MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 02/08/2020 Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

Saturday, February 8, 2020

02/08/2020 Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to by Team Billand, Team T&D, Marilyn and Lesley. Lesley's updates are part 2 from today and part 3 from Friday.

Team T&D spent their last day on Molokai hiking out to La'au Point. The first find on their hike was an unidentified male (UM#1) very high up probably due to the west swell and big tides.
Next find was RKC6, he was also high up and well hidden tucked under the rocks and then there was
RN06 up in the grass.
Team T&D found RL62 and RL64 on opposite sides of the same beach.

Last they found UM#2 who gave them a quick fan of his hind flippers and they did not see any orange so they critter may be untagged.

Marilyn went to check Rabbit Island after her Ka'ena trek. She got there about 4 pm but didn't stay because windy conditions. There were two seals close together about 60 feet of the 1BS. Both seals appeared to be sub-adult size. The seal on the left had a lighter, sand colored belly but she was unable to determine its sex. The other seal had a darker belly possibly male with two tags.

Team Billand's first seals of the day came just before 10 am at a westside beach. On lower rocks together was Kolohe, Kekoa and Nalu. Kolohe RW22 was easy to spot with his natural bleach ball on right side. Seal near him was Kekoa RK72 facing the ocean, making it hard to get his ID.
The 3rd seal came right in looking at lower rocks where both Kekoa and Kolohe were hanging out. There was no reaction other than one loud "bah" from Kolohe. R3CX Nalu came right up passing Kolohe.

On their afternoon check all three seals were still there. Team Billand observed Kekoa heaving and he moved to the small water hole, paused and then barf! This is not unusual for seals to "spew" whatever vile that doesn't agree with them.

Around 2 pm Team Billand was out checking other locations and came across the bosom buddies. There were two males one positively ID'd as Ka'ale RH32 and the other they believe to be RN14 Kalani. They were on the rocks and the surf was wild.

Last stop was at white plains, upon arrival they spotted a seal with a zone up but lots of kids close to the area tossing sand at the seal who was ID'd as Buster RV08. They were yelling trying to get a reaction. Team Billand asked them not to throw sand and yell, explaining the seal needed to rest.
They immediately called the hotline and explained the situation with the kids. They were told a volunteer was on site. Team Billand looked around and let the hotline know they didn't see anyone, shortly after the volunteer arrived. She immediately handled the kids near the zone, just as one kid was ready to go under the ropes. Team Billand thanked her and left shortly there after.

Molokai RKC6