September 29, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Todays' dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team Billand.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 1 - 2:30 pm today. There were two critters on Left Point Beach left side of the 1BS. The seals were the same larger seals she spotted yesterday.

UAM - unknown adult male, adult size, old coat, dark, mottled male belly, at least one tag on right rear flipper. Possible applied bleach on back may "O3"  It is possible what looked like a green applied bleach was the result of water marks from getting splashed.


Sub-adult, possibly a male. This is the seal that is molting and appears to be about 90% complete. Ventral side is completely new fur and there are a few patches of old fur on the dorsal surface. This critter has at least one red tag.

Team Billand arrived at a west side spot and spotted three seals on the rocks. There was RH36 Kawena and RN14 Kalani together on lower rocks.  RG28 Lefty was just over the right, same palce as yesterday alone snoozing.
When they did their recheck all three critters were still there.

Despite their endless looking they did not find RH92 Nalani today.

However they did have a couple special finds.  A very lovely, big robust RL42 was resting alone on the rocks. She was there until a wave came and pulled her down the rocks, but she held on and stayed.  Team Billand was thrilled as they hadn't seen her in a while. 

Next surprise for Team Billand was when they took a ride out and made a stop to say a prayer for little RK88 Puna who we lost earlier this year.  
They spot a young seal on a sand patch between the rocks. They spotted bleach N17 and still wasn't' sure who it was, so will a little help from the monk seal posse they figured out it was Kalua RL20.
He's such a cute kid, looking healthy.  He was sleeping and pretty much hidden. People were starting to arrive in the area so Team Billand left the area to not bring attention to him. 

All in all it was a good seal day.

 molting sub-adult/adult 

 unknown male and molting sub adult 

Kawena RH36

 Kalani RN14 and Kawena RH36

 Kalani RN14 

 RG28 Lefty

RL42 Leia

 RL20 Kalua N17

September 28, 2019 monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn, and our Pal Val.

News from Kauai and weaner RL28/33 entertained our pal Val today.  This is a truly fun time to watch over them, toddlers, inquisitive, always moving, until it's nap-time.  THANK YOU Val for sharing, because I don't think any of us get tired of seeing pictures of weaners.

Marilyn hiked solo to Ka'ena point today from the Mokuleia side.  She arrived at the point about 9:45 and found two seals, one on back beach and the one in the main beach pool.  It took Marilyn a bit to get an ID but finally ID'd RL20 Kalua at back beach, by his male belly (and dark markings on his belly) weaner size, N17 bleach and L21 tag.  He for sure had some interesting positions today.

There were several wallows and trails on the back beach, along with some seal spew... (eww).

In the main beach pool was RIP RR70 who was ID'd by his male belly, old coat adult size and R76 tag. 

When Marilyn started back to the parking lot she found RO40 Ka'ena at the entrance to Ka'ena's pool, He wasn't there when Marilyn originally headed out. He was ID'd by his adult size, old coat and transmitter patch. 

Marilyn spotted a group of 3 bristled-thighed curlew near Ka'ena's

pool.   On her hike back she spotted the NOAA ship, the Oscar Elton Sette.

After her Ka'ena Point trek, Marilyn went to Makai Pier and viewed Rabbit Island for just over an hour. There were three critters on the Left Point Beach.
RL47 weaner ""Kamakana", ID'd by weaner size and color, light male belly and two tags. This brought great relief in that he had not been seen for a few weeks.

UAM unknown adult male, adult size, dark coat, both dorsal and ventral, and at least one tag.  Marilyn is pretty sure it showed it's male belly but not 100%.
Unknown Sub-adult molting - subadult size, about 40% molted, at least one tag. Unclear what the sex of this critter is.

Team Billand arrived just before 6:30 am at a west side location just in time to see two seals just hauling up on the rocks.  They ID'd RH36 Kawena and RG28 Lefty following close behind her./
They did a recheck later and found both seal still there but set apart. They were both sleeping the day away.

Team Billand drove out to KoOlina and there they found RH92 Nalani resting on shore. They called security who set up a zone. It was still early morning and she had moved some so they reset the ropes and signs.  The scars on the right side of face and right fore flipper showing and tags seen. They educated many people.  Team Billand called the hotline and a volunteer came at 9:30.  
At 10 am Robert and Olivia came back to get Barb now that volunteer was onsite.

At 9 am Team Billand found the beautiful Pohaku RO28 sleeping by "sharkbites tree"  (some of you old timers will know where and what that is).  There was a very nice lady on the beach taking it upon herself to keep her eye on Pohaku.   Seems Grandpa and Junior Sealette Olivia made the positive ID. Grandma was at KoOlina hanging out with RH92 Nalani.

At 10:20 Team Billand found RH32 Ka'ale (aka butthead) was in the same location as yesterday. He was on the rocks snoozing. Chances are he had been to the outfall, but Team Billand was scattered over watching critters they were unable to check.

NOAA Ship off Makua area, same as Marilyn mentioned. Team Billand could see a raft in the water with lots of workers.... wonder what they were working on?

Kauai Weaner RL28 (KC's kid)

 hmmm what should I do now? 

 eat dirt

 phooey that taste terrible

what's over there

 a good place to nap 

Kalua RL20 

 RO40 Ka'ena

 RR70 RIP

Rabbit Island  RL47 Kamakana

U/M

Sub Adult Unknown - molting

Kawena RH36

 RG28 Lefty and Kawena

 RH92 Nalani 

NOAA Ship

 Pohaku RO28 

Ka'ale RH32