October 31, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies - Happy Halloween

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and a good samaritan. 

Team Billand was up an at em early today, but did not come across any seals until afternoon.  They did however see a lot of characters out on the beach taking advantage of the surf. Seems there were lots of people in the Halloween spirit today.  T
FINALLY close to 1:30 this afternoon they came across a seal on the west side. There was Ka'ale RH32 on the lower rocks, who seemed very alert, like there might be another critter around. Volunteer Melina was on site as well, and they all waited  and watched Ka'ale. He moved around and then entered the water and poof he was gone.

A good samaritan sent email about their hike out to Ka'ena Point today. The spotted RIP RR70 at 10 minute beach and his molt seems to moving along, slowly. 
Then there was Squinty R330 hanging out in one of the tide pools near the runway. 
Lastly as they were driving away they spotted a seal near Camp Erdman, and when they checked it appears it was RIP.

Marilyn observed the NOAA Team's mission to bleach some seals today on Rabbit Island.  At 9:30 she observed an adult male, one unknown juvenile female before the 1BS. 
About an hour later the juvenile was joined by a sub-adult sized seal. 

Once the NOAA Team made it out to the island they ID'd the adult male was RW22 Kolohe, juvenile female was RJ30, and the sub-adult male was RG32.
RJ30 Wailea born to Nani in 2017 was given an applied bleach N30.
RG32 male born in 2015 was given an applied bleach N32. 
Kolohe RW22 is molting so he wasn't bleached. About 10 minutes after bleaching was complete a small seal hauled out and stirred things up. 

This critter was ID'd as RK24 , Kaiwi's boy from 2018. They all went into the water and let's keep our fingers crossed the bleach had enough time to take.

Lastly, in the spirit of Halloween and when I use to do some creative things, I am posting my annual Seal Halloween photo.  Benny is being Benny and Irma, well she just resting. I  do miss a lot of the old critters, especially Irma. 

 some halloween surfers having fun today

 Ka'ale RH32

  Squinty R330

RIP RR70

 

 Surrender Dorothy 

Masked Booby on Rabbit Island

 Rk24, RJ30 & RG32

 Wailea and RG32

 RW22 Kolohe 

October 30, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Lesley.  Lesley's updates from today is posted in part two and updates from the yesterday are posted in part three. ( sorry I missed her email last night),

Team Billand was at the outfall at 6:30 am. While there they spotted two seals in the outfall, Kekoa Alii RK72, and RH32 Ka'ale.  Kekoa kept to himself, but good ole' butt-head back to his bad habits and stole some fish.
At one point Ka'ale  was playing with some junk in the water, a big stick of some kind and then a plastic bottle. 
Team Billand left at 8 am and both seals were still foraging. Team Billand was also got to see their first whale of the season today. 

Just before 11 am Team Billand was checking out plains and there was the beautiful Pohaku RO28, resting at the waters edge, getting splashed by the incoming tide.  There was a zone already in place.
They could see all her markers, cookie scars on her right side, scars on her face and that special natural bleach on her hind flipper.  She seemed fine resting comfortably.

And last but not least just before 1:oo they found Big Boy Ka'ale had hauled out. He was on the rocks out cold and alone. I guess all that foraging wore him out.

Ka'ale with a stick and trash

 plastic bottles

 Kekoa Alii  RK72

Pohaku R028

 Ka'ale hauled out on the rocks

Team Billand's first whale for 2019

October 30, 2019 (Part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

Had a fun & busy morning around here.

In the seal world I also had some good finds

Starting by checking down the beach I found a beautiful 100% molted overnighted R303 BG back from the house I saw her entering the water and hours later on my way back from far I spotted her further down the beach. Probably looking for a place to rest without being bothered by those big waves.

At the point, from the cliff I saw a seal playing hippo, two checks with the zoom and IDed R330 Squinty by his NB on rear flipper and scar at the top of his head. He had spent all day alone at CE Pt yesterday.

On our way out, a rock started moving down to the water line at 10Mnts Beach. It was RR70 RIP M.60%. Poor fellow he doesn't look happy and is taking quite a while to molt.

With the rain we had the Chinese Violets are in bloom everywhere - although they are invasive they do give the park beautiful coloring with their white and purple flowers. The Hinahinas had a drop of morning dew that looks like diamond drops on them.

We saw the 2 Snow Geese flying around us and got our eyes tired trying to see what the Billands saw this morning but alas we didn't. Perhaps tomorrow.