MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 12/30/2017 Monk Seal Dailies : R3CU, R353, Kaiwi RK96, Kekoa RK72, PvKauai RW02, RN14, RIP RR70, Ka'ale RH32, RL42

Saturday, December 30, 2017

12/30/2017 Monk Seal Dailies : R3CU, R353, Kaiwi RK96, Kekoa RK72, PvKauai RW02, RN14, RIP RR70, Ka'ale RH32, RL42

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn, Lesley, and Gayle. There was a quick note from Vicki saying she was out there today but she was skunked.

Marilyn and Lesley did the Ka'ena Point hike today. It was a gorgeous day, there were whales, albatross and of course seals. They didn't see any seals until they got to the point at 9:24 am. There was R3CU on the tocks in the middle of the main pool and R353 high up near the naupaka on the back beach. R3CU was ID'd by his 3CV tag and male belly. R353 was ID'd mostly by the relatively fresh cookie cutter shark bites on her back, her female belly, her lack of flipper tags and lower lip scar. Her wounds are still weeping some, but seem to be healing fine. Lots of people out today and lots of outreach opportunities.

Marilyn checked out Kokee flats when she got back from Ka'ena Point. At 13:53 she found RK96 Kaiwi about halfway along Kokee Flats from the trail. She appears considerably heavier then when she saw her last. She was ID'd by her natural bleach mark on her forhead and eroding K9- flipper tag.

Team Billand arrived at Maili and saw 3 seals on lower rocks and one seal on high rocks. Kekoa Alii RK72 was on the high rocks alone away from all the fun on the lower rocks.

Ka'ale RH32 starts with his heading which RW02 PvKauai isn't going to take today. After a few words, a few heads butts, PvKauai leaves the lower rocks. Ka'ale follows still butting PvKauai, fighting their way off shore. (somewhere between all this head butting, RN14 is resting).

A little later Team Billand spotted three seals off shore, Ka'ale, PvKauai and one more. Kaale comes back to lower rocks and here comes the other seal and it's RIP RR70. Ka'ale lands with RN14 and

they go at it a bit and then settle. Now there is another critter who hauls up all the way to the right on high rocks. Turns out RW02 PvKauai came back. RIP on the other hand decided he doesn't want to deal with Ka'ale so he leaves and forages off shore. However, on their afternoon check RIP was there, all five boys hauled out.

Team Billand next find was at Makua Cliffs where RL42 was on the

rocks resting, alert to the people around. Team Billand decided to not stay long as they didn't want to draw attention to her. Team Billand noted and I quote "She is Big... Fat. "

Gayle had a repeat from yesterday, she spotted one critter on Rabbit Island and one critter at Lanai Lookout. Chances are it's Kolohe but no positive ID was made.

R3CU