6/18/18 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Lesley, our seal pal Val and Tony Q with news of a surprise visit to the east side.
Looks like today was one of those days when there were surprises, both in a new kid on island and an unusual sighting on the east side.

Team Billand was out early in the morning and spotted da kid at the outfall. Once again Ka'ale helping himself to the morning buffet. They saw him eating Akule minus the hooks. He spent over two hours eating, I guess it was an all you can eat buffet. He then went up to the rocks and to sleep.

Team Billand spotted a critter at Makaha, and when they got to the site they found Benny and RL42 Leia. Benny was at her side keeping tabs on her every move, and being a gentleman. They did have a few whoops at each other at times.  Hmmm good chance da Benny will be a papa in 11 months.
The hotline was called and updated. Team Billand hung out with the Benny and Leia since there were lots of people arriving.  Team Billand departed when a volunteer arrived. 

At a Westside Beach they spotted a young female, she is covering what they need to see to ID her but Barbara is pretty sure it's Lei Ola RH48. Finally she shows her tags and her lip piercing. They didn't stay long as to not bring attention to her. She is resting comfortably.

So I received a late afternoon message from Tony and he was checking out two critters on the east side with our posse pal Gayle. Well much to his surprise and I am sure Gayle they ID'd Kea RN46 with his big natural bleach mark, and Honey Girl R5AY by her tag.  When I received this message my jaw dropped since this is not a normal part of the island for her.  Nice to see her doing well.
THANK YOU Tony!

Our seal pal Val sent an email confirming her conversation with Lesley today and our new Oahu visitor R1KT/T37 at Ka'ena Point. Val saw him last Friday on some rocks near the airport (Kauai) and today he's on Oahu. This is what makes communication between islands, and seal pals so valuable, and it benefits our HMS.  
So Val was motivated to check out an area she hadn't visited since last January. By following her seal instincts she headed out and low and behold she found a seal. RK14 large female, in her mid teens logging in a tide pool. She was able to ID her by several of her scars. She is looking very round so hopefully there will be another seal pup in the world soon.  Val, ya done good !

And in a news followup to the loss of Ua Malie and Nani, here is the link to the news story from the evening news. http://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/disease-found-to-kill-monk-seals-also-puts-people-at-risk/1248173462

Ka'ale at the all you can eat buffet 

 Benny and Leia RL42

Lei Ola

 Kea & Honey Girl

Kauai Girl RK14