03/26/2021 Friday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Lesley, Team R&B, and Marilyn.   Lesley Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

I joined Marilyn at the pier today, she had the day off in honor of Prince Kuhio Day. I met up with her and we had pristine viewing conditions. There were five seals hanging out today.

Mom RF34 and P01 (that's a zero not an "O") were on the waterfront in front of the 3BS. P01 spent much of its time hiding behind Pua (mom). There was at least one nursing session. We are now thoroughly convinced that P01 has a natural bleach on the inside tip of the LFF. This will be a great marker to ID, at least until NOAA is able to start tagging the 2021 pups.

Midway between the 3BS and SRI were two seal that were initially close together. There was a

Subadult female, two tags and a yellowish female belly. Marilyn saw in one photo a possible line scar on its upper left lip, other than that no other identifying marks.  Next to her was a subadult male, two tags and a light gray male belly.

Then way out among the rocks on RRB looking very much like a rock was an unknown juvenile UJ. Marilyn is the one that laid eye on it when it did a rear flipper flex.  The UJ rolled over making it a lot easier to see with its yellowish belly.

Team R&B were out early and found Kaale RH32 foraging in the outfall. 

Team R&B got a call from their daughter (or as DB would say their pup) that she was walking at KoOlina and spotted a seal. They rushed over to find RL12 Auakai. Needless to say the beach was packed. Lots of folks around her making her a little agitated and she flipped over a couple of time tossing some sand.  Volunteer arrived and moved the signs back.

Team R&B left to check other west side locations and got to one area and found three seals snoozing. The tide was rising making Kekoa RK72 and RN14 Kalani move up. Then there was Kaale who just stayed were he was to the left.

At another location they spotted a seal at seal inlet, they were able to ID RH76. The next seal was

R3CU looking much better, his bit is healing really well. He was very cooperative today making his "shark bite" visible. Amazing how well the wound is closing up.

Last stop they made initially thought they were skunked, but then there was movement. It was the little green boy RL20 Kalua on the rocks but hidden.  Across the way they saw a big turtle on shore by the cabins. They called the hotline to inform there were a lot of kids heading over to the turtle.

Pua RF34 and P01

white tip 

subadults female and male

unknown juvenile

Kaale foraging

Aukai RL12

Kaale RH32 

RN14 Kalani

RK72 Kekoa Alii

R3CU

Kala RH76

RL20 Kalua