MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: February 2019

Thursday, February 28, 2019

February 28, 2019 (part 1)

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Rabbit Island update and Pup news from out pal Val on Kauai. Val sent a great update with super cute photos which is part 2 of the dailies!

Once again conditions to view Rabbit Island weren't great due to the wind, at least there was no rain. There was a total of four critters. Three seals were to the right of the 1st blue sign. Looked to be two juveniles that were born in 2018, and an adult. The adult looks like it has an applied bleach, but so hard to read. Open to any suggestions.

The fourth seal was to the right of the 3rd blue sign, looks to be larger like an adult. Really wish there was a better way to ID them, would be nice to know if they are the same cast of characters as yesterday. (oh how we miss the seal whisperer).

Team Billand started out at 7 am and only critter they found at that time was R3CU hauled out. He was nice and dry so that tells you he been there for a bit.
After observing him for a bit and looking around they spot another seal coming in Kekoa Alii RK72. He went to lower rocks and greeted R3CU. It was a pleasant greeting without incident.

Team Billand left to check other locations, but returned back here at 10:30 and now found Kawena RH36 on high rocks mid way. She was an easy ID with tags showing and applied bleach. The boys did not bother her.

Their last visit of the day was in the afternoon ( they began and ended their day here). There was Kaale RH32 on lower rock with the other boys Kekoa, and R3CU. Kawena sneezed which caught Kaale attention looking to the right, left then back again. He very quietly and gently made his way to look at mid high rock where Kawena was sleeping. Kaale tried to climb up but couldn't make it, so he then went over and bugged Kekoa who was sleeping. Living up to his name Kaale head butt Kekoa who gave him a "whoop" and butthead knew to stop.

At noontime Team Billand made a stop at a leeward beach and found Pohaku RO28 on the reef alone snoozing. Pohaku then galumpherd further inland and went to sleep. She is looking good with no new markers.

Team Billand did make their way over to plains and found Buster boy V08 by the fenceline. The life guards had put up a zone.

Late afternoon Team Billand stopped off at another location and found Ka'ena RO40 resting with two females between the rocks. Ka'ena was ID by his transmitter and markings.
One of the females was Kaimana RJ58 very well hidden and hard to get any photos. She was looking fine and no unusual behavior.
The second female was Lei Ola RH48. It took Team Billand a minute or two to ID her. She was not cooperating by showing any obvious markings, but finally they spotted her tag.

Rabbit Island

UU by third blue sign

R3CU

Kekoa and R3CU

Kawena

Ka'ale RH32

Buster

Pohaku

Ka'ena

Kaimana

Lei Ola

February 28, 2019 (part 2) News from Kauai

Oh Blog Lady,

As you and your readers are mostly likely aware, Kauai was the birth place of our first HMS born in the Main Hawaiian Islands (at least that we know of) RBoo is a very elusive seal and a great traveler. In fact, I think I was the only one that observed her here on Kauai last year. She seems to just stop by on her way to wherever it is she's headed.

When I learned she was here the first of February looking large, I figured she was just passing through on her way to Lanai. My surprise would be to find her Feb 3rd in the same area the volunteer had observed her the previous day. The other volunteer and I watched her the entire afternoon. We watched for belly movement and other signs that would indicate birth was imminent. As we walked away, I told the volunteer that I bet a pup would be on the beach the next morning. Working the next day I waited for the call or text, when none came I texted the volunteer late in the day for an update. All he said, was RBoo spent a good portion of the day in the water logging, she had just hauled and there was LOTS of belly movement. Just minutes later I received a text saying we have a PUP!!. So RBoo pupped at 4:35p.m. on February 4.

I've attached some photos. I called "boy seal" on day 3!! We volunteers love to try and figure out the gender and of course try to get the money shot to prove it. I usually bet 2 shiny quarters on my "educated" guess (since I don't have any cats:) A week or so later the experts agreed with my findings!! PK1 2019 is MALE!!

Anyhow, this little guy is full of spunk, having survived the large waves the first week of his life, he tends to head to the water any chance he gets. Momma always knows where he is and lets out a bark when he's ventured to far. He's growing like a weed, spending lots of time in the tide pools. So here's some shots of PK1 2019 the early days!!!

Extra info.....RBoo is Rocky's (2007) pup, RBoo would be RJ58 Kaimana's (2017) big, 1/2 sister, PK12019 is Rocky's grandson!!! Is that not AWESOME!!

can you see me?

All boy!

Look at this face~!

something smells good

February 27, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies:

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Sandra B who sent an amazing footage of a breaching whale on the east side and photos from my brief visit to Makai Pier.

I received an email with an incredible link to video of a whales breaching on the east side near Rabbit Island. I think it might have been taken yesterday but not sure. I want to say thank you to Sandra for giving me permission to post and thank you to Melody for pointing her to the blog :-).

I went out to view Rabbit Island this afternoon and let's just say I made it in enough time to see five critters and then get out of there. The weather changed very quickly, conditions were cold, and windy and that was before the skies darkened and it rained. Picture quality isn't that great but I will go out on a limb and say the solo critter to the right of the 3BS is RK37 by seeing a natural bleach on her side, female belly and tags.
The group of four were just right of the first blue sign and hard to tell. One larger seal adult, unknown as it did not change position. Little greenish youngen is possible Hali'a RK38. The other two appeared to have male bellies and the one furthest right looked to have a NB on rear flipper. Could not see NB on front flipper so not sure if it was Kea.
Let's just say I can for sure say there were five seals on Rabbit Island and the wind, light and rain made it miserable.

As far as Team Billand well, I don't know if it's a record but THEY did have a great seal sighting day with a total of ten for the day. (hmmm that's better than most seal count numbers if you include the 5 on Rabbit Island).
At 6:50 AM Team Billand arrived to a westside location and found Kawena RH36 and next to her was R3CU. He was very attentive to Kawena and at times he tried to mount her, thankfully things settle and they rested. Next to come up behind the two of them was Kekoa Alii RK72.

There were two more seals that came in fast fighting and then they each landed by Kawena and R3CU. Kaale RH32 went to the right of Kawena and R3CU did not react. Team Billand ID'd the other seal as RW02 PvKauai, which makes seal #5.
No sooner said than done there was RIP RR70, seal #6.

After six critters settled in Team Billand took the opportunity to head over to plains to check to see if there were any visitors. They arrived at 9:40 and spotted Buster V08 resting comfortably in a marked off zone by the life guards. Buster was resting comfortably looking good and volunteer arrived at 10 am so Team Billand headed back to the west side.

When they returned to the site they were shocked to see eight critters there on the rocks. They made careful observations and were able to ID Kolohe RW22, and Kalani RN14 were the new arrivals. The waves started getting really big and at one point RIP was twirled around, he fought back like a salmon going upstream and landed to the right alone away from the other seals.
Kawena remained alone to the left. R3CU, RK72, RH32, RW22, RN14, RW02 and RR70. Hmmmm Kawena is one brave little girl or she just a hussy.

A huge set of waves came in and washed everyone off the rocks, all the boys were fighting with each

other then they all stopped. Where's Kawena, she took off when she had the chance, and one by one the boys took off. The only ones that stay were Kekoa, Kolohe and RIP.

Just before 3 pm Team Billand was heading home and made one last stop. They had to take a good look and sure enough they could see RL42 Leia. She was sleeping in between rocks, which kept her very well hidden, It was raining and the rocks were slippery so they did the best they could from the distance for an ID. She is looking healthy and chunky.

Video of Whales Breaching east side