06/30/2021 Wednesday Monk Seal Dailies

 Today's dailies are brought to you by Tammy and Team R&B💕.  Also one of our contributors photographer Leighton Lum sent a link to an article about Kaiwi and Loli'i that was published in Oceanographic Magazine. 

https://www.oceanographicmagazine.com/features/hawaiian-monk-seal-pup/

Tammy went out with Lesley to the point, (very brave giving how hot it was). Their first seal was RG40 Holokai. Luana RN58 was further down the beach. Of course they stopped to see RP30 Puka who was playing in the little cove.  

When Tammy and Lesley for to the NAR, Lesley spotted a seal hauling out, actually he was entering the water. Between the two of them they got enough photos to ID Kawika R407. There was an adult Albatross with a chick and quite possibly it's last feeding before fledging.  Their next find was Ka'ena RO40.  Then they spotted a seal doing its impression of a hippo.  Lesley was able to ID PvKauai RW02.  Of course they made another stop to see the chub-a-lub RP30 Puka. He was zonked out.

Team R&B must feel like they are in the movie "Groundhog Day" when reporting on RL20 Kalua.

Once again he was out foraging near by the jetty. At one point they were very concerned something was wrong as he did a lot of splashing, but it turns out he must have just caught a fish. There were fishing boats out and about which is always scary. Then there was a guy on a kayak that was filming  RL20 for some time, hopefully he was just a wild life enthusiast.

Then at another west side location they were thrilled to find one more seal.  There was RH76 Kala who was a sleep on lower rocks.  They studied her for a while and did not see anything new, no hooks or wounds. But then they did notice a small wound on her snout, almost like a bruise. She seems fine and did not show any discomfort.

Kawika R407

Holokai RG40

Luana RN58

Kaena RO40

RP03 Puka

Hippo RW02 PvKauai

RL20 Kalua

Kayaker filming Kalua

RH76 Kala

06/29/2021 Tuesday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Lesley and Team R&B💕.  Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

Team R&B headed out early and it paid off. It was easier to see the little green eating machine RL20 Kalua. He was foraging in the area again. He chased schools of fish and he caught some too.  While out there they met up with a friend who showed them a photo of RL20 hauled out on the rocks. He certainly is green.

Over to the outfall they fishermen told them there was a seal there.

Sure enough there was good ole Kaale RH32 passing by. They hung out for a while watching him and hoping he would haul out, but he did not cooperate.

Last sighting for the day was at a west side location. There on lower rocks there was a little green seal, they were able to ID RL70 Leina snoozing away. They were relieved to see her after the she was run off last week. She looks fine, no new markers seen, her tags were visible and easy to read.

RL20 Kalua

RH32 Kaale

RL70 Leina

06/29/2021 Tuesday (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

 Yesterday I went down to do a late afternoon check the fur kids.

RN58 Luana has finally started her molt, NO percentage yet just ruffled up fur and a couple of very small spots.

RP30 Puka was having a great time playing with toys.

This morning on D10 of her stay RN58 Luana was in company of RG28 Lefty - I checked couple of times thru out the day and nothing changed they just moved further near the waterline. Luana's molt hasn't changed much. Lefty could also be in a pre-molting mode

RP30 Puka was trying to rest in the back of Weaner Cove, in other checks he was hauled out. On the last one he played some and started to head to the water. Turned bellie up and went to sleep 

R407 Kawika has also spent over a week hauling out in the same spot. From downwind he smells strong, should be cracking anytime now

Last and very sighting was of R330 Squinty who has finally come back after a couple of months away.

I did a LAAL chick monitoring, they are adorable with their unique hairdos. We have a couple of fledging's already.   More soon - Be Safe 

Luana

Puka RP30

Albatross chicks going through that awkward phase

06/28/2021 Monday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team R&B💕.

This morning they arrived at the outfall and the fishermen let them know a seal was there stealing their fish. After an absence to the outfall the thief is back for his breakfast buffet. Good ole Kaale RH32 is back and they confirmed his ID by his applied bleach number. They didn't stay long, just nice to have him back.

At another site, they found the beautiful Lei Ola RH48 in a small pond snoozing her heart away. She was spotted with her new coat glistening in the sun.

Stopping off at yet another west side location they were thrilled to find RH76 Kala and R3CX Nalu

together on the rocks. Kala was to the right, trying to stay clear of R3CX.  He was to her right, moving in on her looking grubby and pooping!

Team R&B had some errands to take care of today so they arrived at the bay area later in the day. Interestingly there was RL20 Kalua in a huge school of fish. He had company there was a boobie bird and an eagle ray.  

Their last stop was over at the cliffs where they found RN14 Kalani snoozing alone in between the rocks. He is large and getting greener like all the others. His signature natural bleach was visible for an easy ID. 

Then much to their surprise after studying the area for a bit they discovered RL42 Leia hidden between the rocks. She was difficult to photograph but they managed. Poor Kalani doesn't realize that she isn't that far away.

Kaale RH32

Lei Ola RH48

RH76 Kala

Nalu R3CX & Kala

nalu

RL20 Kalua

RN14 Kalani

RL42 Leia