MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: January 27, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies:

Monday, January 28, 2019

January 27, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies:

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Marilyn.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from noon til two. Conditions were crappy, windy, overcast cold and choppy. Initially she spotted two critters, one near the 1BS up in the morning glory and the other by the 3BS.

UAM (Unknown Adult Male) - originally in the morning glory near 1BS; later moved down onto the sand. Marilyn did not see any identifying marks on this seal. It had a newer coat and light belly with no visible green. Marilyn is reasonable sure this is the same seal as yesterday. By the time she left for the day the seal had moved back up near the morning glory.
UJF (unknown juvenile female) on the beach about 30 feet right of the 3BS. This critter had an older coat and is very green, with tags. Marilyn thought this critter is too big to be one of the 2018 pups, but then again???

UUJ (unknown juvenile unknown) hauled out about 12:30 near the adult male. They interacted briefly and then galumphed to the left (towards Lanikai) and ended up behind some rocks. The critter appeared to have a lighter area in the dorsal area in front of the rear flippers.

Team Billand decided to go out to Ka'ena Point for quite sometime. They made it a family day to see the albatross. And of course junior sealette Olivia was front and center, like a trooper before the sun came up.

When they got to back beach they spotted Ka'ena sleeping on his belly near the naupaka. Team Billand immediately texted NOAA and called the hotline. Ka'ena was very still and resting comfortably. Team Billand hung out with him and kept visitors back from bothering him. While on site Team Billand met up with Dana and Melody from HMSPO .
Close by there was another critter fast a sleep ID'd as R3CU. He would eventually move up to Ka'ea and lay next to him. He was keeping his buddy company. Team Billand headed out before NOAA arrived and with volunteers onsite he was in good hands.

Team Billands next find on the westside two critters snuggled on the rocks together. It was RH48 Lei Ola and RK88 Puna next to her. His position did not allow them to get a good look at his face. Team Billand didn't stay long so the seals would rest peacefully.

Driving around after their trek Team Billand came across a seal on the rocks snoozing. They took some photos and thought it looked like RIP RR70. They didn't stop as there were lots of people up and about.

Next stop Team Billand found three critters; first there was Kekoa Alii RK72 to the left lower rocks, sleeping next to another seal. There was Ka'ale RH32 and he is huge, very impressive fat 2 year old bumbucha. The proof comes when he tried to lay on his left side and it took some work for him to move.

Then there was RW02 PvKauai on lower rocks, galumphed and headed to the little playboy pind for a quick dip and wash off his poop flippers. Then he came up and came out of the pond.

Unknown Adult Male