MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 11/22/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Thursday, November 22, 2018

11/22/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones and or family. Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and Lesley. Lesley's three in one update is part two of the dailies.

Team Billand went out this morning first stopping at the outfall and finding no seals. After checking a couple of spots they stopped off at one west side beach and found a newly hauled out RH92 looking alert. Her scars were very visible and Tean Biland noticed another natural bleach mark on the right side of her body.

At another spot on the westside they saw RR70 RIP on the lower rocks snoozing alone and sneezing a lot. He entered his water hole.
Kekoa Alii RK72 was to the right on the rocks. His molt is coming along slowly on his chest. His tags were visible and he's looking a little chubby today, perhaps he had an early thanksgiving meal.

Team Billand left to check a couple other spots when they found Pohaku RO28 galumphing up shore in Nanakuli. She is looking nice and plump. She could have been there for a while since there were more wallows higher up. Team Billand met up with volunteer Melina and then left for their thanksgiving meal with family.

After their Thanksgiving Meal Team Billand went back to check on the critters on the westside beach, so imagine their shock and awe when they arrived and now there were SIX seals on the rocks.
There were three on the lower rocks Kawena RH36, RIP in the middle and Benny.
THEN, on the mid rocks was Ka'ale RH32 and Lei Ola RH48. And finally alone to the right side was Kekoa Alii RK72. What an ending to a beautiful day.

Marilyn checked all the eastside haul outs this morning and found no seals at those locations. From there Marilyn headed over to the pier to check Rabbit Island and in the end sounds like the seals were having their own gathering for the holiday.
Upon arrival she spotted one seal about 40 feet left of the 1BS, and then about 20 minutes later became aware of a large seal in the morning glory at the 3BS. THEN she spotted two seals on the Left Point Beach. Now it gets interesting after 45 minutes she sees three seals haul out by the first critter she spotted. We have a party of seven on Rabbit Island.
In spite of windy and overcast conditions Marilyn got some great photos.

U/J below 1BS, light belly new coat, 2 tags, unknown gender.
RW22 Kolohe at 3BS alone - adult male newly molted, natural bleach behind RFF.
2 U/W or juveniles on Left Point Beach. Marilyn is ID'ing the one that moved nearer to the waterline as RK38 Hali'a by weaner size, brownish coat, female belly and 2 tags.
RN46 Kea - 2 tags, male belly, natural bleaches on all four flippers with the largest on RFF. He hauled out to the UJ at the 1BS and then later followed RK38 down towards the waterline.
Two U/Us appeared to have hauled out when Kea hauled out.

The 6 seals on the Left Point Beach are kept moving around and changing positions so keeping track of the individuals wasn't easy. Party on the beach!! I have to say this is one of those days when I can hear DB's voice. He would have been sooooo stoked to see all these critters on the beach today. I know he's watching over them, I just miss hearing him telling us about it.

Benny