04/25/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, Melody and Team R&B💕.

Team R&B had another unusual day in that they checked all the nooks and crannies on the west site and only found one seal. Once again little RL20 Kalua was hanging out resting on the rocks. The little buggah would not turn over to get a look at his underside. He for sure looks like he needs to molt but hasn't shown any visible signs. 

On their recheck RL20 Kalua was gone. The tide was high and they looked all over the area but the little guy was gone.

This morning Marilyn checked several east side locations and did not find any critters. She did view

Rabbit Island from 12:00 to 2:30 and again there were six seals.

Mom RF34 Pua and P01 started out at LPB, then after entering the water for about 30 minutes they hauled out closer to the 1BS.  They entered the water again and made their way back to LPB. P01 went into the water several times on its own while Mom kept a watchful eye. At one point P01 got tumbled in the shore break, its belly is getting lighter but still no call on its sex. The pup is getting pudgy and showed off its NB on the LFF.

Between the 1BS and 2BS was an unknown UAM adult size, darker male belly and two tags. He waas with an UJM#1 smaller juvenile size, very green male belly and not tags. ( This could be one of the 2020 male kids) The UAM spent some time with UJM1 and then entered the water and made his way close to the 3BS where he hauled out.

The Makapuu side of  Middle Cliff was an UJM2 unknown juvenile to subadult size with two tags and a yellowish male belly.

Initially alone near the 3BS was an USAF unknown subadult size, light female belly and two tags. She might have had a NB on her left rear lower side but it could have been sand. IF it was a NB that would make this critter RK37 Hali'a/Lauloa.  The UAM had joined her near the #BS and spent the rest of the time with her.

Melody got word that Kaiwi was hauled out in Waikiki, so later in the day she went to pay her a visit.  In the meantime another seal later ID'd as da Benny had joined her

which prompted her to go into the water. When Melody arrived both seals were in the water swimming around. Benny was first to haul back out and then Kaiwi came back. She was cautious at first carefully swimming  by him a couple of times stopping and looking. She finally decided to haul out and when she did Benny went right over to her. He bugged her for a little while and there was a lot of snorting and barking and eventually they both settled down and snoozed for the rest of the afternoon.

Dana Jones was on site with her HMSPO group doing lots of outreach and education today. Clearly it is needed in this area so thank you HMSPO!

RL20 Kalua

RF34 and P01

UAM & UJM1

UJM2

UAM & UJF (RK37)

Benny RE74

Kaiwi RK96

Kaiwi and Benny

finally settled in