MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 9/23/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RK72, RN14, RR70, RH32, RO28, RH48, R1KT, RK37, RK38, RH36, RH58

Sunday, September 23, 2018

9/23/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RK72, RN14, RR70, RH32, RO28, RH48, R1KT, RK37, RK38, RH36, RH58

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn, Lesley and Melody. Lesley's Ka'ena Update is part two of the dailies.

As usual Team Billand started their morning at the Outfall at 6 am. There were two seal foraging and they were only able to ID Kekoa RK72, the other one left and was too fat to get any kind of ID.
Once they left the outfall, they headed over to a nearby beach and waited. There was Kalani RN14 coming in on his own and landed up on the rocks. Team Billand spotted two more seals but they moved on to the right.
About an hour later a seal came into the area where Kalani was resting. They were able to ID RIP RR70, which RN14 Kalani reacted to and barked at him. RIP went around came in but then left shortly after. They never saw RIP again but Kalani RN14 remained.

Next critter to come up to the area was Keko Alii RK72, he stayed briefly and then was gone. Team Billand did not see him again.
Later in the day when Team Billand returned to the site to check on RN14 they found his bosom buddy Kaale. Seems RN14 was a popular guy today, but it's his bosom buddy Kaale who stayed and joined him in the shallows.

Team Billand checked on Pohaku RO28 this morning and when the arrived she had just moved to the waters edge. She looks to be about 30% into her molt. Volunteer Karen was on site, when Barbara mentioned she looked like she was getting ready to leave. And that is what she did.

They watched as she went to the right past the surf school and fishing area, then made a turn with something in her mouth, maybe a tako.
Pohaku came back to the area, but there was a man in the water, she looked at him and then turned to head east. There was another guy in the water when he suddenly jumped and ran out of the water. Wonder if he thought she was a shark. Pohaku continued heading in the direction of white plains. They headed over and waited but they never saw Pohaku again.

Team Billands last find of the day was the beautiful miss Lei Ola RH42. She was resting on the rocks in the shallows, and her hook was visible.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island for about two hours today and spotted four seals. Upon arrival there was a seal on the rocks adjacent to Seal Rock Inlet which she guessed it was RIKT byt the color of his male belly and partial CC scar on his left mid belly area. This seal went into the water and then hauled out at Left Point Beach where his applied N3 bleach was easy to see.
There were also two seal in front of the 3BS that she was able to ID as RH36 Kawena and weaner RK37. Then about an hour later an another small seal arrived and interacted with Kawena.

Marilyn thinks this little one was RK38 Hali'a by size and coloration. She was unable to determine the gender. The two interacted about 15 minutes on the sand and then went into the water. They did not haul out again. Kawena was ID'd by size, female belly and her applied N6 bleach.
Weaner RK37 formerly known as PO6 was ID'd by natural bleach on lowerr left side. She entered the water and Marilyn lost site of her.

On Marilyn's way to Makai Pier she saw a seal with at the beach park. So on her way home she stopped to check. Volunteer Laura was on site watching over Right Spot RO16 back from Molokai after weaning her pup. ( wish we had some news on her little one). Right Spot is looking very thin and green. All which is normal after weaning and making the swim back to Oahu. Hopefully she'll be chowing down some good eats soon.

Melody sent me an update about Rocky's (RH58) weekend travels. So Rocky had spent all of last week at a beach close by to Melody's home and left on Friday afternoon. Melody did some social media checks and saw that she was headed to Barber's Point on Friday afternoon and then was in Waikiki on Saturday and Sunday. (Guess the girl needed some city time). BUT this evening Melody was taking some sunset photos was leaving when she noticed people pointing. She turned to see a familiar hump on the sand so she went to check. There was Rocky back to sleep in her morning glory bed.

Kaale & RN14 ( bosom buddies)