MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 1/19/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Friday, January 19, 2018

1/19/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Gayle and photographer Melody.

Melody found Rocky the past two days at Iroquois. Both days she arrived after 4:00 pm and left sometime before 5 am. The good news she is in a fairly quiet spot and no one has been bothering her.
Melody also came across Buster this afternoon on the west side. He is looking well hanging out by the surf.

Gayle spotted 2 critters on Rabbit Island. Once again the photo has a lot of glare and makes it difficult to see but they're there.

Team Billand first find at 6:15 am found a big seal in the dark snoozing close to the waters edge. At first they couldn't make the ID but as soon as it got light out they ID'd Pohaku RO28. Been a while since this girl been around. They noticed to the side of her face bright yellow spew, taco strips or legs and her face was yellow. (Guess that meal didn't agree with her). She may have another cookie cutter shark bite on her belly near her nipple. They notified the hotline with 2 calls. Robert went and got some signs. They stayed with her for a bit, and spent time talking with the public. One gentleman was so interested and wanted to learn, It's a nice feeling when you come across someone like this, made Team Billand's day. Team Billand left to check on other seals, don't know if a volunteer went to the site.

Next stop for Team Billand was at a Leeward Beach where they saw Kolohe RW22 come in and land on the lower rocks. His cue ball natural bleach mark and tags were nicely visible.
Then they heard bellowing so loud, but couldn't find where it was coming from, they kept looking. Then a seal popped out with mouth wide open, he came in through a small opening in the rocks charging towards Kolohe. They ID'd RN14 Kalani, and Kolohe was not impressed, he just layed on the rocks with one eye looking at Kalani. Kalani galumphed with lightening speed to Kolohe across the small ponds and they finally met, sniffed each other, had some words and settled down.

Then here come Kekoa RK72, he hauls up on the lower rocks on left side. Kalani hears him and immediately charges over to Kekoa. Kekoa remains calm, they meet, sniff, vocalize and sleep. All there boys hanging out together Kekoa RK72, Kalani RN14 and Kolohe RW22. Very cool stuff.

Team Billand back on the road again fighting traffic on the west side. They pulled over at White Plains and found Buster RV08 snoozing with signs up around him, set up the lifeguards. He was ID'd by his eye scar and his natural bleach cue ball on his rump. The hotline was called, don't know if there was any response.

When Team Billand got to Kahe they saw a smaller seal ID'd as Kaale RH32 close to another seal in the pond. Second seal had tags but could not read, had a cookie cutter shark scar on back like RK36 but Barbara isn't sure. They decided to leave the site there was someone approaching and did not want to bring attention to the seals.

Team Billands last stop of the day on the Leeward Side brought them to and I quote "our little hooker" Lei Ola RH48. She was snoozing peacefully, alone, looking comfortable and no signs of stress. The hook is still snug in the left corner of her mouth.

Rocky from Thursday 1/18