MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: October 20, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Sunday, October 20, 2019

October 20, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Barbara and Marilyn, who teamed up this morning on the west side.

Heading over to KoOlina they found Pohaku RO28 in a marked off zone with ropes and signs. She is looking good, no new markers, and very alert. They called the hotline to report. All her cookie scars were visible and natural bleach on he forehead.

Next find was Ka'ale RH32 at the outfall, the seal was heading out of the area heading in an easterly direction. They took off and found him hauling out at a nearby location and got Ka'ale's positive ID. He is looking quite robust, healthy, and clean ( of hooks or lines). He is a very handsome seal and I know Barb was thrilled to see him.

Then Barb & Marilyn went to a west side beach and spotted two seals side by side on mid rocks snoozing. There was Kekoa Alii RK72 and the lovely Kawena RH36. Kawena is looking very healthy right next to Kekoa.
On another check they were borht still in the same spot together.

On their way to Ka'ena West they stopped and spotted a small young seal on the rocks. They were able to ID RL20 Kalua hidden between the rocks. There were several divers entering the water close by, so Marilyn asked if they could give the little guy some room and they made an effort. RL20 tags were visible. no wounds, no hooks all good.

At Ka'ena West they found RG28 Lefty (Pohaku's son) resting below on the rocks. He has broken tag with G showing, left natural bleached flipper, and cookie scars gave them a positive ID.
He was in the same spot when they left.

After leaving the west side Marilyn stopped at the pier and viewed Rabbit Island for about an hour.
There were two seals on the island.
Unknown Juvenile about 60 feet left of the 1BS. Juvenile size and color, she could not determine the sex or get a view of the tags. If she had to guess it would be weaner RL47.
Next unknown unknown was on the waterfront rocks near SRI. She guesses it's a sub-adult to adult newer coat, but she was never able to see belly or tags.

While at the pier Marilyn got a text from a UH colleague that there was a seal on the beach close by.
Marilyn was able to get a glimpse of the seal from the pier so she headed over after her Rabbit Island observations.

She suspects based on the seal's sub-adult to small adult size, new coat and location it might be R1KT, but she couldn't see tags, belly or left side for any markers. She waited to see if the seal would change position but it didn't cooperate. Marilyn then decided to change position and from higher up could see the T37 tags and scar above the LFF that confirmed R1KT.

Pohaku