Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Melody.
Team Billand started their day when the moon was still bright and a star in the sky over KoOlina. Although they didn't spot any seals they did see some interesting sightings along the way. There were the Hawaiian Stilts, a tractor and the sperm whale decomposing. Team Billand met with a few folks from UH, Dr. Kristi from HPU and David from NOAA, at the site with the whale.
I know many have been following this on the news, actually quite
sad to see this magnificent creature laying in waste. However there is a real concern over people disrespecting the remains and since they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, there are people keeping an eye on its remains.
Finally about 10:30ish Team Billand found Kekoa Alii RK72 and Kawena RH36 already hauled out on lower rocks. Kawena was to the left and Kekoa above her. Both were sleeping until Kekoa started looking at the surf, and soon after the huge waves started coming in, covering them both.
At one point the waves moved Kekoa around and Kawena moved up to him for safety. Both were fine and settled in together.
Team Billand did the Ka'ena West Trek and found a little critter tucked in solid between rocks. They didn't have much to go on, but on their way out took another peek. He was still there and finally there was a tag K88, little Puna.
On their way home they stopped by to check in on Kekoa and Kawena and to their surprise there was R3CU hauled out next to them. Team Billand has seen him many times in the area but he never landed before. At first he went up to Kekoa, who whooped him a little. Then he went to bug Kawena, and she whooped him too. So he just snuggled between the two.
Just before 7 this morning Melody went down to the beach to check on Rocky and she was still there in the exact same place as last evening. Just about 30 minutes later she started snorting and got restless. A few minutes later, she jumped up as if something bit or startled her, that was her cue and off to the water she went. She spent a few minutes foraging and then disappeared over a wave and into deep waters beyond the reefs.
Melody spent the afternoon as a HMSPO (Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation Ohana) volunteer to help out watching over and protecting the Sperm whale carcass. The folks from Marine Biology Marine Mammal Stranding Lab were on site sharing their knowledge and experience.
On her way home Melody stopped off at another westside beach and found good ole' Buster V08 who had hauled up on shore a short time ago. The lifeguards already had a SRA set up and a volunteer had just arrived. Buster is looking very healthy and was enjoying his rest.
oh the things we see
Kekoa and Kawena
Puna
R3CU, Kekoa and Kawena
Rocky
Buster
Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody and another Big Island update from Team T&D.
Tammy and Dave still enjoying their visit to the Big Island had the added pleasure of finding two beauties! They spent their morning exploring and went to check a "normal" haul out seal spot. They found RW34 and a volunteer doing outreach. She is quite a sight to be seen, let's just say she a big girl!
After leaving Team T&D got word of another seal down the coast. Of course they went to check it out and there they found RA20. Lucky them especially since there aren't many seals on the Big Island. Thank you for sharing Tammy and Dave!
Team Billand was out at a west side beach when they spotted a seal just coming onto the rocks, made a turn and up over the rocks. They ID'd RN14 Kalani by his applied bleach.
Then they headed over to another closeby beach and found Kekoa Alii RK72 already up on high rocks, sleeping. They met up with volunteers Melina and Molly. On their recheck Kekoa was still in the same spot still sleeping and hidden.
RIP RR70 was to the right mid rocks sleeping. He was slumped over the rocks as if he had a really rough night. His tags were visible and he was sill there on their afternoon check, same spot, but on his side.
Team Billand made a final stop and much to their surprise they found a little critter sleeping next to a larger female. At first they thought the little one was RK88, but no it was RJ58 Kaimana! She's not one that is seen very often so this was a real treat. She is looking healthy and a pretty sweet face.
The larger female ID'd as RL42 Leia who was also sleeping and looking pretty large. They got her tags, but also noticed there were some bite marks on her head. There were four punctures and to the right a bigger wound. Team Billand notified NOAA about the new marks on her. RL42 seemed find other than her marks, and we all know how amazingly quickly these critters heal.
Well while Kaimana was snoozing on the west side, her momma Rocky RH58 was just about to haul out at Cove 8 by Melody's home. Melody got a call about 5 pm that a seal had hauled out, and upon arriving she was told the seal had been foraging off shore for at least an hour. Rocky was ID'd by her NB on her LFF. Melody called the hotline and then assisted Security setting up a SRA. In a very short time there was a crowd and thankfully most everyone was very respectful. Melody left a couple hours later after enjoying Rocky and a beautiful sunset.
RA20
RW34 - Big Momma
RN14 Kalani
Kekoa
RIP
Kaimana
Kaimana & RL42
RL42 Leia
Rocky
Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand AND another Big Island update from Team T&D.
Team Tammy and Dave checked a few spots on the Big Island. At one point when they were heading back to their care they spotted a seal foraging off shore. They called the Big Island hotline and while talking they "guessed" it might be RW34 by size. Later in the day after they left the site, Team T&D received confirmation that the seal hauled out and was ID'd as RW34.
Aside from spotting a seal foraging they saw a beautiful Nene. They watched for awhile and was kept wondering what it was looking at. Then they noticed a nesting Nene across the way. (Way Cool !)
The first seal of the day for Team Billand was the lovely miss Pohaku RO28. Barbara didn't say too much about her other than her location, but judging from the photo I'll just say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Next sighting was off shore at campbells where there were multiple seals foraging. One was ID'd as Kolohe RW22 because of that BEAUTIFUL applied bleach. He was playing, fighting and foraging with the others.
One of the critters that was playing with the group finally hauled out and he was ID'd as Kea RN46. Another easy ID with his big beautiful natural bleach marks.
From this point it gets a little more difficult. There was one critter coming ashore, being cautious. It was a large seal with cookie scar on back.
Could be a female based on the size, but they never saw the belly. This critter also had a mark on left shoulder and reported as a UU, unless someone can shed some light on the situation.
Another critter at the site was a U/M, although Team Billand tried there was too much going on to determine this boys ID.
Last sightings of the day was Kekoa Alii RK72 and RW02 PvKauai. Kekoa was on lower rocks with his head facing the water. RW02 was mid rocks to the right alone and snoozing.
Nene lookout
Nesting Nene
Big Island Girl RW34
Pohaku RO28
RW22 Kolohe
Kea
U/M
UU hauled out briefly
Kekoa
RW02 PvKauai
Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Melody. 
On their way home they stopped by to check in on Kekoa and Kawena and to their surprise there was R3CU hauled out next to them. Team Billand has seen him many times in the area but he never landed before. At first he went up to Kekoa, who whooped him a little. Then he went to bug Kawena, and she whooped him too. So he just snuggled between the two.
Just before 7 this morning Melody went down to the beach to check on Rocky and she was still there in the exact same place as last evening. Just about 30 minutes later she started snorting and got restless. A few minutes later, she jumped up as if something bit or startled her, that was her cue and off to the water she went. She spent a few minutes foraging and then disappeared over a wave and into deep waters beyond the reefs.
Melody spent the afternoon as a HMSPO (Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation Ohana) volunteer to help out watching over and protecting the Sperm whale carcass. The folks from Marine Biology Marine Mammal Stranding Lab were on site sharing their knowledge and experience.
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