11/27/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Benny, RL42, RN14, R353, Luana, PVKauai, & U/U

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, posse pal Gayle.  In yesterday's news Justin & Christine T did the Ka'ena Point hike and we also have another photo of the U/U from Trish.

Justin & Christine hiked to Ka'ena Point on the Waianae side on Sunday. They saw three seals in good condition at the point. They saw RW02 PVKauai with flipper tag W14 and a large seal with a rather green coat, a cookie cutter shark bite scar on his back, no flipper tags. A third seal at the point mostly submerged in the main pool, could not determine if there were tags or any markings.
On the trail to Ka'ena Point from the Waianae side they spotted RN58 Luana with flipper tag N59 hauled out on the rocks in the vicinity of a "newish" wreck of a pick-up truck.

Trish sent another photo of our U/U from her sighting. She did confirm the seal had tags but could not get a shot of them. She said there was another woman out there who was very close too the seal taking photos, and Trish nicely asked her to move away. The woman told her the seal was from Kauai. (hmm someone who knows the seal, should know to keep their distance).

Gayle reported only one critter on Rabbit Island and conditions were blustery, wet and cold. 

Team Billand was out and at it before sunrise. At 5:30 am they found Benny RE74 way up at his Naupaka Bush. Benny was alone at this time of the morning. The hotline was called and informed.
Benny is about 55% molted and at 11 am he was very alert and moved down to waters edge.

At 11 am RL42 came around the corner galumphed up shore, sniffing and bobbing her head. She got closer to Benny who immediately let her have a BARK, that stopped RL42 in her tracks. (Is it me or isn't this odd that Benny is the one being pursued by a female and he's upset?) She approached Benny again, he leaped at her with another bark. She rolled over in a submissive move, he came towards her, leaped again, she stood her ground with a loud snort to Benny. In the end, Benny passed RL42 and headed for the water. She in turned over and followed da Benny out to sea. (it was 11:30 am)

Team Billand returned to Makaha at 1 pm to check on any seals. RL42 returned once again without Benny. She sniffed and looked for Benny but was alone. She rolled on her side and settled in. Benny returned to after Team Billand left for the day.

Team Billand's next find at Yok was the miss R353 alone on shore. No one was around, she is looking good and appears to be gaining some weight. The hotline was informed.

At Maili their only find was RN14. He was alone, totally dry snoozing on lower rocks. The area has a lot of homeless and a couple more shanty structures.  RN14 was okay, in spite of the conditions.

 UU full body (from Sunday) 

 One Rabbit Island Critter

Benny' 

 Benny in a Mutant Ninja Turtle look

 Here come RL42

 Benny barking at RL42

 It's usually the females barking at Benny to back off

 RL42 trying to make nice 

 Benny looking really grouchy

 RL42 settling in on her own

 R353 

 RN14