MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 2/11/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Monday, February 12, 2018

2/11/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn, Gayle and a couple of posse pals we haven't heard from for a while. Posse Pal RJ Strayhorn and our diver pal Paul Hasley! Lesley's Ka'ena Point update is part 2 of the dailies.

Marilyn check the local Hawaii Kai spots from Alan Davis to Kokee Flats. At 9:30 she was rewarded with the presence of Kaiwi RK96 at Kokee Flats. She was ID'd by the small natural bleach one her forehead, her female body and her eroding K96 tag. She is looking plump but still has some neck.

Gayle also spotted Kaiwi at Kokee flats today and noted she has a shallow "puka" on her chest. Don't know if this is a new marking or not. I do know Gayle has missed her favorite seal on this side for a long time.

Marilyn spent time at Makai Pier from 1040 til 1250 looking at Rabbit Island. At 1043 she found two seals near Seal Rock Inlet. I was immediately able to ID RN46 Kea by his natural bleach on his RFF. She could see tags and he ultimately rolled over and she could see his male belly.

Near Kea was another juvenile to subadult male seal. This seal was smaller than Kea, Marilyn got a clear look at the male belly of the second seal and could also see tags. The belly-chest area was somewhat mottled. Both RN46 and the other male moved down onto the seal rock inlet rocks.

At 1050 Marilyn located another juvenile sized seal to the Kailua side of the 3BS on the waterfront rocks. She could make out an applied N bleach of the dorsal shoulder area and same hazy numbers. Two tags were visible, when the seal rolled over she saw a female belly. Marilyn believes this is N36 Kawena based on the female belly and applied bleach (she has a N37 applied bleach)

Gayle found Kolohe at Lanai Lookout as well as our old friend Paul Hasley. Paul not only saw Kolohe out on the rocks, he captured him underwater too!

Team Billand arrived to a Leeward Beach and didn't see any sign of seals, but then they HEARD some vocals, and sure enough there they were. Kekoa RK72, Kaale RH72 & Benny RE74 were the first to come up vocalizing, galumphing up on the rocks. Initially they had trouble IDing the 3rd seal and was thrilled to find out it was da Benny.

Kekoa stayed back but Kaale head butt Benny .... LOL what a rascal.... He did and he got a piece of Benny. But Kaale kept at it, the little warrior. He is either brave or stupid (maybe a little of both). Benny kept vocals going nipping at Kaale, who finally got the message from da Benny. All three settled in.
Next up RN14 Kalani came in once looked around and left, Came back like a torpedo across the water to the other side, gone again. Finally he hauled up looking for his buddies, but wasn't in the same area as them so he settled in alone.

Last critter of the day for Team Billand turned up on the Westside where they found PvKauai RW02 alone on shore keeping company with a fisherman. They called the hotline and waited for the volunteer to arrive.

Last but not least RJ sent a couple of photos of RG40 Holokai hanging out at Elbow Beach. Thank you RJ.

Video by Paul Hasley of Kolohe