MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 6/26/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

6/26/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Lesley, and Marilyn! Yes Marilyn is home from her vacation.

Team Billand spent the early morning hours at the outfall this morning and found Ka'ale foraging. Seems he is really making the most of the all you can eat buffet. Over a four hour period they observed him eating 17 Akule and one stickfish.

After a couple of hours Team Billand spotted a second seal coming in, it was RN14 Kalani. He headed right over to his buddy Kaale who was too busy stuffing his face. They met, Kaale sniffed him out, and a fight broke out in the middle of the outfall. After the fight RN14 took off in a westerly direction without Ka'ale.

After spending a goof part of the morning with Ka'ale, they headed out for a trek to Ka'ena West trail.
They came across RIP RR70 in the shallows snoozing alone and

Ka'ena was on the right rocks alone. They kept tabs on each other and every once in a while let a whoop. Both are looking nice and healthy, no hooks or lines or new marks.

At the 30 minute mark they saw lots of folks below in the ponds, there were three ladies taking photos. There were two seal in the pond sleeping. Seeing people that close is frustrating and sometimes all you want to do is.... well not nice things.

Turns out the two critters were RE74 Benny and RL42 Leia. Benny is for sure is being his best gentleman self and staying close to RL42. Barbara didn't say anything to the women by the pond in feat what she would say would not be nice, so best to just leave it be.

Lesley is having computer problems so her update is brief. She checked on the weaners before going out to Ka'ena Point. RK88 Puna was sleeping mid beach and RK40 Napua was hauled out on a mini sand patch in front of one of the Keiki Coves. A couple of hours later Puna had moved further up the beach from being washed by the very high tide waves. Napua was being tumbled in the Keiki Cove like in a washing machine until she decided to haul out in the same spot as earlier.

Out at Hidden Beach RW02 PvKauai was neat the waterline sleeping and hadn't moved an inch when Lesley saw him on her return trip.

Unfortunately when she got to the point she was skunked, seems all the critters went to the west side.

Diga and I met up with Marilyn at the pier today and we spent about 2 hours observing the island.
On Left Point Beach we found a plump (FATTY), untagged HMS that we presume to be a now weaned PO6. PO6 spent most of the time on its back. From our observations, and lots of conversation we believe that PO6 is a female. BUT we will await NOAA's word on that when they tag PO6. We also observed a natural white bleach on its left side about 2/3rds of the length from its head.

About 20 feet to the right of the 3BS we found a tagged seal that we believe to be RK38 Hali'a. She moved down to the waters edge about the time we left.

Marilyn checked in at ADs this morning and then again this evening when she left the pier.

In the morning RK24 was playing in his favorite tide pool about 30 feet inside the SRA. When she made it back this evening he was about 20 feet outside the SRA was sleeping on the sand. He entered the water about 7pm and was seen playing and eating a sea cucumber (eww). He was still in the water when Marilyn left.

Also Marilyn was informed there was another seal outside the SRA. This seal was amongst the shore rocks and with the evening glare was difficult to see or get good photos. Marilyn did get a shot of his 1KT tag. This seal was seen by Lesley on 6/18 at Ka'ena Point.

Ka'ale RH32