blood Moon early this morning tail end of eclipse

This evenings blue moon (still looking pretty red)

1/30/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: Squinty R330, Wailea RJ30, RW34, Rabbit Island Critter, Buster V08, Right Spot R016, Pohaku R028, Rip RR70, Kolohe RW22, Kalani RN14, Kekoa RK72, RL42, Lei Ola RH48

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Gayle, Team T&D, photographer Melody, and in the yesterday's news department we have news from Lesley and Diane's visitors from the mainland.

Starting with yesterdays' news Lesley submitted an update she spotted R330 Squinty when she was leaving her house. He was ID'd by his natural bleach inside his read flipper. Squinty was not there when she returned in the late afternoon.

Diane has visitors from the mainland who did some kayaking on Monday. They went out to the Mokulua Island and came across this little cutie, RJ30 Wailea. There have been some verbal reports of sightings but these are the first photos we've had in a while. Makes me very happy!

Team T&D are visiting the Big Island and went looking for seals. (such dedication) Their first sighting were was a mother and kid. I'll let you decide. Then they came across RW34 female. Last time we had news of her on the blog was November 2015 and she was very pregnant. They were told by local volunteer they estimate her to be about 900 lbs. that is HUGE, I wonder if that is pregnant weight or just fat? Thank you Team T&D for the update .

Gayle spotted 2 critters on Rabbit Island. Good news Buster boy showed up today, and it's good to see the boy back on the east side. Right Spot swam around the tide pool today for most of the morning. At 12:30 Gayle lost sight of her and stuck around until 13:00 then went to check on Buster. Gayle returned to check on 13:30 Right Spot but she was gone. Gayle noted her wound looks good and she is more alert, although she is still not using her flipper.

Team Billand got to White plains this morning and Robert spotted Pohaku by the showers already roped off, resting nicely during their visit. The cabin folks sent int photos to them, these folks have been coming for many years have known Team Billand and the cast of seals for along the way. Thank you!

At a Leeward Beach Team Billand found muliple seals foraging and fighting off shore. Barb knew who they were but had to wait to get a positive ID. The first to haul out Rip RR70 immediately galumphed up to his spot on upper rocks. He was nicely hidden, but soon he would be joined by Kolohe RW22. Both would settle down for the day side by side. On their next check in to the site Kolohe was still in the same spot, but Rip had moved to "his" water hole.

Next critter to come up Kalani RN14 moved to the right mid rock. He kept looking back which signaled Barb to check out what he might be looking at, and sure enough there was another seal galumphing up on the rocks. Kekoa RK72 came up with the help of the waves settled in his spot by Kalani. Both remained in the same spot for the rest of the day.

Further along at another Leeward beach Team Billand came across RL42. She is fat, okay, not fat she is preggos at some point will be a momma, when we do not know. She was resting peacefully alone.

Then they came across Lei Ola RH48, and as Barb said she's not sure how they did, but they did. She was very well hidden. It was very difficult to get a photo of her. Barb sat for a whole and waited and got an ID shot of her tags. But beyond that not very photogenic today.

Photographer Melody stopped by White Plains Beach after lunch today and found a beautiful seal basking in the sun. There were volunteers already on site. The seal was identified as Rocky, however based on Team Billands earlier report and photo I am going to say this girl is most likely Pohaku.
If anyone would like to weigh in on this please do. I certainly not the ID expert.

Thank you everyone for all your updates!

Squinty R330