Saturday, December 12, 2020

12/12/2020 Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

 

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, Melody, Team Billand and Lesley. Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

Melody had heard that Rocky was at her old stomping grounds last evening. So of course Melody was up before light and arrived at Kaimana Beach. Thankfully Rocky RH58 was still snoozing against the wall. There was a small zone set up around her and a lot of fishermen already set up for the day. About an hour after Melody arrived Rocky started moving around and not long after that, she headed out into the water to catch her breakfast. Melody mentioned it was really nice to see the fishermen move out of her way so she had plenty of room to enter the water. 

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. There were three seals on island today.

About 40 feet Makapuu side of the 3BS were: Adult size, partially molted male belly and no visible tags. (MAM) His molt looks to be about 30%. Marilyn thinks this might be Kekoa Alii RK72, because of a vertical and horizonal scar on the right side of his face. Team Billand hasn't seen him on the west side for several days. Near him was an unidentified subadult size, two tags and yellowish belly. Marilyn wasn't sure of the seals sex, she thinks it may be a female, but sandy bodies make it difficult.

About 1:00 pm Marilyn became aware of a critter to the Makapuu side of Rocky Right Beach. It may have been there earlier. Marulyn thinks it is an unknown weaner. She observed several flipper flexes and never saw any tags. She wasn't able to see if there was an applied bleach or the seals sex.

Team Billand got to the outfall so early the moon was still out. They waited as the fishermen arrived and let them know the seals come early. Well not today, one by one they slowly showed up.  They were all in the outfall foraging.  They were able to ID Ka'ale RH32, Aukai RL12, RN14 Kalani and R407 Kawika.

About 8:30 Kawika left the outfall and landed at tracks. Team Billand called the hotline. They managed to put up a makeshift zone. Team Billand waited for a while, but no one showed.

Team Billand was at the bay from 10:45 am to 2 pm. All the seals were busy foraging, and none of them landed while Team Billand was on site. They ID'd R3CX Nalu, RL20 Kalua, RH48 Lei Ola, and RN44.

Rocky RH58
Rabbit Island Molting Male and unknown sub adult
molting male possibly Kekoa
unknown sub adult
unknown weaner
Aukai RL12
Kaale RH32
RN14 Kalani
R407 Kawika
Kawika hauling out at tracks
R3CX Nalu
RL20 Kalua
Lei Ola RH48
RN44

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