MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: August 31, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Saturday, August 31, 2019

August 31, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and some news from our pal Val.

News from Kauai brought to you by our pal Val. She spent some time with PK5 Rocky's pup. Val describes her as the most perfect petite seal she's ever seen, and that says a lot. She's sassy, vocal, energetic. I have to share another little tidbit from Val... since most seals on Kauai don't get names like here on Oahu and Val really prefers to use tag reference, but today she thought of the perfect nickname for PK5. Pebbles, cuz she's a tiny Rock(y) !!!! LOL perfection all the around.
(BTW - Good luck in the race Val ).

Team Billand was back to a somewhat normal seal day for them. At 6:25 they headed over to KoOlina and found RH92 who was already in a zone. They made a couple adjustments to the zone, since it was about 2 feet from her head and they were able to ID RH92. She looks like she is ready to molt anytime now.
There were two large fish near her body, not chewed, it looked fresh and the crabs were having a feast. RH92 was not participating in the feast (which is a good thing)
Team Billand called the hotline. They then educated the folks who came to see the seal.

Team Billand checked out the westside hot spots and they found RG28. The last time they saw him he was very green. But today he is very handsome with his brand new coat. They spotted the white on his left flipper and they "may" have seen another cookie scar, but not sure.
He looks a little thinner, but that very well may be because he just molted. He was alone on the rocks.

Their next find came at 1:50 and to their surpise Kekoa Alii RK72 was on mid rocks, alone and snoozing. His marker on his face was visible. He looks good and healthy and Team Billand was thrilled to see Ewa Girls son, since it had

been a bit.

Marilyn was checking out all the spots on the south east side this morning from about 10:45 to 11:20. She came across a juvenile seal with an old coat wedged tightly up against the rock wall. This critter never showed it's tags or it's belly so technically it is being reported as a U/U. However, Marilyn is willing to bet TWO cats that this is RK24. Such a nice find, if it is him.

Next Marilyn headed over to the Pier to view Rabbit Island from 1:15 to 3:00 pm. Photo conditions were not ideal most of the time it was overcast.

There were four critters on Left Point Beach.
UAM (unknown adult male) with an older coat, two tags, male belly and no distinctive markings. He entered the water about 1:30 and moved a short distance down the shore where he encountered RG32 and then galumphed his way over to RL47.
UAF (unknown adult female) adult size, female belly, at least one tag, and no other distinctive markings. Marilyn think this is likely RB12 Sadie who has completed her post-wean molt.

There was a UAF reported with an older coat on 8/24 and this may be the same critter with a new coat. Timing makes it right for Sadie.
RG32 subadult to adult size with an older coat, male belly and two tags. He also entered the water at some point and later came back on shore with RB12.

Closer to the 1BS was RL47 Kamakana, ID'd by weaner size and color, two tags and male belly. He was visited by the UAM.

At SRI (seal rock inlet) there was UJF#1 (unknown juvenile female #1) newer coat, female belly and two tags. This is most likely one of the 2018 Rabbit Island pups, either RK37 or RK38.

Far to the right on Rocky Right Beach was UJF#2 with a newer coat, female belly, two tags. This is probably one of the 2018 pups. RK37's natural bleach was not visible on either U/J/F.

And lastly the Masked Booby Chick is still hanging out up on the cliff.

Rocky and PK5 "Pebbles" LOL