2/4/2018 Monk Seal Dailies (part 1) Rabbit Island Critters, Ka'ale RH32, Kekoa RK72, Buster V08, PvKauai RW02 & Rocky RH58 V08

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Gayle, Marilyn, Lesely and photographer Melody. Lesley provided a complete update from Ka'ena point featured in part 2 of monk seal dailies part 2. 

Marilyn spent from 930 - 1150 am at Makai Pier viewing Rabbit Island. She noted that DB always complained how southerly winds caused major winds at the pier and she sure felt that today, as it was hard to hold the camera and scope still. She spotted two critters on Rabbit Island today. On the beach near  Seal Rock Inlet was RN46 (Kea) ID'd by the large natural bleach on his RFF, his male belly and at least one tag. He moved closer to the water but never entered the water.
The othere seal was about 20 feet on the Waimanalo side of the 1BS. The seal appeared to be a large adult, but behind a small log and never showed its belly or any other identifying marks. 
Marilyn left the pier around noon to watch the Super Bowl (and yes it was a good game).

Gayle also spotted 2 critters on Rabbit Island, those were her only sightings of the day.

Team Billand was out at White Plains for sunrise and waited to see if any critters would come out, but they didn't.  They left and soon after they received a call a seal hauled out at White Plains.

The next stop for Team Billand was to a Leeward Beach where they spotted a big white belly immediately and ID'd Kaale RH32. Seems he spent the night in this spot. Barb noted it's amazing how he can lay on those rocks all that time and be comfortable. 

Team Billand noticed a seal riding in with the waves. They got one picture and what happened next was something they had never seen before. Kekoa RK72 thought the wave would just slide him down instead the water disappeared and he dropped head first on the rocks, 4 feet below him. He actually made a sound, Team Billand became concerned that he might be injured, more waves came and consumed him. He remained for about 15 minutes they watched, then he galumphed back up and help on with his flippers. He stayed for the rest of the day and seemed fine.

Team Billand did return to Plains and found that the Lifeguards set up a nice zone for the seal who turned out to be Buster V08. He was sleeping but looked up on occasion at the surfers, then went back to sleep. Team Billand met the woman who called the seal in, she said she saw them earlier and right after they left Buster came up.

Team Billand was back on the road and drove past another beach on the west side and spotted a seal on shore. They made a u turn (hope it was legal :-)  and found RW02 PvKauai, alone and resting in the chilly weather. They didn't stay long and didn't want to draw attention to him.

Email from Melody noted that Rocky RH58 had her own Super Bowl Sunday plans. Apparently Rocky's timing is spot on, she showed up at Iroquois right before kick off alittle after 1:00 and left just after the game ended. ( It also started pouring rain)  Rocky was ID'd by her natural bleach mark on her LFF and her crescent scare above her right nipple.   She had a nice peaceful rest on the beach since it seems everyone was home watching the game. 

Rabbit Island Critter

 Sunrise at white plains

Ka'ale RH32

 Kekoa

 Oops - OUCH!

 what the hell was that?

Buster

 RW02 PvKauai

Rocky