MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 10-7-11 DB Dailies

Friday, October 7, 2011

10-7-11 DB Dailies

Today's adventure actually begins last night, at 1949, with a call from Dera, who was reporting an U/U called in by campers at Kaupo Beach Park. I was there at 0600 and found only an up and down trail at the people's camp site. In speaking with the campers and questioning them about what they saw, it became apparent that it might well have been Benny (RE74) that they had seen, but nothing conclusive.

On my 0641 check of Makapuu Beach I found Irma (R010) at the left end of the beach. I cordoned her off and continued the adventure.

Marilyn had gone to AD on the Dawn Patrol at 0600, while I did the KBP check. When I got there at 0715 she had everything set up, at the 300 yd east of the AD wall location site , and was briefing the first shift of the day. Kaiwi (RK96) was snoozin' high on the beach, at the vegetation line.

Morning shifts reported that she had entered the water and that she had swum 200 yds to the west to her birth location, and then returned to her starting location. When I got back at 1300 she was lolling in the shallows at her starting point.

At 0939 posse member June Kawamata called to advise that an U/U was swimming off shore of the pup site. When I arrived and spoke with June about what seen, and learned that the animal had continued swimming in a westerly direction, I had a mean feeling I knew who this was gonna' be. I immediately departed for the east end of Sandy Beach, and was standing there, signs and rope in hand when young master Benny (RE74) hauled out to Sandy Beach. The boy is back !!

I got back to Sandy Beach at 1228, to find that Benny was gone. Witnesses said he had departed of his own volition at 1200. I returned to AD to advise the crew that Benny was on the loose again, but there were no new Benny sightings as of 1300.

Dana called at 0913 to advise that Diane Gabriel had reported Right Spot (R016) on the Kahuku side of the point, and she had also observed and U/U swimming toward the hotel. The U/U would turn out to be La'akea (RK82). Both DIGA and Vera Cober sent grrrrrreat shots of La'akea. Unfortunately, La'akea was out on the reef behind the hotel. So far at least, she is staying away from all the greasy people, and hangin' out on the gnarly coral that Ua likes so much. At 0914

Team Billand checked in to report RO28 at Maili Point. This is the first sighting since a report two weeks ago from a Ka'ena Point visitor advising of R028 with a fish hook. Marilyn had not seen her on last weekend's trek. Barbara got a careful look at her, and there was no hook visible. It may well have been nothing from the start, but it's still comforting to know that she is okay. At 0945 Team Billand checked in again, after nearly been washed off the water front rocks, to advise that they had found Kermit (R4DG) also at Maili Point.

Security guard , Bobby reported both Kekoa (RK72) and Ewa Girl (RS00) at the Reef Runway site, approximate 10 ft apart,today. Team Billand and advised that posse member Eileen had also reported that both had been there yesterday also.

Irma getting some needed rest... especially with Benny in the neighborhood