MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: August 2013

Saturday, August 31, 2013

8-31-2013 DB's Dailies:

At 0550 I found Kea (RN46) lolling in his nook, tide pool at the rock flats 200yds east of the wall. He would leave the tide pool at 0818 and begin a leisurely swim/ forage session heading west. He would haul out to his usual snooze rock at the rock flats, 100 yds east of the wall at 0939.

During the morning there would be two brief visits from Benny (RE74). He swam through checking the spot were Kea had been yesterday, but not finding anybody continued on to the east. At 0957 he would once again swim through, again checking the beach but finding nobody, and once again continued east. That was not to be the end of Benny. At 1124 Tati called with the report of an animal at Kaupo Beach Park. When I arrived witnesses said he had swum through but people lining the shore would not allow him to haul out, and the animal departed. While I was talking with the witnesses at 1140, Benny made a return visit. Once again the adoring hordes would not allow him to haul out, lining the shore with their camera/phones in hand. I honestly don’t think he had hauling out in mind anyway. He was simply checkin’ for chicks, and finding nobody he continued the adventure.

Surfers at the AD break reported Benny in the line up at 1300.

At 1333 Ocean Safety reported an animal at Sandy Beach. When I arrived at 1337, of course I found Benny !

Sandy Beach lifeguards reported Benny’s departure at 1449. He tried to haul out to the far east end but the masses wouldn’t allow it, and he departed.

At 0640 Team Billand reported M&M (R020) at Kalaeloa Campgrounds. She would be run off by fishermen, but returned at 1648.

At 0936 the found Kolohe (RW22) at Secrets.

Lesley called at 1206 to report that she had spent with morning with R912&Pup, and also did th Ka’ena Pt trek, finding Ka’ena (RO40) at Ka’ena’s Pool, at the end of the world.

Team Billand reported Pohaku (R020) at Maili Pt at 1648.

The Billands reported that RIP (RR70) had joined M&M at Kalaeloa Campgrounds.

At 1813 the Billands reported that RIP had lots of fishing line wrapped around his transmitter. Much had been cut away, but they said 30 ft or so remain. I don't know if I missed it or not but I didn't see any of the photos of this.... not sure if there were any photos... hopefully the matter was handled and RIP is free from any tangled lines

Check the blog in the morning for the Billand's day.

Benny on the prowl at ADs

then Benny hits up Kaupo Beach Park

And finally makes his way to Sandy's for a rest

Benny sure knows how to get around especially at the beginning of a long holiday weekend

Kea hitting his fav spots

R912 and pup... boy this kid loves nursing... it's tail is always up in the air...!!!

Okay so is that a little bleach mark at the flipper tip?

okay mom's tail is in the air.... maybe it's genetic ?

Ka'ena

Had the whole place to himself

8-31-2013 Team Billand

I will do my best to keep these photos straight... They were really large files and the amount of time it took to re-size I lost track of what was what.... so Barb forgive me if I screw up.

Kolohe

A deceased turtle was pulled to shore

and then buried with the sticks marking the area

Pohaku

fisherman's lines got crossed and tangled

they're attempting to detangle in the meantime entering into the protection zone

MM lets them know what she thinks about that

Friday, August 30, 2013

Yesterday's News (8-29-2013)

Laurie Finley sent this very cute picture of MM from Thursday.... Laurie commented that is looks like she is sporting a new doo... MM goes punk with a Sand Mohawk!!!
Thank you Laurie, love the pic.!

8-30-2013 DB's Dailies: Kea@AD, Right Spot & Benny @ Blowhole&SB, Buster@SB, M&M@KCG, Ka'ena@KP, Rocky@Kaimana Beach,Waikiki

At 0550 I found Kea (RN46) at the rock flats, 200 yds east of the wall. He was in his favorite nook. During the course of the morning he would continue to move east, spending time at his birth spot, and the tide pool at that location , 250 ft east of the wall. He would move another 30 ft or so east before beginning to move back to the west in a leisurely manner. His westward travels would end when he hauled out 150 ft east of the wall. I erected a new SPZ and according to the log he snoozed away the rest of the day there. Angel, the 1-4 shift reported a green seal head bobbing my at 1345. He saw Kea but did not stop. She lost him at the surf site. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that it was Benny. I’ll fill you in on the rest of the story shortly. I did the first and last shifts today, with lots of action in between. Thank you Kathy for relieving me on the last shift, and also to Gayle for above and beyond work with the rest of today’s cast.

After my morning shift I went to Blowhole Lookout at 1019, and found Benny (RE74) and Right Spot (R016) still foraging there.

At 1335 a Sandy Beach lifeguard called with the report of an animal hauling out to the east end of the beach. When I arrived I found nobody, but Buster was at the top of my list. I decided to go to the Blowhole Lookout again to get a better overview of Sandys and to check on the foragers. Immediately on arrival I could see that Benny & Right Spot were now on the beach at Sandys at the extreme , Blowhole end. I quickly went to Sandy Beach, and by the time I got to the location a full body contact, teeth, hair & eyeballs battle was on between Buster & Benny, with Right Spot just trying to stay out of the way. The war went on , nearly non stop from 1200 until 1235, when to my complete surprise Buster won the day, and Benny departed. In my mind that didn’t seem possible, but I’m thinkin’ that after 3 days with Irma, and 3 days with Right Spot, the boy either got (or didn’t get) what he came for, and it was time to move on. Benny made life hell the rest of the day, attempting haul outs at multiple Sandy Beach locations, but the adoring hordes just wouldn’t allow that. He departed for a while (that is when Angel saw him, but then returned to Sandy Beach to haul out at two different spots in the afternoon, required a cordon for each haul out. Thankfully, he departed for good (or at least I hope so) at 1557. Thank you to Gayle for ending the day with Buster & Right Spot, still at the west end of Sandy Beach.

Team Billand reported M&M (R020) at Kalaeloa Campground at 0719.

At 1125 Barbara called from the end of the world with the report of Ka’ena (RO40), with his N9 bleach at Ka’ena Point.

At 1304 Ocean Safety called with the report of an animal at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. When I called Tati she advised that "N11" had been there since 1155 and that Karen Rohter had responded only to arrive just a woman was running Rocky off. I thought that was the end of that, but Ocean Safety called at 1703 to advise that Rocky had left but had returned and had been there all afternoon, with no SPZ. I contacted Tati. I have no further word. I’m guessing that my 1304 call might well have been the return of Rocky but ????

Speaking of Rocky, morning email from Colleen brought news that she had apparently been at the Hale Koa last night. Colleen and Todd responded.

Buster and Benny having a go at it