04/01/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Happy Easter to all of you, I hope you had a blessed day.
Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and Todd & Darlene.  In yesterday's news I got some additional photos of Buster at Plains.

Our Canadian posse team Todd & Darlene sent word they were skunked again today. They thought this morning would different as they spotted a seal slowly swimming along the shoreline towards the outrigger, from their condo lanai. Unfortunately the critter never hauled out anywhere they checked.
They also graciously shared with me when they met DB in 2012 at Spitting Cave and fast became friends.

After a long hiatus Marilyn got back to Makai Pier today to scope out Rabbit Island. She noted there is a major change to the pier lanai. They have added a bathroom where DB used to sit. Marilyn thinks it should be the DB Dunlap Memorial Lua. LOL She's pretty sure he would get a good laugh from that.  (I just want them to add a hole so one can still see Rabbit Island while sitting :-)

Marilyn had been there for about 30 minutes when she finally spotted to seals near 4 colorful balloons that were on the rock flats to the Kailua side of the Island. The overcast and vog made for difficult viewing. Both seals took their turn bobbing their heads checking out the balloons. One of the seals was definitely RN46 Kea ID'd by his natural bleach on his RFF. Initially she thought the othere was Kolohe, but looking closer she decided the natural bleach was too far back on the right side to be him. The other possibly choices would be RN14 or R016 Right Spot. This critter was reported as a UU since she can't be sure, so frustrating. 

Unfortunately the seals weren't the only ones on the island. There were two sets of "bad guys" who went on the island today. One guy went onto the beach near the seals and Kea was aware of him. DOCARE was called, and when Marilyn left the DOCARE truck was in the area, but she doesn't know if they got to the person.
A second call was made to DOCARE, when Marilyn arrived at Alan Davis in the morning she found a large lay net by the back inlet. She was told DOCARE did not find the net (let's hope it was pulled out, by the person who put it there).

Team Billand spent a long time observing a seal at a Leeward Beach. The seal was foraging doing 8 to 10 minute dives. The critter never landed but they were able to ID'd R3CU by his cookie and bleach spot.

As they were leaving the site, walking back to the care, Barbara spotted another seal swimming by quickly making a turn out to sea. No sooner noted here comes a seal into the site, seemingly a little nervous, and cautious. They ID'd Lei Ola, they looked around for any other animals which would explain her nervous cautious behavior. Lei Ola proceeded over the rocks up to lower rock checking it out. Tide was so low she was unable to get up, she flipped over and rolled into the shallows.  She soon snuggled in the rocks just for about 5 minutes, popped over, galumphed over the rocks looking around. She went up on lower rocks and then settled for the day, where she was well hidden. Other than being a little nervous she is healthy and still with her hook.

 Two critters & balloons 

 I could see why they would be spooked

 I would much rather see DB sitting there, but I am sure he's somewhere having a good laugh

Buster - Yesterday's News from the plains

 R3CU swimming by

 foraging doing 8 to 10 minute dives

Lei Ola coming in for the landing

 a series of photos showing her approach

 she seems convinced something is behind her

 finally settled down and resting