MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 08/09/2020 Sunday (Closure Round 2

Sunday, August 9, 2020

08/09/2020 Sunday (Closure Round 2 - Day 2) Monk Seal Dailies

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island today and initially found six seals until there were seven.

Seals 1, 2 & 3 were on the LPB side of the first blue sign.

Seal 1 - Identified as PO5 because of recent weaner size, coloration and light female belly.

Seal 2 - Unidentified adult male with older coat, mottled male belly.

Seal 3 - Unidentified juvenile to sub adult demale with new coat and two tags. She has been a regular on the island.

On the Makapuu side of the 1BS

Seal 4 - Unidentified adult male with older coat, male belly and two tags,

Seal 5 - unidentified juvenile female with older coat, some green on belly and two tags.

Several hundred feet Makapuu side of the 3BS was:

Seal 5 - initially up among the vegetation, but later moved to the waterline. Weaner size and color, light-colored male belly. She looked but did not see any applied N3 bleach of the back or girdle near the rear flippers.

The most interesting find of the day was the appearance of a 7th seal N2 - Nohea. As far as she knows this is the first time she has been reported from RI. She had not been seen for awhile.

She hauled out to Seal 3, but when Seal 3 rolled over, N2 fled into the water. Then she hauled out to Seals 4 and 5 and when they looked up and noticed her she fled into the water again. Then she went over to check out Seal 2. She hauled out between Seals 2 and 3 for a short while, but when Seal 4 started moving in her direction, she again went into the water. Finally she hauled out alone between 1BS and 2BS and went to sleep. Although her applied N2 bleach almost looks like N3, its location is where N2 has her bleach. She made it a perfect day.

Lefty RG28 was found snoozing alone on rocks.

Lei Ola RH48 was on the rocks until a homeless fisherman started yelling at her. Lei Ola galumphed of the rock into the water but turned as the guy left. She landed back on the rocks.

Then there was RL20 Kalua resting peace doing a couple of seal stretches and going back to sleep. Then the same fisherman appeared walked over and started talking. She perked up and that is when he bent down and touched her hind flipper. Then Kalua flip flopped over to the rocks and moved out.

He managed to run off two seals in the matter of minutes.

Good news Kalua RL20 relocated to another location. Then Ka'ale came out of the water hole to greet RL20, Ka'ale style, with a head butt. Both rested peacefully together.