10/31/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕👻   Please note there are two days of observations from Marilyn. I posted Saturday and todays in separate post, using Marilyn's emails.

Team R&B started their day finding Lefty RG28 alone. He was on lower rocks snoozing the day away at a west side location.  

When they went for the second time to check on him he was to the right due to the big waves coming in. He is looking good and nice and clean.

They headed out to check on RH32 Kaale. They found him on shore and he is all pau with his molt. 

There was one sign up at the nearby campsite. 

After checking on Kaale they left to check the outfall. There were two seals foraging and they ID'd Aukai RL12 and Kalani RN14.  Once these two got their fill they both ended up at tracks. Aukai by the lot and Kalani hauled out by his bosom buddy.

Team R&B arrived at the bay and there were two seals. It was a challenge trying to document them as they were further out in the bay foraging. They spotted RL20 Kalua going close to the jetty and at times close to the seven boats with fishermen.

The other seal was R3CX Nalu who was also further out and on occasion came inside the bay for a bit.

RG28

RH32

RL12 Aukai

RN14 hauled out with Kaale

RL20 

R3CX 

10/31/2021 Sunday Marilyn's Rabbit Island Observations

I viewed Rabbit Island from Makai Pier from about 11:50 am to 1:30 pm. It was a gorgeous day with mostly sunny skies and fairly strong breezes. No surf near the island today.

There were 3 HMS in the 1BS region today, I think the same 3 HMS that were there yesterday.

On the Lanikai side of the group was an Unknown Subadult (USA): subadult size, newer coat, two tags. Again I'm not sure of gender. At first I was leaning towards male, then later female, so it goes as unknown. I wish this seal would give me a full ventral view with no sand.

Next was Adult Male 1 (AM1): adult size, old coat with lots of green in the rear flipper area, and one tag on the RRF. I never got a view of the ventral side today, but I have no doubt this is the AM I have been seeing lately.

The next HMS was Adult Male 2 (AM2): adult size, new coat, two tags and light gray male belly. I believe this is the seal I called Unknown Adult (UA) yesterday.

10/31/2021 Marilyn's Rabbit Island Observations from Saturday 10/30

I did Ka'ena Point with Lesley and Diane on Saturday morning.

I viewed Rabbit Island from Makai Pier from 2:40 to 3:45 pm on Saturday afternoon. It was mostly sunny with some passing clouds and gentle breezes. There were at least a half dozen surfers enjoying the north swell off the Lanikai end of the island, but no one went on the island while I was there.

Initially there were just two HMS in the area Lanikai side of 1BS when I started viewing. At 3:07 pm I noticed that a third HMS had shown up almost directly down from the 1BS.

The seal furthest Lanikai side of the 1BS was an Unknown Subadult (USA): subadult size, newer coat, two tags. Because the ventral side was covered with sand, I could not determine the seal's gender.

The second seal was an Adult Male (AM), presumably the same one I have been seeing of late.  Adult size, old coat, brown male belly and one tag in the RRF.

The seal that arrived at 3:07 pm was an Unknown Adult (UA): adult size, new coat, two tags. The seal had a lighter ventral side, but again the sand on the belly did not allow me to determine gender.

BOO !! Happy Halloween

 oldie but goodie 

Irma and Benny

10/30/2021 Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

 Todays dailies are brought to you by Lesley and Team R&B💕.  Lesley's Ka'ena update with Diane and Marilyn can be found in part 2 of the dailies.

Team R&B arrived at the outfall and saw two seals just off the jetty along with some of the fishers. One of the seals in the outfall was RN14 Kalani, and the other was U/U. Before they can get sense of who the second seal was it was gone. 

They watched as RN14 Kalani head over to tracks. They headed over to check and when they arrived he was already on shore with his bosom buddy RH32 Kaale. Kaale is now 98% done with his molt.

Team R&B headed over to the bay and spotted RL20 foraging. While watching out popped R3CX Nalu on the rocks, but for some reason he didn't stick around.  RL20 Kalua landed and hauled out all the way to the rocks and a pond. There were some kids out there that started throwing rocks at him. Team R&B yelled out to them to stop, and thankfully they did.  Fortunately in this case RL20 left, especially since the kids were still hanging around.

At another site they were checking they found RL98 Lina on the rocks. She was resting and looking healthy not to mention perfectly clean in her new coat.

Team R&B did the Ka'ena west trek with junior sealette.  At the beginning they found sweet RM31 Kai.

Then further into their trek they spotted a L75 tag, which is Kami RL74/L75.  The hook which she has had for some time now is there there. She is fine, no sign of stress. Next to Kami was KG89/G54 looking peaceful and plump.  

Next find took Team R&B a little bit to get an ID. Then there were a couple of people go up to two seals and stopped to get their photos. Team R&B called out to stay back and one replied, why? for what? The other just stood in front and took more photos, then went into the water for a swim.  Once again Team R&B asked them to move, explained the seal RL42 was trying to come up, and sure enough RL42 Leia hauled up higher. 

After checking out the other seal Team R&B was able to determine the male seal was RN04 Kainoa. He was ID by the cookie scar above the LFF and the cookie scar on the right side of his belly.

Kaale

bosom buddies Kaale and RN14

UU

R3CX Nalu

Kalua RL20

RL98

RM31 Kai

RL74 Kami

RG54/G89

RN04 Kainoa

RL42