10/17/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, posse pal Justin, and Team R&B💕

Posse pal Justin T was on the east side today and came across a very cute little seal. She had one flipper tag 215 on her RRF. There were no other identifying markers. Well this is PO4 aka Mana born on Rabbit Island to Aukai on May 13th 2021.  I'm not sure but I believe this is her first sighting other than Rabbit Island.  Justin called her into the hotline.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:45 to 2:55 and initially found two seals. By the end of her observations there were a total of five seals. The first two were on LPB nearer the rock flats. There was a JSM, juvenile to subadult size, cream colored male belly, newer coat. In several photos it appears there might be a CC scar on the left shoulder and mid-dorsal. If so this could be RL08. Then there was UJ, juvenile size, newer coat, cream colored belly, unsure about tags or gender.

About 1:15 Marilyn noticed that two adult seals had out on LPB as short distance from the (JSM) and (UJ). There was an UA, adult size, older coat with green in the flipper area, at least on tag on RRF. Marilyn suspect this is an adult male she's been seeing recently but the seal never showed its ventral side.  Also was an AM, adult to subadult size, newer coat, light male belly. Unsure about tags.

Alone between the 3BS and SRI was a JM, juvenile size, old coat with a fair amount of green, male belly and no visible tags. This might be PO1 or PO3 (2020 male pups born on RI and never tagged).

Team R&B found Mr. RL20 Kalua snoozing on the rocks alone. They estimate him to be about 5%

molted.  When they checked on him later he was gone.

Then they came across Lei Ola RH48. She is one fat female snoozing on the rocks. She looks very pretty, healthy and lots of little scars on her chest area near her flipper.  On their later visit she was gone.

Team R&B got to the bay and found Aukai RL12 foraging all over, across on the other side.  A couple of fishers arrived in a row boat looking for the seals, because they know where the seals are, there are fish.  The seals hung around for a while but moved on. Nalu R3CX was with Aukai, and followed her all day.

On their next visit Aukai was seen trying to land by the lifeguards. The folks on shore immediately surrounded her, she got nervous and entered the water.  Just when they thought that was it, Aukai came back and landed by the lifeguards' rescue board. Again the crowds gathered around her. They called the hotline and were told to tell the lifeguards. Team R&B explained Aukai was right in front of them. The lifeguard drew a line around the seal with their feet and put up a sign. 

Next Team R&B came across fat boy, Kaale RH32. While watching over him a couple of dogs came by. They did not go after him, Kaale looked at them, and stayed put.

As Team R&B were heading to Kaena West they spotted a slither of seal's back. They went to investigate and it was RG28 Lefty. He looks very handsome with his new coat, a little thin, but healthy otherwise.

On the walk out they found Mr. Kai RM31 snoozing on some rocks. His applied bleach was very visible. (love when that happens). Next they found RL98, who was stretching, rolling over and rubbing her back. I personally think this is one of the cutest poses caught on camera!

Last but not least they found RN14 Kalani on the rocks. He was in the same location as yesterday just more to the right. He is a big boy (like his bosom buddy ).  Kaale is looking quite green, hopefully will molt soon.

Manana Tag 215

Rabbit Island

RL20

Lei Ola

Aukai     & Nalu

Aukai among the crowds

Kaale

Lefty

RM31

RL98

LOOK at this darling !!!

RN14 Kalani