MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: July 28, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Sunday, July 28, 2019

July 28, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody and Marilyn and my Rabbit Island observations.

Team Billand was out at the crack of dawn, hoping to catch the person who keeps leaving footprints in the zone. When they arrived today, no human prints just that of a small dog.
Momma Pohaku RO28 and Nanea PO5 were sleeping on shore near the water. They looked wet, whether they had been for a swim or just splashed who knows. Team Billand spoke with Security who was on site, they said Mom had been backing a lot early morning, really loud. Security did see a man come away from the area shortly after. (whether she was barking at him, or maybe that is when the dog was there, who knows. But Momma wasn't having it)

Melody arrived and hung out with Team Billand including a couple of Team Billand's old seal buddies. Pohaku fed Nanea about 5:45 am, after the feed Mom took off calling to the pup, who immediately responded. They went to the rocks briefly, went off to explore and turned back. Team Billand began warning people to be ready if they come near the shore and to take your things with you. Of course Pohaku did not disappoint she approached the area, and everyone scrambled to move. LOL. Shortly after Mom and Pup left this area and headed back to birth beach for a nap.

About 11:30 Pohaku galumphed to the water, looking at the pup who was still sleeping. She barked, no response, she bellowed louder and louder, and like any kid when they hear Momma yelling jumped and went over to her. They nuzzled and went toward the channel and disappeared.
Team Billand walked over to the other end and heard them vocalizing, but couldn't get their eyes on them. There were lots of swimmers and visitors out there today. Not to mention lots of photographers.
Pohaku hauled out first and Nanea followed near where they were blessed by Auntie. Pup had a feeding.

Team Billand met up with Dana who was training some new HMSPO educators. Team Billand left briefly to check other locations for seals, but came up empty. They returned to Pohaku and Nanea and stayed about 30 minutes before leaving for the day.

Melody experienced most of what Team Billand did, except she had to head out a little earlier than they did. During her visit she took some cute photos of Mom and pup along with a video of them in the cove.'

I met Marilyn at Makai Pier today about 1 pm and stayed just beyond 2:30. All and all we found six seals. Oh how wonderful it would be to tell you their ID's, but today's critters didn't give us much to go on, and just when Marilyn I got a handle on the critters they would change position and look entirely different. Thankfully the photos helped to eliminate some of the questions we had.

Left point beach there were three seals. For the longest time there were two and then one popped it's head from behind them.
UF - adult, light greenish color coat, female belly. There were lots of scratches on the belly. She was blocking a smaller seal who popped out after the UM approached her.
UM - large adult, male belly, dark brown/black mark on chest. Hauled out shortly after we arrived and went straight for the female passing a U/J on it's way.

UU (most likely male) sub-adult size, very green belly. Was hiding behind UF. Once the UU moved away from the UF and UM laying on it's belly it looks like it had an applied bleach line near it's rear flipper.

ABOUT 30 feet from LPB a UJ - juvenile/weaner size. Marilyn and I went back and forth whether this was PO4. It's coat was so shiny and clean, looked to be a brand new coat, we were referring to it as "PW" possible weaner. We thought the size might be a little large for weaner and kept looking for tags or not and belly. The bugger wasn't cooperative, until I looked at the photos, and I don't think it's a male, therefore no weaner. Whoever this is, it's coat is gorgeous.

Rocky Right Beach there were two seals. One of them seriously looked small when we first arrived, but after it changed it's position you could see it was much larger.

I think they were both female, but reported one UF and one UU.
The larger of the two in front showed her beautiful slightly green female belly. (UF)
The second seal to the rear left was smaller with a very green belly and had tags. (UU) This critter was more inland and from time to time disappear in the sand. When I checked the photos I think it's a female but won't bet on it.

It will be nice someday when NOAA can bleach these critters and make observations a lot easier. LOL

Nanea PO5