8-8-11 DB Dailies

The day began with Kolohe (RW22) up in the Morning Glory, 40 ft left of 1BS, on Rabbit Island. When I got back to Makai Pier at 0922 I found that Duke (RA12) had joined Kolohe. They were now both at the top of the beach front incline, 60 ft left of 1BS.

At 0948 the lovely Nani (RK60) hauled out to the boy's location and all did some minor nuzzling before entered the water for a swim/play session from 0957 until 1125. They all hauled out together, 40 ft left of 1BS. Duke and Kolohe had no problem climbing the 2 ft cut in the beach front, but little Nani stayed down lower, unable to get her bulbous body up the cut. As the rising tide got to her, she returned to the water, while the boys snoozed away the rest of the day.

Posse members, Alice and Glen called at 1140 reporting that they had seen a swimming seal as they passed the area between Makai Pier and the first houses of Waimanalo. I checked the area from the roadside for an hour, but never found anybody.

Glen and Alice were on their way to visit R5A&Pup, and they sent their photos of the afternoon. The one belly shot is "shake &baked" so inconclusive on the belly bleach. I think it should be visible in that shot if it was there, but I'll withhold judgement until more shots come in. The inside of the right fore flipper was never visible. Great job guy !! Thank You.....very much.

Rachel called from Diamond Head at 0924 to report that she had spent the morning with a totally naked Rocky (RH58) at the showers. At 0924 Rocky entered the water, in Rachel's presence. I've gotten no further reports.

I spoke with Team Billand through the day, and sadly, they had one of those thankfully rare, Skunked days.

Karen Turner came through with yet another piece of video from D#11 with R5AY&P at Turtle Bay. Thank you Karen.

Tracy provided some really happy moments for me today. She advised via email that Makaiwi (R4DF), last seen at Diamond Head on 7-15-11, was sighted on 7-29-11 on the Big Island. It appears as though she is making the same trek that she made back in 2010. Sorry, there were no photos.

As if that weren't neat enough, Tracy also advised that my little pal Makana (RT24) was seen and documented on Maui yesterday, 8-7-11. He popped up in my life back on 12-27-10 at Kaupo Beach Park. You may remember him as the little , juvenile male with the gnarly shark tooth scars on his right side at the neck and shoulder. I'll attach a photo of that visit to jog your memories. He earned his bling, and a bleach (N27) on that stint , and remained in the SE quadrant until 2-4-11, hauling out to Kaupo Beach Park, Makapuu and AD's . After that he just dropped off the face of the earth, until this sight.

Sad news today from the Aquarium, Nuka, their 31 yr old male Monk Seal was euthanized.

 Kolohe, Duke and the lovely, bulbous Nani 

 Rocky with her new coat... looking gorgeous!

 Makana on 12/27/10 ( I had the pleasure of meeting this little munchin with DB and Lesley)

 Makana RT24 on Maui.... so happy to see him looking good and safe.

 R5AY and Pup Thank you posse Alice and Glen

Thank you Karen for the clip!

7-15-11 DB Dailies

On my first Rabbit Island look this morning at 0629 I found what would later prove to be Kolohe (RW22) just galumphing into Seal Rock Inlet, and therefore out of my line of sight. I would not see him again until 1147 when the rising tide forced him up into view again. He remained all day.

On my 0658 Spitting Cave check I found Buster (RV08) doing 7 minute dives.

I got back to Makai Pier at 0850 and after many a pan of the beach, I finally found a suspicious looking water front rock at 0907. It would prove to be Nani (RK60). The rising tide drove her off her perch at 1019, and she hauled out again to 100 ft left of 1BS at 1115, where she spent the remainder of the day.

Team Billand checked in at 0703 with the report of Irma (R010) at Wind Sock. She was gone when they got back for their 1257 recheck.

At 0820 the Billands found Max (R5EW) at Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park.

At 0834 they reported a swimmer called in by one of their posse, passing Nimitz Cottages, and headed east. The got a brief glimpse on a haul out fronting #1707 at White Plains, but the animal quickly left, still heading east. Barbara called at 0953 to advise that a check of her photos on the computer showed a definite RIP (RR70) ID on the mystery swimmer.

The Billands checked in again at 0837 to advise that posse member Clay Gates had called to advise that T21M was at Iroquois Point. They notified the office and a transmitter mission began. Tracy checked in at 1122 to advise that T21M now had a transmitter, and a new set of tags. He now sports new 7GY/Z red, hind flipper tags. I'll play the game of course, but no matter what they say, you'll always be 4DJ to me pal !!!

The real highlight of the day began with a call from Colleen Heyer, hurrying home at 1444 , in response to a neighbor's call (a subcontractor in Colleen's DH organization)about an cute...small animal, with red tags, on the Black Point side of Diamond Head, just a few doors down from Colleen's house. A subsequent call from the neighbor confirmed a 4DE tag. Upon her arrival Colleen confirmed that it was in fact Makaiwi (R4DF). She departed with the rising tide, as Colleen shot photos. Makaiwi had last been seen at Campbell Industrial Park (Billands) on 7-11-11.

Makaiwi last visited Diamond Head in a series of 5 haul outs in Aug and Sept of 2010. There were a couple of Waikiki haul outs in there too, as well as a visit with me at AD's. This is her first return to DH since 9-16-10. Only Makaiwi knows the plan ?????? Stay tuned. (and if I remember correctly shortly after that she headed for Molokai and then ended up all the way over on the Big Island.... I hope she stays closer to home this time)

 Maka'iwi @ Diamond Head 

 Irma @ Windsock

 Max @ Campbells

 RIP @ White Plains

 T21M aka 7GY/7GZ aka 4DJ is now wired for calls

 Posse Clay 

 The Crew 

7-9-11 DB Dailies

On my first look at Rabbit Island at 0639, I found what would prove to be Duke (RA12) and Kolohe (RW22) playing in the shallows, 40 ft left of SRI. I would find them snoozin' together when I got back to Makai Pier, and the spent the day together at that location, except for a swim/play session which I'll get to in a moment.

When I got back to Makai Pier at 1035 I found that Buster (RV08) had joined the cast, snoozin' away , 40 ft left of 1BS on RI. As I panned down the beach to the right I next found Nani , crashed at 3BS, and next came Duke and Kolohe together just left of Seal Rock Inlet. Lastly , I found Sadie (RB12) by herself at Rocky Right Beach. She would remain there all day.

Duke and Kolohe would enter the water at 1330. At 1345 Kolohe hauled out to briefly touch noses with Nani, and when he returned to the water, she followed.
It was but a few moments later that I realized that Duke and joined them and from 1350 until 1440 the three of them had a perfect swim/play session. It was not overly aggressive, and Nani held her own with the two boys. This is the perfect meeting of these animals, Duke and Kolohe are the youngsters (2 and 3 y.o), and they will be of immense help to Nani in learning the ropes. They are also small enough to play and interact with her without being overly intimidating. The session ended nicely with Nani hauling out to her start point , 3BS, at 1440. They boys just continued playing, and I lost them in the wind chop , whitewater, even though I relocated to the Makapuu Overview. I did not see them again today.

Team Billand called at 0808 with the report of Makaiwi (R4DF) fronting Tower #1 at White Plains.  At 1537 they reported Max (R5EW) at CIP.  At 1557 they found R2AW at Palm Grove, CIP.

Vera Cober called at 1640 to advise that she and husband Glen,and son Arec, had done the Ka'ena Point trek today, and found 761 and R018, Ka'ena(RO40) and Kerby ()RW08) at the end of the world. Thanks to Team Cober's excellent shots, I think it's safe to say that 761 no longer has a hook. I've had to down size the shots for the blog, but the originals are excellent quality, and there is no hook visible on the left side of her mouth. Thank you Cobers. Ya' Done reeeeally, Good !!!

In the "Yesterday's News" department, Thank You to Judy, Bonnie & Paul for your report, and shots of RI37 at Mokuleia yesterday.

  Sadie

 Nani and Kolohe

 Nani, Kolohe and Duke

 RI37 @ Mokuleia 

 RI37's scar on right hind quarter

 Maka'iwi body surfing onto the shore

 hmmm look out run away board

 what... did someone say something?

 Max in his usual carefree position

 Max's sex er I mean 5EX tag

 2AW old tag ... old tail