7/31/2018 Happy 18th Birthday Rocky!

Couldn't let this one pass us by. Celebrity Mom Rocky RH58 is 18 years old. 

She just had her 11th pup (which I heard was a male) and last year became famous by giving birth at Kaimana Beach in Honolulu. She hit the national news, and with a live camera many fans were created watching her little Kaimana getting into all kinds of trouble!!

Hmmm 11 children but technically not old enough to have a Kaimana Beer.

 Mama Rocky and Kaimana

 Mother to be Rocky

 Enjoying sometime off the sandy beach

7/31/2018 Monk Seal Dailies (part 1) RH32, RH48, RE74&RL42, RR70, and RK96

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Lesley, Melody and Pat G who allowed me to share a couple of photos I found on social media.  Lesley's complete Ka'ena Update is part 2 of the dailies.

Guess where Team Billand was first thing this morning? If you're one of our regular readers you know they were at the all you can eat seafood buffet to check in on RH32 Ka'ale taking advantage of the abundance.  When they got there he was foraging, and they did not observe him stealing from the fishermen today.  
He disappeared about an hour foraging way out to sea, then came back and forage some more. They spotted him with a large fish, unknown what it was but he ate it. When they returned later he was at a nearby beach on the rocks, without a care in the world, looking pretty green.  

Since we are talking about Ka'ale I spied a photo of him on facebook from Pat Gooding. Ka'ale was underwater, and I especially love seeing the cast of critters in the water. Pat was good enough to share another photo he took of him about a week ago. This photo he looks like the "joker" from batman.   ( Barbara you're going to love these!)

Team Billand checked a Leeward beach and initially didn't find anyone. They drove a little further and spotted two "fat" seals snoozing on the rocks. They ID'd Benny RE74 and Leia RL42 looking healthy. Benny was trying to impress Leia (oh Benny!), but she didn't respond.

Team Billand made the Ka'ena West Trek. Their first siting was Lei Ola resting alone on the rocks, She is a good weight, looking green and snuggled all comfy in her waterhole.
On their way out they saw a lady by Lei Ola taking selfies. Barbara made it a point to educate her and the woman was happy to hear it.

A little further in to their Trek they spotted RIP RR70 lounging. At first he was difficult to spot but

experienced eyes spotted him. They were able to ID him from his belly and tags.

Melody was on her way to UH Manoa today so she made a quick detour to check in at Kaimana Beach. There lay miss Kaiwi looking quite shiny and new. She was close to the water's edge looking like she was ready to go for a swim. Melody couldn't stay so she never saw her get into the water.
But while she was there she captured Miss Kaiwi looking quite beautiful.

 Ka'ale RH32

 Underwater photos of Ka'ale

LOL Ka'ale the Joker

Benny RE74 & Leia RL42

Lei Ola RH48 

 RIP RR70

Kaiwi RK96

7/31/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

It was a hot day out there.

My first find was  R330 "Squinty" right down our beach front.

After checking several locations for the weaners I headed out towards the NARS doing my usual monitoring and outreach.

I found RN58 "Luana" at Dragon Rock, well advanced in her molt she jumped from a conservative 10% yesterday to a 40% this morning.

On my way back several hours later I found her hauled out at 10Mnts Beach her molt going past the mornings 40% probably into 50%. This is D4 of her flash molt.

At the point RO40 "Ka'ena" did a swim by on the outside pool of Main Pool then made his way to haul out in his pool.

Back outside, I spent some time doing outreach at the gate then I went looking for the weaners, even though RK88 "Puna" was on the west side yesterday. RK40 "Napua" (F) D88 was hauled out at the PlayPen.

I stretched my neck and saw a seal down the beach. R330 "Squinty" was in the same spot as earlier this am.

I went down to Camp Erdman and walked down the beach towards Mokuleia side and saw 2 seals near the waterline. They were RG40 "Holokai" and RK36 "Kauai Kolohe" . Tide was coming up and bigger sets were rolling in. "Holokai" galumphed up the beach to dryer area and KKolohe followed him.

We'll check on them at sunset.

More tomorrow after I wave my Kimo, crew & "Hikianalia" a safe sail across the pond on her way to San Francisco  Looks like Thursday departure from tonight's news.

7/30/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RH32, RK88, RH48, RE74 & RL42

Today's dailies are brought to you by Lesley and Team Billand. As usual Lesley's complete update is part 2 of the dailies. 

Team Billand did their early morning check to the outfall. When they arrived Ka'ale was there doing his thing. He apparently stole not one, not two, but at least three akule from a fisherman. Thankfully this particular man is one of the regulars and very nice. Therefore he wasn't upset with Kaale. He had informed Team Billand there were two seals there earlier, but they only found RH32 Ka'ale. He disappeared only after an hour of their observation, they stayed in hopes he would return, but he did not.
On an recheck They found Ka'ale at a nearby beach on the rocks, snoozing and looking chubby, green and comfortable!

Team Billand did the Ka'ena West trek and wasn't having much luck seeing any critters.  Then they noticed some movement and there was a little seal trying to hide in the rocks. It was a young, clean coat little weaner size. To their shock and awe the tag read RK88 and it was Puna. This is the furthest away from Birth Beach he has been (that we know of).  Little buggah is exploring. Team Billand watched as he was very well hidden, so their viewing was limited. When people were heading in their direction they decided to leave to keep him safe.  WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE !!!

Team Billand's next find was the very sweet and lovely Lei Ola RH48. She was resting quietly on the rocks by herself. She is looking plump and the hook is still visible. Hopefully someday she will find a nice sandy beach and get that darn thing taken out.

Last but not certainly not least Team Billand found two seals on a Leeward Beach. They found da Benny RE74 and Leia RL42 together for another day. Benny was close to her, and she was in a small water hole resting. Waves were rising, so it was a matter of time they moved up. No one was there to disturb them which is good news. Who knows next year if RL42 pups again, we have a good guess who da daddy is.

BTW: Just saw on social media that Rocky's pup PK5 is a boy. 

RH32 Ka'ale

 Ka'ale resting 

 Lei Ola RH48 

 Puna RK88 

 Benny RE74 & Leia RL42