MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 9/9/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RK72, RH32, RN14, RO28, R1KT, UJM, RH36, RG32, RK38, PO6

Sunday, September 9, 2018

9/9/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RK72, RH32, RN14, RO28, R1KT, UJM, RH36, RG32, RK38, PO6

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and Lesley. We actually have two updates from Lesley - Yesterday's News (seems her email was stuck in draft mode) and then today's update, even though she was taking the day off. LOL ya right! Thank you Lesley for following up and keeping us informed.

Team Billand found Kekoa Alii RK72 at 6 this morning. He was on the rocks, where he's been the last couple of days. He looked comfy and snoozed the early morning away. They returned in the afternoon and he was gone off the rocks. But they did spot him foraging doing 6 minute dives.

After leaving Kekoa, Team Billand headed over to the outfall to check in. Looks like RH32 Ka'ale has returned to the all you can eat breakfast buffet. He was by the jetty where there was a group of young guys fishing with live bait. They spot Kaale eating something like a big papio, he swalloed the entire fish, didn't even chew. Thankfully this fish was not attached to any lines WHEW!
About an hour into their visit they spot a second seal with Kaale, both go out of the outfall to the right fighting and playing. Looks like his bosom buddy was back RN14 Kalani was being very vocal while the two of them were having at it.

Both seals returned to the jetty, then Kalani moved on, but Ka'ale remained. Team Billand went to the nearby beach and waited sure enough Kalani came in first. He looked around, rolled about, stayed in the shallow spot and spent the rest of the time alone.
Shortly after here comes Ka'ale to the rocks, big chubby green critter. He hauls up on the rocks and goes into snooze mode. The boys were close to one another, but neither new of the other. Guess they both were in need of some rest.

Late morning Team Billand spotted a seal foraging doing 4 to 5 minute dives alone. They watched for a bit and were able to ID Pohaku RO28, she was in no hurry, no one around to bother her. While watching her they met up with one of the fishermen from the outfall who recognized them. He asked if there was a seal out there? When they answered yes he offered to pull his line up. This is the best, clearly Team Billand has established a good relationship with many of the fishermen, that they actually care about the seals.

Marilyn was at the pier to view Rabbit Island for about 2 hours this afternoon. During that time she viewed six critters.
R1KT was located alone at SRI for the entire time she was there. He was ID by N3 applied bleach, two tags and male belly.
An UJM (unknown juvenile male) was just left of the 3BS. She spotted two tags, very green, and male belly. She pretty sure it's the same UJM she spotted yesterday and hoping it is RJ06 Aka.

About 12:50 Marilyn noticed two seals in the water to the left of the 1BS. They would haul out on the left point beach.
RH36 Kawena was ID'd by new coat, applied N6 bleach on right side, female belly and two tags.
Marilyn is guessing one of the critters to be RG32, in that the seal is newly molted and probably the seal that was starting it's molt last weekend. Very new coat, male belly and two tags.

Kawena & RG32 stayed near each other after they hauled out.
About 1:50 Marilyn noticed a newly arrived small seal on Rocky Right Beach. She never got a belly view, there were no tags and left side bleach. She concluded it might be weaner PO6.
At 2:23 a seal had just hauled out near the 3BS. The seal was weaner in size 2 tags and female belly, and is likely to be RK38 Hali'a. Soon after the UJM entered the water and after about 10 minutes hauled back out to join RK38 Hali'a. The two seal had some interaction and then both climbed higher up the beach and entered the grassy area.

Kekoa RK72