June 27.2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Lesley, Team T&D, and me. In the yesterdays' news department we have additional information on Kekoa, Kalani and RH92 from Melody.  Lesley's Ka'ena update is part 2 of the dailies.

Yesterday's News:  Melody spent the day checking out some west side beaches and ran into Team Billand.  They were heading out, but there was one seal high up on the rocks so Melody stayed. It was Kekoa RK72, but as the surf was building and washing over him he decided it was time to leave.
At that point Melody got a text from Team Billand that H92 was at KoOlina. When Melody arrived  they had been doing outreach to crowds.  Team Billand had to leave, and Melody was just about to head out when she spotted a head bobbing out of the water.  Sure enough another seal with it's nose up in the air cam cruising in. Finally the critter hauled out and headed straight for RH92 and that is when the fun began. 
Melody let Team Billand know and also called the hotline. At first she thought the male critter was Kekoa but later checking her photos she was able to determine it was RN14 Kalani. The two of them snuggled, played around in the sand and went into the water splashing about.  They returned to the beach with people coming and going. About 45 minutes later the two of them headed towards the water, this time they headed out and left.  Melody got some cool video of these two playing.

Team Billand was at the outfall at 6:20 am this morning and spotted a seal foraging, eating it's own fish. It was Lei Ola, mint green face, two red tags, and spotless.  Suddenly they see Kekoa Alii RK72 with her also foraging also eating his own fish. Kekoa would disappear by 7 am, but Lei Ola stayed in the outfall.
Just before they left she chased the fishers line in by the wall and rocks, but the fishermen got the fish out in time. (hmmm she's picking up butt head's bad habit) Team Billand had to leave by 8 for an appointment.

On the way to their appointment they drove by the canal and took a quick peek to see if any seals were there. YES! there was RH92 again on her sand bar snoozing with a cup by her face.  They couldn't stay, but about 10 minutes after leaving they got a call from the neighbors letting them know a large male came into the canal visited with RH92 and then he took off. The good news, RH92 followed him.

Team T&D went out to the point and ran into Lesley who was headed out as they were almost to the NARS. Their first find was Ka'ena RO40 on the runway. 
Second critter they thought was Squinty R330 but could not make a positive ID until they got home and looked at the pictures and confirmed Squinty by his cloudy eye.
As they were leaving the point they saw a seal swimming quickly outside the rocks. First he was outside the outer pool and they followed him all the way to Ka'ena's pool and lost sight of him. When they checked the photos they saw 3 tags and scar on left side of head. Thanks to seal pals it was ID'd da Benny RE74.
Team T&D saw an albatross chick testing its wings, it even lifted a leg, one more leg til it fledges and we won't see it back for several years.
Lastly and icing on the cake they found RL20 at birth beach in all his weaner neaner cuteness.

I decided to make a quick check of Rabbit Island this afternoon. Since there was a glimmer of light without rain, I headed over to the pier. I arrived just before 1 pm, and immediately spotted two adult males at Left Point Beach. They were on the far end exposing their male belly's, both had older coats with some green. I saw tags on one of them, but that's not to say the other didn't have tags.  

The glare from the overcast skies made it hard to get a decent photo and honestly they didn't move much.
There were lots and lots of rocks that are looking more and more like seals.  I was ready to call it a day and did one last pan of the island and just past the 3rd blue sign I saw some heads popping up at the shore line.  I had to wait, and sure enough they began to haul out and with a couple of rolls I could see a very fat white belly. It took a few but Sadie and PO4 hauled out and the kid began to nurse.  It has grown so much in the week, I would describe a short chubby critter.... and a very white belly. This will hopefully make it a lot easier to determine it's gender.  I left the pier at 2 pm.

Video of RH92 and RN14 Kalani by Melody

 Kekoa at outfall

 Lei Ola RH48 

RH92 at the canal

Benny 

 Ka'ena

 Squinty

 RL20 Kalua

U/M x 2

 Sadie and short and stubby