MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 10/18/2020 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Sunday, October 18, 2020

10/18/2020 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

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

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:20 to 1:05, conditions were overcast and windy making it difficult to view through the scope. There was only one critter on island today. He was located between the 3BS and SRI. Reported as an unknown adult male (UAM), adult size, male belly, 2 tags and about 30% molted. The entire upper chest is clean and he has molted to his umbilicus. He appears to still have his old coat on his sides and dorsal surface. He moved around a fair amount and this is most likely the same seal ID'd yesterday as UAM#1.

Marilyn had another sighting today. Little RK24 was seen on the east side this morning. He has a new

coat and perhaps some scars since the last time she saw him last. He was ID'd by his K25 tag.

Team Billand started their morning at 6:15 am checking out the bay to see if the seals would haul out. There were three seals today and they were busy foraging in the water. From a distance they could see about 50 fishers on the jetty already. They ID'd R3CX Nalu swimming about at times close to the buoy. He had a spat with the unknown green faced seal. Still unable to determine who our mystery green face critter is. Ka'ale RH32 was there but far out. They stayed for an hour watching all the action.

At 8 am they were thrilled to find Da Benny RE74 with RG28 Lefty and R407 Kawika. It appears Benny may have started his molt. He is looking good weight and no new markers. Lefty was higher up by Kawika near a downed tree. Kawika kept moving higher up, by the fallen tree where there were lots of keawe thorns. He went over to Lefty sniffed him out, then pushed his snout into his belly. Lefty didn't react to Kawika's poking at all. Team Billand reported to the hotline.

Team Biiland checked out a few areas and returned at noon to check on the critters they found earlier. Benny was still hanging out with Leflty and Kawika. There were a lot more people around now and a couple of fishermen nearby. Waves were coming in so the trio moved up shore.

At 1:40 they returned to the bay and just one seal was seen close to the buoy. It was R3CX Nalu with lots of people on paddle boards close by. Team Billand counted 9 dogs in the area, 5 of them running loose.

RK24