8/30/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 2) Lesley's Morning & Afternoon Ka'ena Update

Had a lot to do before starting into the Park today.
While multiple tasking I was able to check on an overnighted RW02 "PVKauai" @ 10 Mnts Beach.
Team T&D were hiking and let me know that RN58 "Luana" was at  Dragon Rock Cove, I was with her by then and that little RK88 "Puna" was @ Hidden Beach.
I had to turn back and head out of the park, while out there I saw from the outlook that there were seals @ CE at the same time I got a call from a posse fisherman about 2 seals over there.
Upon arrival I was able to ID R303 "BG" on my first look, but still did a walk around to double/ triple check. And yes it was her. She's looking great, still a little slim. I last saw her on the week the 2 pups weaned at Birth Beach / Tables, she was huge and about to pop. Alas she went to her birthing island (Ni'ihau?) and is now back to her molting one. Not alone but with an escort !!

Second seal showed me all his hind digits in a butterfly stretch - NO tags there. I sat patiently, it took him a while to turn and show he was a male. Photos on this side photos on that side... without having to move much from my spot up the dune, he helped a lot tossing and turning.
Seals were called into the Hotline.

Back in the park RW02 "PVKauai, RN58 "Luana" and RK88 "Puna" (M) were still in their respective locations.
At the NARS I met up with Team T & D. They were on a mission: carrying one of those extremely heavy blue plastic pallets up from the front of Nihoa & BG's Pools.
RO40 "Ka'ena" was sleeping down on the mauka side of Nihoa's Pool.
We walked to the point for a last check then they carried the pallet out to the Polaris and I a bag full of debris they had collected.
When we threw them out at the bins I recognized some of them and knew where they had been. We had a good chuckle.

The 3 of us went back to Camp Erdman - seals were still there being splashed by waves. A volunteer was sitting there with a sign beside her.
I thanked Sara, Mark and the others for calling the seals in and for giving us a great opportunity this morning to do outreach and answer questions.
The tie-die Ts looked beautiful drying in the wind. More tomorrow 

part 2 to my report...

I went back out to CE this afternoon. Both seals were still there, I was able to get some

good pics of our visitor U/M.

Apparently RG40 "Holokai" and another "Big seal" swam by. "Holokai" tried to haul out but the new guy didn't give him a chance.

After I left I check in front of the house and there was RG40 "Holokai" sleeping peacefully on our overnight dunes.

I checked again from 10Mnts Beach all the way to Hidden Beach - RW02 "PVKauai", RN58 "Luana" and RK88 "Puna" had all left.  More tomorrow