MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: 08/22/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Sunday, August 22, 2021

08/22/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

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

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from about 11:30 to 1:30 and there were a total of five seals on island today.
At LPB were two males. AM#1, adult size, older brown coat with CC scar on rear right size, yellowish brown male belly and two tags. AM#1 was initially there alone. He is the same male Marilyn has seen for the last three days in a row. Would be nice if we had an ID on this boy. AM#2 adult size, old dark coat, dark male belly. AM#2 hauled out near AM#1. Marilyn thinks this is the same AM#2 she saw on 8/20.

Closer to 1BS was weaner P04 Manana. She moved up and down the beach several times. She was ID'd

by weaner size, light female belly and single tag on RRF.

Near 3BS was a J/F, juvenile size, (probably a 2 year old), new coat, very light female belly and two tags.

Near SRI was an unidentified juvenile size (possible 1 year old) old coat, unsure of sex with a fairly green belly with two tags.

Team R&B started their morning at the bay watching Kaale RH32 foraging and stealing fish. Then they noticed another seal in the area. It took them a while before they were able to determine the other seal with Kaale was RL20 Kalua. Kalua hung out at the jetty, at times chasing the lines, and landing up on the rocks near the fishers. Kaale hung out along the shore line in the school Akule and taking fish when ever one of the fisher caught one. Team R&B talked with him, and thankfully he was being a good sport about it.

Meanwhile the other fishermen were losing their patience with RL20 and yelling at him. Team R&B stayed for two hours and left, and they returned later.

On their second visit they found Kaale was still in the water foraging but now there were more people around and those in the water. Kaale just passed them all by. They found RL20 hauled out on the rocks snoozing. He now has two hooks on him, one coming from the right corner of his mouth, and the other embedded in his skin near RFF. Both lines are very light like 4lb test lines. Kalua wasn't stressed or uncomfortable at all.

At another west side location they found RW22 Kolohe on the rocks snoozing alone. They observed

him very carefully, first sign of him is his unusual breathing habits. (he pumps his neck and shakes his head a little). They noted the three bite marks on his foreflipper and the wounds on his snout.

Team R&B were at a distance but noticed two seals on shore at tracks. There was Aukai RL12 with her brand new coat and Lefty RG28 looking greenish. They called the hotline right away because there were lots of people around. They left to check out other locations and returned at 12:30. They saw a volunteer was there placing signs out around one seal one the shore who was Aukai. They asked about the other seal but the volunteer didn't know. One of the folks on the beach said the seal with the green left about 30 minutes before.

Lastly Team R&B saw a seal on shore from Makaha surf. They drove over to find RL42 Leia who is 100% done with her molt. There were people out and about, but nobody bothering the seal. There were a couple of ladies who had lots of questions. They were very appreciated to Team R&B for taking the time to answer. They asked if they worked for NOAA, and Team R&B explained no they just been going out checking on the seals for the last 15 years. RL42 remained on shore looking around since there was a dog barking from one of the houses.

Rabbit Island