Thursday, May 30, 2019

May 30, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, and an update on the UF.

The last couple of days Team Billand reported an Unidentified Female with very large mobbing scars,  This morning word from NOAA/PIFSC on what they know.  She is considered a "new" sighting but was seen late last year on Kauai. They believe she is from Ni'ihau and as of now is registered as R403.   We do have a few females known on the main islands with mobbing scars so it was big news to learn this is a new girl in the neighborhood.

Team T&D went out to Ka'ena Point today. Their only find was Ka'ale RH32 who is looking very very green. (I believe this is their first time meeting this critter). While observing him, he kept scratching his head on the rocks and was very vocal.  They checked to make sure he wasn't in any distress, but no he was just being Ka'ale. They didn't see any other seals around, maybe he was calling out for his bosom buddy RN14 Kalani.
Of course Team T&D stopped by to visit Luana and PO2 who had just hauled out from a swimming session.

Team Billand was up and at 'em early.  Team Billand found the lovely Lei Ola RH48 at a westside location. She was on the lower rocks, alone and very dry. She may have spent the night there. On their re-check she was still there before they made their way to Ka'ena West and she was still alone.

Next at 8:30 Team Billand got to KoOlina and security was scrambling to put a zone up for Pohaku RO28. They said she took her time deciding where to haul out, and finally did.  At this point there were lots of people gathering. One lady passed the signs and walked right on thru, but the crowd yelled at her to get her attention. She stopped and was shocked to see Pohaku, LOL  a huge fat seal and she didn't notice, I guess some folks really do walk around with their head in the clouds.
Team Billand called the hotline and waited. Volunteer Melina arrived and Team Billand left the site just pass 10 am.

Team Billand did the Ka'ena West trek with hopes of finding the U/F, they looked everywhere but never found her. BUT they did find RN14 Kalani, he was alone and resting peacefully. ( no dogs out there today).
About an hour later as they were ready to walk away and leave, they spotted another seal coming into the area. This seal was looking very green, and they were able to quickly ID RH32 Ka'ale.  Rn14 Kalani spotted and heard him and dove into the water to greet his bosom buddy. Ka'ale was very vocal and crazy, they began to play really rough, Ka'ale being so vocal his mouth wide open. Kalani RN14 just followed him aroung in the pons. Then Ka'ale took RN14's spot on the rocks, so N14 decided to join him. Well butthead wasn't having it and fought him off.  They both left the rocks and entered the water again. Team Billand gave up and left the bosom buddies. 


As Team Billand was walking to the last stop, they heard seals barking, so they went to the edge and found Ka'ale again with RN14 still at his butt.  Ka'ale galumphed on the rocks, barking at Kalani who just coming towards Ka'ale.  To Team Billand's surprise there was a crowd gathering, not knowing where all these people came from. They were all respectable and enjoying the argument between these two buddies.  Team Billand called it a day at 4 pm.

Ka'ale seen by Team T&D at Ka'ena Point
 PO2 and Luana
Lei Ola RH48
 Pohaku R028
 Big Momma status
RN14 Kalani
 RH32 Ka'ale checking out who's there
 Bosom Buddies greeting each other



No comments: