MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 1/21/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Monday, January 22, 2018

1/21/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Tammy, Gayle and Marilyn. Early morning email from Lesley brought news from yesterday's Ka'ena Point update.

Team Billand did their early morning search and came across a seal at Paradise Cove at 6:15 am. The seal was ID'd as RO28 Pohaku she was up near the naupaka. They set up a zone, made a call to Hotline and left a message. They stuck around to educated visitors who came in and met a really nice couple from Australia. Pohaku was alert, turned over, settled. plows her way through the sand and settles again. Team Billand left Pohaku at 7:45 am when volunteer Karen K arrived.

Team Billand's next stop at a Leeward Beach they saw a seal coming in real fast up on the rocks and its Kaale RH32. He immediately went to sleep. Shortly after they see a seal plop on the rocks scurry behind the rocks. It took a bit but they were able to ID Kolohe RW22 giveaway was his cue ball bleach mark.

And then there is a third seal coming to haul in on the rocks, takes it's time going by Kaale. Seal is ID'd as RW02 PvKauai turns to face his back to Kaale, who pops up and charges toward PvKauai, they head butt (no surprise) sniff. PvKauai has enough and tries to leave with Kaale right at his butt. Both leave the site and head into the open ocean. At 10:34 am RW02 returns, slowly hauls up for the day. They did not see Kaale after that.

The last find of the day for Team Billand was a seal in Makua, alone snoozing. Unable to get a clear ID they were looking when the heard a huge ROAR of 15 Harleys passing by with full throttle. The seal didn't like it flipped over and whalah there is a tag. It's Ka'ena partial tag an O and bleach spot on side. Way to go bikers!!!

Tammy was solo today and headed to Ka'ena Point this morning. She found one critter in the water and all she could see was CC scar on its back. Anyone have any clues please feel free to share who this UU might be! While watching the main pool hoping the U/U would return or another show up, Tammy heard a snort from behind her. The was hauling out at back beach and Tammy was able to ID RL42 looking big and beautiful.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from Makai pier from approximately 1130 to 1300. There were 2 seals when she got there and when she left. RN46 Kea was about 50 feet west of the 1st blue sign on LPB. He was identified by his large natural bleach on his RFF, he later moved closer to the water and further west.

The second critter possibly a male was near the water line almost straight in front of the 1BS among the waterfront rocks. The seal had a light-colored muzzle, a blotchy belly and was of indeterminate size. The seal stayed in the same position.

Gayle spotted only Kea, on Rabbit Island and I'm unsure of the time frame. Gayle mentioned only seeing one seal and that Kea was gone when she returned after lunch.

Pohaku RO28