MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 7/15/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Sunday, July 15, 2018

7/15/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and our seal pal Val.

We are still all anxiously waiting for Rocky news or sightings, but so far there hasn't been any news. Then again I haven't seen this evenings nightly news. :-)

Since everyone is waiting for Rocky news our Seal Pal Val sent us some updated photos of PK4 (Pohaku's Kid) and a picture of KC and PK3. Val and Lesley (who made a family trip to Kauai) went to check on Pohaku and KC this morning with their pups. Seems like PK4 was being a big ham and gave them some great photos. Thank you seal pals!

Back on Oahu, Team Billand was out at the crack of dawn checking the breakfast buffet. And yes little Ka'ale RH32 was taking advantage of the all you can eat seafood menu in the outfall. There were a group of fisherman catching their share as well. At one point Ka'ale left for a bit returned and then disappeared once more. On a later check Team Billand found him snoozing at a nearby beach, he was chunky and content. Oh, and Team Billand also observed a pod of dolphins passing by while checking in on Ka'ale.

Team Billand did the Ka'ena West hike and at the 20 mark they found Mr. RIP sleeping peacefully in a small waterhole. They decided to not stay lone as there lots of people out today.
A little further into their hike they found RL42 Leia, alone and sleeping. She was on her side putting on some weight and looking green. Once again they left the site, but unfortunately seems like some people had already discovered her.

Marilyn stopped by the RK24 pup site on her way to Makai Pier this morning. Weaner RK24 was way out on the rock flats. Gayle was there (as she is everyday) and mentioned there was another critter near the inlet. Marilyn went to investigate and found 1KT (male from Nihiau) on the rock flats. He was ID'd by male belly which includes a C-shaped scar on the left side and both his 1KT and T37 tags.

Marilyn's viewing of Rabbit Island showed two seals. She first located PO6 on the rock flats near Seal Rock Inlet, PO6 entered the water and about 15 minutes later, and a weaner hauled out near the 1BS. Marilyn determined this was PO6 by lack of tags and natural bleach mark low on left side. Marilyn "thinks" PO6 is a female, but we won't know for sure until NOAA gets out to the island. Marilyn and I have had many conversations about boy, girl, maybe boy, no I think it's a girl. LOL.

The other seal is an unknown juvenile male and has a fair amount of green in its coat. It was about 50 feet to the right of the 3BS. She tried to see if there was an applied bleach but did not see any.

Marilyn went back to visit with RK24 this evening. He was busy eating some sort of fish. He had spent about 10 - 15 minutes munching on his catch. According to Gayle RK24 spent almost all day in the water and did not rest, he was moving laterally by moving across the rocks and tide pools. (poor kid doesn't realize there is an easier method).

KC RK28 and PK3