MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 6/2/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Saturday, June 2, 2018

6/2/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and Melody. There were lots of people at the Ocean Fest at Turtle Bay today. This is year seven of a wonderful event put on by the North Shore Education Coalition. It was a real pleasure to go there today and see so many old friends, and NEW friends too!

Team Billand' first checked the outfall, the fishermen there told them there were no seals seen today. So they continued to check the other spots here and there no critters. They were watching for dolphins, when Barbara spotted some movement. It was Ka'ale RH32 coming in cautiously. He made a dive in the water made another round, checking the location and finally hauling out. There was one woman who came by took pictures of Ka'ale and then went and joined a group of people that appeared to be going diving. Team Billand rechecked Ka'ale later in the day and he was still there resting peacefully.

Team Billand with mini seal posse Olivia headed out to Ka'ena West. They walked to the 40 minute mark and didn't see any seals and sat on the rocks to rest and scan the area. They started to head back, out of the gate they were sharing binoculars with some tourist when they spotted a turtle. As they were all talking. "Eagle eyes" Barb spotted a seal passing. she told Olivia "Quick we have to go, the seal is coming." Olivia was hot and tired ( and I can understand why) but Grandma insisted they move at warp speed. They spot the seal coming in, Barbara telling the little one to hurry we have to see who it is.... Olivia's response I can help Grams I can make the ID call. ( Got to love this kid ).
They finally caught up where the seal was hauling in, tip towing looking from above they got the ID, his big cookie scar gave it away Ka'ena RO40. Shortly after Ka'ena turned and left the site heading further West.

They left the site to go get some well deserved lunch with a little bit of a minor catastrophe. Olivia dropped her Oreos on the ground and REALLY wanted to pick them up, but Grandma said Nope it's for the mongoose now. What an incredible experience for little Olivia to be growing up with such wonderful memories.

After bringing mini posse home Team Billand went to check a couple spots and on one of the Leeward beaches they found RN14 Kalani. They spotted him on the lower rocks sleeping and mostly dry. They rechecked on him and he was still out cold. Poor guy his Molokai trip must have worn him out.

Marilyn checked in on Kaiwi and PO3 this morning. When she arrived at 6 this morning they were already in the water. After swimming for a bit, they hauled out to feed. The pup is packing on the pounds.
Marilyn went back this evening for about an hour and Mom and pup were high up in the naupaka as they been for most evenings.

Marilyn sat at the Pier from about three plus hours today, and what a day it was. As soon as she started viewing the island she saw SIX critters, all to the Kailua side of the 1BS. Sadie RB12 and PO6 (Day 22) were on left point beach where they usually have been spotted. About 20 ft to the left of them on the rocks flats, she briefly saw weaner RK38 Hali'a who almost immediately disappeared into a tide pool. She was not seen again. Sadie and pup entered the water about 12 and swam for about an hour when they hauled out.

Further towards the Kailua side on the rock flats there were three seals. They were RK72 Kekoa, further to the left ID'd by his male belly and his applied N2 bleach, which made it easy to see, but the photos don't do it justice. Then there was RG40 HOLOKAI !!!! whose camera/transmitter was clearly visible on his anterior dorsal surface and light colored male belly. Finally there was an unknown adult seal possible male.

THIS is BIG news, Holokai has never been seen outside the north shore area.... for him to be on Rabbit Island WOW. I can only imagine what DB would be saying. Based on some conversations today it's likely he followed an adult from North Shore to the East Side. And a good guess would be Right Spot since they were both on NS and she was seen on the East Side in the last couple of days. WOW!!!

In yesterday's news department Marilyn stopped on her way home to check in on Kaiwi and pup, but as she was driving home she notices a seal at the outfall end of Sandy Beach. There was an SRA set up and she is pretty sure the seal was Buster RV08. She did not call it in since there was an SRA but when she arrived at the pup site volunteers said there had been no information about a Sandy Beach Seal. Hmmmm

Melody was volunteering at Ocean Fest Event today with HMSPO (Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation Ohana). During a break in the afternoon she decided to take a ride and check in on Weaner RK80/81. When she arrived she was snoozing in the hot sun, but didn't take too long for her to move up when the the tide started to roll in. The water hit her flipper and she moved quite a bit and then headed out into the cove. Melody observed her foraging on her own and looks like she was getting some food rather than debris. Love when weaners start foraging on their own, they're sooo chubby and buoyant it's really hard for them to dive deep. LOL

Long time volunteer and educator Jean Compton manning the HMSPO booth GREAT TURNOUT at the event - Mahalo Jean!