Tuesday, February 27, 2018

2/27/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

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

Gayle spotted one seal hiding in the bushes on Rabbit Island. She headed into Honolulu after an appointment to see if there were any critters out and about. She came across Right Spot already on land, unfortunately after she called the hotline Right Spot departed.  Gayle didn't have much time to get many pictures but we know she was there.
Later in the afternoon checking in on her most favorite critter Gayle found Kaiwi RK96 snoozing away her afternoon at Kokee.  

Team Billand found da Benny at 6:20 at Paradise Cove, roped him off and put out some signs. They called the hotline. As tourist were arriving in the early morning Team Billand spent time giving them Monk Seal 101 lessons. 
Seems most of the tourist were hitting the beach in the wee hours expecting to find turtles, no turtles here, just one large very handsome monk seal.  Volunteer arrived at 8:15 am and Team Billand left for their next stop.

Upon arriving at a Leeward Beach they found Kekoa RK72 hauled up on high rock sound asleep. Kekoa remained in the spot through out the day.  Meanwhile Boobie was taking some time off to rest on water and the whales were breaching to their hearts content.

At a the same beach but off to the right Kaale RH32 was alone. He had no one to poke today, stayed in the same spot resting, poor baby...... or was he?  I think he was spending the day resting up and plotting his next head butting attack, who will it be?  We shall see!
Lastly Team Billand spotted an Unknown/Unidentified (u/u) foraging off shore doing 6 minute dives. The critter never hauled out despite Team Billand waiting around for two hours.

 Kaiwi RK96 
 Right Spot R016
Benny
Kekoa
Resting Boobie 
 Breaching Whale 
Kaale plotting his next plan of head butting attack 
UU foraging

Monday, February 26, 2018

2/26/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

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

Team Billand got to a Leeward Beach staring at the water forever to the point where they were just about to give up..... and then they spotted a seal off shore foraging at 5 to 6 minute dives. On one dive they waited 8 minutes, didn't see the seal surface, so they walked to the right and there were two seals hauled out. Seals were ID'd as Kaale RH32 and RW02 PvKauai resting. 
Both seal remained on rocks but PvKauai moved inland and of course Kaale (butt head) moved in warp speed.  A small spat because Kaale kept bugging PvKauai. Kaale just had to snuggle and hold PvKauai, finally PvKauai gave in. Their actions are adorable as best buds.

While sitting at the site, Barbara heard a noise behind her, she turned to see her new buddy Alfac.
(the moskovy duck is back).  
A seal started coming in slow checking out the area, but after a few minutes turned and left and headed for the high rocks. They ID'd Kekoa RK72, he stayed in this spot for the day. 
On their last check all three seals remained in the same spots, nice and quiet. Volunteer Kathy O spent some time sitting and talking story about seals.

At a West Side Beach Team Billand spotted Miss Lei Ola RH48 resting on the rocks below. Then they spotted a large marge huge seal to the right of her, ID'd RL42, showing both her tags. Both girls resting in peace.

Gayle spotted one critter on Rabbit Island. She also checked out the popular spots in Waikiki and found no one. But Gayle did find her most favorite critter Kaiwi RK96 at Kokee.


 Kaale RH32 & PvKauai RW02
da duck
 Kekoa RK72
Lei Ola RH48
 RL42 looking large
Rabbit Island Critter
 Kaiwi RK96
 little star - how I wonder

Sunday, February 25, 2018

2/25/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by; Marilyn, Gayle, Team Billand, Lesley, Melody and posse pal Johnny. 

Mrs. Whisperer got a later start but managed to spend a couple of hours at Makai Pier.  Since it was overcast there was a fair amount of haze viewing Rabbit Island but she still spotted two critters about 40 feet east of the 3BS.  There was a smaller seal with a light belly female, with two tags. The seal may have some sort of scar on her left side behind her LFF, no other identifying marks were seen. 
The other seal appeared to be an adult male. Marilyn did not see any tags, and there were no natural bleaches on flippers so RN46 was ruled out.

Gayle spotted one critter at Rabbit Island this morning and hit the jackpot 3 days in a row finding her favorite Kaiwi once again at Kokee.

Team Billand was out at Paradise Cove early this morning and for the second day in a row it was blocked off.  At Lagoon 3 they found a 90 lb turtle on shore surrounded by tourist feeding it lettuce and petting it. Team Billand stepped in and drew a line around the turtle and noticed it was entangled, fishing line around both flipper, right flipper been eaten up.  Team Billand called, Turtle Rescue, hotline, and DLNR who was the only responder. They took the turtle to their truck and hopefully away to get some help.

Next stop for Team Billand Leeward Beach where they found Kekoa RK72 already hauled up high on the rocks.
The next critter they came across was RW02 PvKauai he was alone at first resting.  After their check of the other side they came back to find Kaale RH32 joined RW02 and was a total brat. They both ended up in the ponds, going from pond to pond with Kaale after poor RW02. In one pond Kaale got held down underwater, Kaale flying his hind flippers in the air. RW02 went to next water hole, Kaale right by him like a magnet. RW02 hugged him, slapped him, great observation.

Team Billand made a stop at Electric Beach where there were lots of divers and beach folks. Benny RE74 was resting and some dude decided to hang out in front of him clapping his hands. Volunteer Karen worked quickly to get a zone in place, and deal with this dude who was just a few feet from Benny.  Volunteer Karen managed to get the job done (not an easy task ... good work).  Once things were okay they left to continue their day.

Lesley and Kimo went out for their evening walk and checked up on RN58 Luana. They found her on the beach where she had spent the day, looking beautiful and content. 

Photographer Melody was town side today and she came across Miss Pohaku RO28 hanging out at Kaimana's.  (Makes me wonder what the appeal is, there must be some good food eating in the area).

I also got an email from Posse Pal Johnny from Honolulu showing off Pohaku RO28. 
Thank you All!

Rabbit Island Critters Juvenile Female, Adult Male
Gayle's morning shot of critter in the green
 Kaiwi RK96
 wow big momma... reminds me of how big her momma Irma use to get
Injured Honu tourist attempting to feed
 poor baby
 Needs some TLC - hope there is chance of recovery
Kekoa
 RW02
 RW02 PvKauai and Kaale RH32
Benny & Crowds
Luana RN58
Pohaku RO28