MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 03/21/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Sunday, March 21, 2021

03/21/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕.

Marilyn observed Rabbit Island from 11:20 to 2:10 and I joined her for a portion of the day! (yipee)

There were six seals on island (this includes the pup day 2).

About 80 feet to the Makapuu side of the 1BS was an unknown juvenile size with two tags. It's possible it has a nb inside the LFF. It was difficult to determine its sex because of all the sand on its yellowish belly. Good chance this UJ#1 was born in 2019.

Between the 3BS and SRI were momma (AF) and PO1. The AF has two tags and a scar on her right

rear side, which provides more evidence that this is RF34 Pua. PO1 mostly slept during our observations. There was some movement and it appeared the kid was looking for lunch but hasn't quite figured it out yet. We think PO1 "may" have a natural bleach on the tip of the LFF. There isn't a clear picture to show, and between the winds, waves and occasion cloud cover it was hard to say for sure.

While watching Mom and pup Marilyn became aware of another young seal coming down from the vegetation to the right of Mom and pup. Marilyn thinks this is the same UJF from yesterday. Juvenile size, no tags, greenish light color female belly.

Closer to SRI was another UJF#2 just behind waterfront rocks. This little one was very still for almost 3 hours of viewing. Juvenile size, light female belly and never got a good look to see if there were tags. Small size looks like it could be a 2020 pup. (If both UJFs were 2020 pups, it would make them N2 Nohea and PO5 Makanalani.)

Out on RRB was an UU, subadult to adult size, but we never saw a bell or rear flippers.

Team R&B decided to check one of the west side locations and notices a seal laying on the rocks. they were happy to find R3CU snoozing. They were not able to see his wound but he seemed to be just fine.

They had gone to tracks and waited for an hour but no seals showed up. When they went to the outfall

they didn't see any seals, but then they saw one swimming past the jetty. It looked like it was heading for tracks, so they headed back. By the time the seal landed they were able it ID RG28 Lefty. They called the hotline and then put up some poles while educating the people that were coming by. Eventually a volunteer arrived so Team R&B pulled up their poles. Sure enough a little kid ran up to the seal. shame!

They headed off to check other locations and found a seal sleeping on the rocks. They were able to ID RN14 Kalani. They saw movement and it was another seal trying to snuggle up in the rocks to the mid area. It took them awhile to get an ID, it had a nice coat but some bumps on left side of the back. They were happy to see that it was Kekoa RK72. Team R&B didn't stay long to keep their spot safe.

*** added*** Team R&B took a ride over to KoOlina and were thrilled to find RL12 Aukai in a small zone that had been set up. A volunteer was on site dealing with the crowded beach. Aukai is looking quite fat and may need a larger zone. LOL Thank goodness NOAA was able to get some bleaches done before the pandemic, lets hope they can get out there sometime soon.

Mom and PO1 UJF in the back