MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 4/15/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1 )

Sunday, April 15, 2018

4/15/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1 )

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn, Lesley, Gayle and Canadian posse pals Darlene & Todd. Lesley's complete update is part 2 of the dailies.

Marilyn was out at the pier today from about 10:30 am to about 13:15 today. Mom and PO1 were near the entrance to Seal Rock Inlet when she arrived and they quickly started a snooze session. Later the tide was rising so they moved further up and to the left and had a feeding session. Marilyn did not observe any swim sessions today.

Between Mom & PO1 and the 3BS were three critters that started out as a clump on or behind the waterfront rocks. They later moved up. The leftmost HMS in the photos is RN46 Kea ID'd by his male belly and natural bleach on RFF. The middle seal UM#1 appears to be a subadult and showed her a lighter colored male belly.

She believes he may be the same critter that was keeping Mom & pup company yesterday based on size and light belly. The HMS on the right UM#2 in the photos is an adult male but Marilyn saw no further identifying marks. He may be the UM#2 from yesterday.
As the day went on weather viewing conditions deteriorated.

Canadian posse Darlene and Todd got lucky today and found RH58 Rocky at Magic Island today. I am thrilled they got to see our ole gal.

Gayle found Kaiwi RK96 today and she is looking good, but the water is looking pretty brown. Let's hope it clears soon and none of us get sick from it. She also spotted 3 critters on Rabbit Island today, which I will assume are the 3 amigos Marilyn mentioned.
Gayle received a photo of a UM from her friend Kathy, seal was out at Traks.

Team Billand had a busy day as usual, at 6 am they were at Paradise Cove, and upon arrival they heard bellowing. At the waters edge there was Kalani RN14 alone, but by the time the camera was ready he entered the water swimming in the lagoon. When they got to Kahe Point there was Kalani again bellowing out loudly. Poor guy is looking for a buddy but no one is around. He finally settles on the rocks.

A stop at a Leeward Beach is where they found RIP RR70, he was on the lower rocks. On their afternoon check he was gone.

At 9:42 while passing Yoks they saw a seal on the shore, when they got to the site they ID'd R353.

They called the hotline. Team Billand rechecked after their Ka'ena West hike, she was still there. She moved down the cliff, to the best of their knowledge there was no volunteer.

On their Ka'ena West hike they found RL42 on the rocks. The tide was coming up but she was still there on their way out.

They rechecked the Leeward Beach and they spotted a little seal in a small pond making its way to the rocks. It was Lei Ola. She made her way to the rocks went on her side to bask in the sun alone.

Checking in on one of their earlier stops where they found Kalani (RN14) alone most of the day, on

this trip they heard some commotion and there were two seals below fighting. Ka'ale RH32 and RN14 Kalani. Seems Ka'ale wanted to land but RN14 wanted to play rough. Then he tried getting away and hid by the rocks below the surface but RN14 found him and the fight was on. Finally RN14 lost sight of Ka'ale who was hidden in a crevice. Kalani RN14 kept bellowing loud for his bud, bobbing his head, body out of the water to his waist. Very persistent (hmmm reminds me of Benny).

Late EMAIL from posse Justin reported he found 4 critters at Ka'ena Point today. Justin was kind enough to send a video but unfortunately I couldn't load it. (bummers)

Mystery Mom and PO1