MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: August 15, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Friday, August 16, 2019

August 15, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, and Lesley. Lesley's complete Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

Team T&D were also checking out Ka'ena Point today. As they were starting their trek, Lesley was on her way out. (Technically this information follows Lesley's update). Team T&D saw RW02 PV Kauai at Hidden beach. They also found RG28 (Lefty) right before the NARS gate.

While at the point they spotted a bobbing head swimming in. Turns out to be Benny RE74 with his signature head bob technique. He came in from the west, first to the outer pool, main pool, then swam thru all the tide pools to the runway. They spotted him check out Ka'ena pool, Benny's flats and Nihoa and BGs pools. He kept swimming at a good pace and telescoping the entire time. Probably looking for females (sorry Benny boy they all taking care of their pups or molting). They lost site of him at the "girls" pools around 3 pm. Team T&D experienced a five helicopter flyover for the five soldiers that lost their lives in a helicopter crash in 2017. Sad but an honorable gesture.

Meanwhile Team Billand spent Day 27 at Pohaku and Nanea pupping site. They arrived at 5:40 am and Mom and Pup were way up by the Naupaka nursing.
At 6:40 Pohaku starts to open her eyes, looking, scurries down to the waters edge but keeping her eyes on the Nanea at all times. There is another seal coming into the area, it looked around for a minute then disappeared, they are calling it a U/M. It always amazes be that Pohaku (or other females) are so in tuned to another seal approaching. Do they smell them, hear them, how to they know? ... I want to know! LOL

Nanea stays up by the Naupaka for a long time without Mom. Seems she is getting more and more independent and stubborn. She's been independent since day 1.

Just before 8 am Team Billand spot another seal coming in, this one came closer looked but didn't do anything. The seal had red tags, could be RN14, but no visible applied bleaches, could be RIP??? The seal then goes out and didn't return. Who knows?

Nanea came from the Naupaka, and joined Pohaku and had another feed and then some rest.

About 10:45 to 12:15 Mom and pup did a very long rough swim together. Mom would bark now and then when Nanea got a little too far away. Conditions were rough today.
Eventually they landed at birth beach and Mom didn't feed the pup (maybe they had some snacks while swimming).
Tide was rising fast, both seals moved up shore, side by side. They got hit several times, Nanea got turned over, Pohaku was swished away from Nanea. Both moved further up, and this was a good time for Team Billand to take there lunch and air conditioning break.

Robert took a ride to run and errand, also checking out a few locations on the way. He found RN14 Kalani at a westside location. Kalani was on the rocks alone, maybe he was the male swim by earlier.

They returned at 3:14 and Mom and Pup left the cove swimming up the channel. They kept hoping they would come back, but no, they were off for another adventure. Team Billand did get word that Mom and Pup were seen in the area, but at 4:45 they called it a day.

Benny @ Ka'ena Point