6/11/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody, and Lesley. And as usual Lesley's complete update is part two of the dailies.

Team Billand was out checking all the usual spots looking for Ka'ale RH32, he still hasn't been seen since reported a few days ago with "possible" hook and line attached.  
On a Leeward Beach they found Kalani RN14 on the lower rock with his applied bleach mark showing. He was chilling away this sunny day. Later he turned to face the ocean and continued to relax.  A short time later two divers arrived to pick Limu, one walked by Kalani and kept going, and the other need to pause and have a little chat with him. Thankfully Kalani wasn't disturbed and remained.

In addition to Kalani, Team Billand found Kekoa Alii RK72 to the right sleeping as well. His bleach number wasn't initially showing, but then he rolled over and went to the shallow pond, when they could clearly see his applied bleach mark.  I know Kekoa means a lot to Team Billand, since they were one of the few that were allowed to access the beach at the airport where his Mom Ewa Girl gave birth. So to have him now 7 years old hanging out on the West Side is very cool.

Team Billand decided to go visit the playpen today with a good friend of theirs Miss Debbie.  They found Leia RL42 and Napua PO5 were on shore sleeping. While there they observed a nursing session, in which the pup climbed over Mom to get to her teat. This little one is strong, actually pushing on Mom's belly to try and get more milk. By the looks of it, Mom is getting thin, so she's certainly giving it her all.
Meanwhile cousin PO4 Puna is checking out the surrounding staying clear of Auntie Leia. It will be a real treat when cousin Napua is weaned and they can get into all kinds of trouble together.

Melody decided to visit with PO3 (Kaiwi's weaner).  She hadn't seen him in a couple of weeks and heard how roly poly he is. (Actually there are quite a few pictures of him on Social Media and he is huge).  Melody got some good shots of him showing off his big white belly, and the one with him covered in sand, well just a little shake-n-bake. 

Also THANK YOU all for your continued efforts looking after these critters and sharing your experience with all of us <3

RN14 Ka'ale

Kekoa Alii RK72

 Playpen Visit -  Puna PO4

 LOVE LOVE LOVE this pose

 RL42 Leia & Napua PO5

 this little one stripe has changed color

 PO3 Roly Poly Weaner

6/9/2018 In Addition - one last update

Our posse pal Vicki was out visiting with weaner PO3. This kid is a chub of chubs.... Thank you Vicki!!

6/8/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody, and Lesley. Lesley's complete update is part 2 of the dailies.  Also I have a brief update from my visit to the Pier.

I was at Makai Pier today for a bit today. Conditions were beautiful for viewing, no large white caps. My first pan of the island I only spotted a bright white belly behind the berm between the 1st and 2nd blue6 signs. Every once in a while the little flipper moved, but other than that is was all belly while I was there. 
About 15 minutes later I spotted a large adult recently hauled out to the far left of the 1BS and right of the flat rocks on the left side. As I was watching another critter became visible on the right side of the adult and there they were Mom and PO6. Sadie and PO6 hauled up and went into snooze mode. I did observe a nursing session that didn't last very long. PO6 coat is looking more reddish brown once it's dry.


While I was out I decided to check on Kaiwi and PO3, and when I got there is was just PO3. Apparently Kaiwi weaned this boy on Wednesday, well officially. She left on Tuesday, but returned later in the day and nursed him one more time. Nice Momma because this kid is huge, he's got plenty of reserve to hold him over.  Good Job Kaiwi!   

As long as I am mentioning Kaiwi and weaner I would like to thank all the volunteers out there, but want to give a BIG shout-out to my pal Gayle.  She has been out there everyday and evening, on her own. She is relentless in her efforts to make sure someone is there watching over Mom and pup.  If you go out to the site and see Gayle, say THANK YOU!  

Team Billand spent 4 hours out at a Leeward Beach watching three seals off shore foraging and fighting. Kalani RN14 and RG32 were easy to ID with their applied bleach marks. They could clearly see a third seal and possible fourth, but they were unable to ID. 
After a few hours RG32 hauled out followed by RN14 Kalani. The waves kept getting bigger and higher washing RN14 and RG32 off the rocks. RN14 was seen going offshore and foraging.

There was no sign of Ka'ale today, from the west side nor the north side.

Melody headed back to Ewa beach this morning and spied Rocky hauling out. Local resident John said she had spent the night on the beach. One of the visitors on the beach showed her some photos.
Melody caught a couple of pictures of her foraging, but once she was out by the reef she took off.

Sadie Rb12 & PO6 

Weaner Neaner PO3

Three critters at play

 Rn14 Kalani & RG32

Rocky

06/05/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, and my observations of Rabbit Island.  We also have a little tidbit from posse pal Vicki!  (Lesley sent an update with yesterday's update of the playpen).

I'll start with yesterday's news, I got a very late email from Vicki who spent some time with Kaiwi and PO3 on Monday. She sent us a couple of photos of them, and even though it was yesterday's sighting it's still worth sharing.

Team Billand started their day at 5:50 am arriving at the outfall they spot two seals fighting. They watched and then the critters move onto a Sandy area where the divers go out. The two stayed there all of three minutes, left and got separated. Team Billand ID'd the two as RH32 Ka'ale and RN14 Kalani. 

Team Billand checked a nearby haul out on the rocks where they found RN14 Kalani landed and vocalized so loud, then laid there moaning.  Suddenly Ka'ale shows up again, eyes wide open. They meet, nuzzle, and sniff. RN14 entered the water again Ka'ale stayed behind.  

RN14 appears again, hauls up with Kaale on rocks, they meet and sniff again, they end up in the small pond. They both wrap their flippers and laid next to each other for the rest of the visit.  Seal Buds Forever SBF :-)

Team Billand made the Ka'ena West trek and once again found the abandon umbrella but no seal, so they kept going. On their way out they spotted a seal by the umbrella. Barbara sat on the rocks, thinking about how to get down the cliff. She spotted five people at the ponds with two dogs.  Barbara made a go for it got to the bottom of the cliff, picked up the umbrella and a gust of wind almost turned her into Mary Poppins.  She waited let the wind to die down, and tried to carry the umbrella up the rocks, but she couldn't close it and it was too hard. She laid it on its side and put a large rock on top to secure it for now.  

Barb made it back up the cliff sat to rest and noticed a lady going to the umbrella, removes all the rocks. Barbara was just about ready to call out to her, but her dog barked. The woman was able to get the umbrella closed and Barbara did call out with a big THANK YOU  and thumbs up. They eventually met at the top of the walk, woman with the umbrella. The woman took the umbrella to her truck and it is gone. Barbara thanked her over and over.  RW02 PvKauai remained resting unaffected by the whole incident.

Barbara's last find of the day was a big one! On their way home they stop at a Leeward Beach and found Lei Ola RH48 snoozing on her side facing the ocean. Barbara was able to read the tags and yes that dam hook is still there snug as a bug after nine months.

She is plump, no new markers or injuries. She looks healthy and quite amazing for a "almost" 2 year old. Team Billand hung around in the hot sun, tired from the umbrella vs. Mary Poppins incident, just waiting for her to move. She stretched, but never rolled over.  Happy to have this girl back in our view, but where the heck does she go??

I spent over 2 hours this afternoon at the pier checking out the critters. I was fortunate and privileged enough to use "da scope".  My first observation was an easy find RB12 Sadie and PO6, they were side by side snoozing.  They were on the left side of the island just before the rocky ledge.  When I got to look over the rocky ledge I spotted a critter, who I was able to ID as Holokai because of the camera on his back.  This part of the island had huge swells crashing so trying to get pictures in between the waves was tricky.

Panning to the right side of the island by the 2BS I found a round snoozing critter and it was Kea RN46 because his big beautiful white natural beach mark was resting on his belly.  For the first hour and half they were the only critters, although I did see some "old" wallows between the 1BS and 2BS.

Just before 4:00 I did another pan of the island, I spotted a very chubby white bellied critter hauled up between the 1st and 2nd Blue Signs. This is our weaner who I was able to ID by her very faint applied bleach mark. Hali'a RK38/39 N4.  

All in all a good day.... I was pretty stoked to ID these critters, but I know I had some easy targets! 

Kaiwi RK96 and a very CHUBBY PO3

Ka'ale RH32 and RN14 Kalani

 

 RW02 PvKauai and the Umbrella

 RW02 

 not a care in the world

 today's umbrella rescue hero !!

Lei Ola RH48

Sadie & PO6

Holokai RG40 

Kea RN46 and that beautiful natural bleach mark

Weaner RK38/39 Hali'a N4