6/4/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand.  I also have an update from today's Rabbit Island observation.

Team Billand was at the Outfall at 5:58 this morning, they saw RH32 Kaale come in and then go out about 300 ft off the Jetty, doing 6 minute dives. Then they lost sight of him. So they left the outfall and headed to one of the beaches close by.

At 6:35 am they spot and hear RN14 Kalani vocalizing, by the time they could get to the area Ka'ale was there and they were having it out. Seems as though Kaale wasn't happy with RN14's behavior, the little guy just wanted to sleep.

Both seals were on the rocks, but Kaale entered the water where they were for a while, hugging, slapping  and then they both swam in the KoOlina direction.  Team Billand got in the car and headed out to Paradise Cove and waited and waited. The critters must have changed their minds because they never showed. So back in the car and back to the Leeward beach. 
They first spotted Kaale hidden in the crevice of the front rocks, for the moment. Then they spotted RN14 in the water by the crevice, waiting for Kaale. Waved started pushing Kaale about so he dived into the shallows with RN14.
Boys will be boys so they went at it again, and it appears RN14 Kalani has matured on his last trip to Molokai and has learned a lot about mounting. Poor Kaale kept moving and rolling and hauled up on the rocks. RN14 stayed in the shallows looking at Kaale.  RN14 hauled up next to Kaale and they both settled down for a nap together.
So the two seal buddies found each other again, and RN14 was letting everyone know by vocalizing.

Team Billands' last find of the day was RW02 PvKauai on their Ka'ena West trek. This was about 10:50 am there was a seal snoozing alone below on the rocks. Barbara was able to see the tag N04, the w seems to have disappeared. He was still there on the walk back to the car. They didn't stay long so they wouldn't attract attention to him. Unfortunately there is a huge umbrella opened by the seal, and too dangerous to remove. The umbrella has been there for a least a week. Hopefully someone who is young, and careful will be able to get to it and remove it.

Today's Rabbit Island observation only lasted an hour this afternoon due to the rain. There were four seals and all were on the left side of the island before the 1BS.  RB12 Sadie and PO6 were clearly visible. PO6 was observed nursing. There was a seal on either side of them.

The seal to the left was approximately 6 ft away. It stayed on it's back with a white belly showing, unable to determine it's sex.

The seal on the right was approximately 8 ft away and showed both side within the hour. Through the scope it looked like the top of the seal was greenish but when it flipped it have a very white belly and possibly a female. Not much to go on.

Ka'ale RH32 & RN14 Kalani 

 RW02 PvKauai

 Sadie RB12 & PO6 and 2 u/u

 U/U

 U/U