11/30/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: RI37 Ipo, RE74 Benny, RR70 RIP, UU@Campbells, R016 Right Spot, 3 Rabbit Island Critters

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team Tammy&Dave, and Gayle.  

Tammy & Dave checked the north shore, Kawela Bay and Turtle Bay. Their timing wasn't great since they were coming up empty. Their only find and a good one was a stop at Hauula were they found Ipo RI37.

Team Billand out at Makaha again at the crack of dawn. They found Benny RE74 at 5:50 am about 75% molted. At 7:26 am Benny left the site going straight out to the surfers line up. Barbara described one surfer was "shocked" to see a seal by him, Benny snorted and took off. Unfortunately she didn't get the picture, but I know our imaginations can get create quite a good image. They never saw Benny for the rest of the day. The Hotline was notified twice.


Their Maili check they found RIP RR70 on lower rocks alone and looking much healthier, as he has gained back some weight.  On their next check of the area he was gone, the entire area was white with huge surf.

Day three Team Billand found a UU foraging off shore. No ID available, too much glare, waves were huge. If we were to go on hunches, Barbara thinks today's UU might be Aukai RL12. If it is Aukai she's eating up lots and lots because we think she going to be a first time momma this year. 

Gayle found Right Spot R016 at the keiki pool where she stayed all day. Right Spot was still there when Gayle left this evening.  There were 3 critters on Rabbit Island. (I checked and only saw three... if anyone finds another I'll you a nickel).

 RI37 IPO

Benny 

RIP

 UU foraging at Campbells

3 Rabbit Island Critters

 Right Spot 

11/29/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: RW02 PVKauai, Benny, RL42, UUs @Campbells, & Right Spot

Today's dailies are brought to by Team Billand, Lesley and Gayle.  Also a very special note for today's blog, a small group of us got together to celebrate Mrs. Whisper's Birthday.  Good food, fine wine, delicious cake and GREAT company. Happy Birthday Marilyn !!!

Lesley found RW02 PVKauai at Camp Erdman Point today. The trail was all the way up behind the Naupaka, looks like he overnighted. He was at Back Beach Ka'ena Point yesterday afternoon. A bit of a surprise, good that his tags were visible.

Team Billand out at the crack of dawn once again found da Benny at Makaha all the way up in the Naupaka in front of the Bamboo House. They quickly put up a zone with sticks and rocks (no signs available).  
As they were finishing the zone, there was another seal coming in and hauling out. RL42 got it bad for Benny. The hotline was called and informed about both seals. 
In the few hours they spent with Benny and RL42 they watched how RL42 stayed close to Benny. Benny would move down first, RL42 woke up and found she was alone, then quickly moved down to Benny. They both remained at the waters edge.  RL42 giving Benny a taste of his own medicine.
Team Billand educated folks who came by and the Yoga couple went around the zone today and did their yoga outside the zone. Thank goodness for the small gifts. 
At 10:25 volunteer arrived, Team Billand left to check other sites.

Team Billand's only other find for the day was two U/Us at Campbells. Although Barbara thought she might have seen a third towards the end. No identification was possible.  Seals were doing 5 minute dives, but at 300 feet away rough surf not much to go on. One seal has a clean coat, the other darker in color both adults. The "possible" third seal was smaller in size with a clean coat.

Gayle found Right Spot at her usual spot at Sandys. She snoozed the day away and was still there under tonight's big bright half moon.

RW02 PVKauai

 Benny RE74

 Benny barking at RL42

 RL42 trying to charm her way 

 Benny not impressed and he's on the move

 RL42 not letting him go 

 She's trying her moves again

 Benny really playing hard to get... maybe he'll feel better when he finishes his molt

UUs off Campbells 

 Right Spot

11/28/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Benny, RN14, Ka'ale and 2 U/Us off Campbells

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Lesley. I included Lesley's full report and photos in part 2, she had a big day with five seals.

Team Billand was out at Makaha at 6 am found a seal snorting by the Naupaka. It was da Benny and he wasn't happy. The yoga couple was out again do their thing walked into in the zone. Benny reacted by leaving the zone. At 6:50 am Benny headed straight out in the water. After waiting for several hours Benny never came back, they did call the hotline to inform.

Team Billand's next find was RN14 at Maili. He was on lower rocks, kept looking around, but they never saw any other seals around.

Barbara was thrilled to find sweet Ka'ale at Kahe, on the rocks. He was on his back showing off his big white belly just chilling. He's looking very healthy nice girth and cute as ever.

Lastly Team Billand saw two critters foraging off of Campbells.  Initially there was just one seal foraging doing 5 minute dives, then the dive times changed because there now was a second seal. They spent time trying to get an ID but it's never easy when they're 300 ft off shore. Both adults, one was light in color (as in recently molted) little green around the face. The other was grubby fur. They both had tags but unable to read. That's okay just good to know they are out there.

Da Benny 

 Benny and the Yoga Folks 

 RN14 Ka'ale RH32

  RN14  Ka'ale butt shot

 such a sweet face 

 UUs foraging off of Campbells

11/28/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: (Part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Point Update

I started out to Ka’ena Pt past noon due to iffy weather.

At 10 Mnts Beach RN58 “Luana” was hauled out. She will always have a puppy face for me, but her body…. Well she’s looking very healthy.

At the point RW02 “PVKauai” and R330 “Squinty” were hauled out on Back Beach. Both headed down to the waterline got pounded by waves then turned back up the beach. Seems they’ll overnight.

They were LOTS of trails on the beach, most of them with left-overs, the smell was quite strong everywhere.

I was surprised to see the number of hikers on a Tuesday afternoon, did lots of outreach. An Asian man tried to tell me he saw 2 seals on the Waianae side. Later other hikers told me the were 2 seals near the entrance gate on the Waianae side. Of I went, to find RO40 “Ka’ena” (molt 10%) and R3CU.

I back tracked, saw the 2 seals sleeping peacefully on Back Beach.

I was a hard hike back with the wind gusts on my face, on the 5+ hours I was out there I saw heavy rain all around and only got the out skirts with some light blessings.

RN58 “Luana” was still at 10 Mnts Beach but further up, away from the big waves washing the beach.

That beach is the vortex of this side and gets all the plastic / sea debris.

 Luana

 PVKauai RW02 

Welcome back Squinty

 R3CU & RO40 Ka'ena

 R3CU 

 Ka'ena