6/14/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1 )

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Lesley. Lesley provide a morning and afternoon update today in part 2 of the dailies.

Team Billand spotted RH32 Ka'ale into the outfall at 6:13 am this morning. He started to forage in the middle, blowing bubbles, maybe looking for some taco. He was doing 6 minute dives, caught something but can't tell what he's eating.  He was alone in the outfall area, doing his thing for about an hour, and then they lost site of him.
They left and headed out to a Leeward Beach and sure enough Ka'ale hauls out alone on the rocks.  

Next stop they found Kekoa Alii RK72 alone on the rocks snoozing. He moved to the water hole and cooled off.  It was a really hot day, I'm surprised Team Billand didn't go for a dip themselves.

Team Billand returned to check on Ka'ale and found a volunteer on site. I know they were hoping NOAA would be coming to check on him, but since he's on the rocks that wasn't going to happen.

During the course of the day they did their usual checks at the westside beaches. Then on their 4th check in with RH32 Ka'ale they saw a seal coming up on the rocks close to Ka'ale. The critter was looking green, and were a little confused thinking it was Ka'ale at first..... But no, and much to their shock and awe it was Lei Ola RH48 ID'd by her lip piercing.  ( I am just going to point out these two both were born in 2016 and have an attachment to fishing hooks ... er no pun intended :-)
She approached Ka'ale, he does nothing just looks, she moves closer. He sniffs, she sniffs and she rolls over. He went from 0 to 60, and she took off in the shallows. They roll about, left the shallows, moving further out.  Team Billand stayed and watched the pure joy of these two beautiful critters at play for an hour.  But it was time to go, Lady Ocean gave them a special gift today.

Ka'ale RH32

 Kekoa Alii RK72

 Ka'ale

 Lei Ola RH48

 Playing  hooky