09/26/2020 Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

 

It was certainly a busy Seal Saturday, I got emails from some posse pals I haven't heard from in a while. So today's dailies will be mostly photos a little description.  Our usual contributors Team Billand, Marilyn and Lesley were out there today. I heard from our ole' posse pal Paul who dives and we also got word from Melody.

I'll start with some good news, our momma Rocky is back on Oahu. Apparently she weaned her pup on Kauai last week and she is right on time. Of course looking a little thinner but all in all she is good. (At the very end of the post is a short video)

Posse Pal Paul sent me a text today he spotted Kolohe a couple of times but unfortunately no photos. He did however come across N2 Nohea in snooze mode. She's a little chubby cutie.

Team Billand started at 6:30 and found both Ka'ale RH32 and Kalani RN14 having breakfast at the outfall. Ka'ale kept himself busy chasing the line and Kalani must have been board because he left. About 15 minutes later Kalani came up around the jetty. Team Billand was able to talk with a family on shore to give him space and he would land. The family was excited and helped but a bunch of rocks around for a perimeter. 

Ka'ale hauled out at a westside location about 8:45am.  They called the hotline because the beach was crowded and filling up fast. No volunteers came out but Team Billand had a couple of friends that helped out. Ka'ale decided to give everyone a good laugh when he galumphed up to a blue bag, sniffed and turned away.

Team Billand found Aukai RL12 twice. First at 9:30 foraging off electric beach and then at noon when she finally hauled out at a west side location.

At 9:45 am Team Billand found Kawena RH36 on the rocks alone and resting

At 10:53 they found RH76 Kala alone inland on the the right rocks. Waves were coming in but she remained.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:15 to 2:05.There were four critters on island today.

On LPB (left point beach) there were two seals:

RG32 adult male, 2 tags, sandy male belly and applied N11 bleach on right side. He went down to the water once and back up the embankment.

An UJM unknown juvenile male, light male belly, new coat and 2 tags. He went down to the water and back up over the embankment twice.

At 12:45 a seal was hauling out between 3BS and SRI. Marilyn believes this to be RK37 based on her juvenile size, 2 tags, light female belly and natural bleach on her lower left side.

Out on RRB (rocky right beach) was a weaner sized seal, with light female belly, no tags, no applied bleach. This very well could be PO5.

Rocky is home

Nohea N2

Kalani RN14

Ka'ale RH32

Aukai

Kawena

Kala RH76

RH32 Kaale and RH36 Kawena

RG32 N11 and UJM

PO5

RK37

Rocky swimming in

09/13/2020 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand,  Marilyn and Lesley. Lesley's Ka'ena report is from her very busy Saturday.

Marilyn had a slow day viewing Rabbit Island, there were only three seals. (once upon a time that was normal :-)   

Lanikai side of the 1BS was RG32 alone. He was ID'd by adult male, old coat with a lot of green, 2 tags and an applied N11 bleach.  He moved up and down the beach several times.

On the Makapuu side of the 3BS was an unidentified juvenile male. UJM had a new coat, light colored male belly and two tags. Not much else to go on since most of the views were from the flipper end.

There was a juvenile female weaner, light female belly, no tags and no applied bleach on her right side,

so this very well could be PO5.

Team Billand first found Kaale at the outfall. He then left and headed out to electric beach. There he hauled out and went way up on shore.  A second seal passed with a very nice coat. The second seal is seen hauling out at another nearby beach.  

As they got closer they saw a woman walking towards the seal with her phone out. Looked like the seal wanted to go further up but the lady stayed in place. The seal turned and Team Billand was able to ID R3CX Nalu by his bleach on the left of his face. He ended up leaving the area. Team Billand did some outreach with the woman.

Team Billand next find was RL20 Kalua. He was on the rocks, snoozing in the sun, looking handsome. He is still molting on his back area and his applied bleach is no more.

They were surprised to see another seal in the high mid rock. It was RL70 moving out of the site in a hurry. Luckily they were able to get a couple of pictures.

Then just before noon they went back to check on Ka'ale but he was gone from electric beach. They looked around and sure enough they see TWO seals on shore at a nearby beach.  Here is Ka'ale RH32 now in the company of Aukai RL12.  She has a beautiful new coat, and he is very green.

Aukai moved down, Ka'ale kept an eye on her, especially with so many people around. Team Billand did the best they could letting people know to keep their distance.

PO5

RG32

UJM

Ka'ale RH32

2nd seal in the water passing by

R3CX Nalu

RL20 Kalua

RL70 Leina

AuKai and Kaale