MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: October 5, 2019 Monk Seal

Saturday, October 5, 2019

October 5, 2019 Monk Seal

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

Team Billand found Miss Pohaku RO28 was sleeping at her Naupaka bush at 6:15 this morning. This is day 5 of her molt which is progressing on chest area, wider opening.
She moved to waters edge later on, and Team Billand noticed the next of red ants by the naupaka bushes, Hopefully someone will treat that area those things are nasty and seem to love Pohaku.
Team Billand left the site at at 9:30 and there was a volunteer on site at 8.

Special note, Robert and Olivia were sporting their very special Tshirts sent to them by Tracey of the Los Angles Marine Mammal Center. Team Billand met her at KoOlina while watching over RH92. Says a lot about sharing a passion for critters, you find people who share that love and you become friends/family.

Team Billand found RG28 aka Lefty just hauling out onto the rocks at a west side location. He was alone and Team Billand noticed a black mark on the right side of his head, looks like a puka, but who knows. He seams fine, perhaps its a small bite of some sort.
When Team Billand did a recheck he was still there alone. He had changed his position facing the other direction. Then it started raining so they left.

Team Billand's next find was RH92 Nalani at 10:45 still at the construction site. Team Billand did check the area at 5:30 am and she was not there at that time.
When they rechecked she was on shore. There were some fishermen and some of the regular folks that hang out in that area onsite.
They did a recheck once more and RH92 Nalani was gone.

Marilyn did Ka'ena Point this morning with Lesley and they were skunked.... no seals!
So Mrs. Whisperer headed back to the east side and found gold! 24 karat gold that would be RK24. He was ID'd by new coat, and juvenile size and although she didn't see his tags she is confident this was RK24.

After leaving RK24 Marilyn was told by some friends that there was a seal at Lanai Lookout. When Marilyn arrived there was an adult size, old coat, male belly and at least a chip of one tag. She strongly suspects this is RW22 Kolohe but can't confirm since she only saw its left side.

Marilyn then went to the pier and viewed Rabbit Island for about an hour today. There were two seals on Left Point Beach.
UAM - unknown adult male, new coat, male belly, not sure about tags. This seal entered the water sometime about 2:45 and she did not see him again.

UJ - unknown juvenile, light belly, two tags, unsure of gender. She would guess it may be one of the females born on Rabbit Island in 2018.

Our seal Pal Val had a GREAT seal day today, she found 8 seals and generously sharing 3 of those seals that have a special connection with us Oahu folks.
She found RK28 KC who weaned RL28/33 sometime ago and looks like she found a good all you can eat seafood buffet. She has gained some weight and Val guesses she's getting ready for her molt.

Val also found Rocky's 2019 pup RL58 aka Pebbles snoozing "in" the rocks.

But the big find and Val's favorite was R353. She was always a regular on Kauai until she left for the city life on Oahu. She made her way to Oahu months ago and was seen quite often, looking like she had made a new home. But no, she returned home to Kauai. Val wasn't sure at first in that she has a couple new cookie scars that she had not seen before. But after seeing a scar on lower left lip, zooming in with the camera and getting some help from monk seal posse, Val was able to confirm it was her.

Just a little note, once again working with each other and sharing information, helps all of us provide valuable information on the Hawaiian monk seals. But it's especially sweet when you can make a call, send a text or email, and your buddies not only help figure it out, you all share in the excitement of it. For those of you who do this, you know how special this is! Thank you!

Pohaku RO28