MonkSealMania.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 12, 2021

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

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 11 am to 12:20 pm there were three seals on island today.

Together near 3BS were two seals:

S/M: subadult size, gray male belly, newer coat, at least one tag on RRF.

RK37 Huia: subadult size, yellow female belly, two tags, and nb on her lower left rear side.

The S/M did not like RK37 getting too close to him.

Near SRI was RK24 Wawamalu/Bruno: subadult size, lighter male belly, two tags and scar on right side about 1/3 up from rear flippers.

Melody received a text around lunchtime that a seal was hauling out at a westside beach. She headed out and at first thought it was Rocky. There was already a SRA set up and the seal was resting comfortably near the water. The seal wasn't being cooperative, it was laying flat on its belly and couldn't see any markers, gender, even the hind flippers were covered with sand.

A little bit later, the seal rolled over on its side. When Melody took a good look at the belly she determined it was a female. There was a bit mark below the right bottom nipple. She remembered H92 Nalani has an injury like that. Checking the hind flipper her H93 tag was now visible.

So nice to see her back on Oahu, she's been MIA for a while. Melody called the hotline with a confirmed ID.

The beach was fairly quiet but as it got close to sunset more folks arrived. Melody did some outreach and education. When Melody left it looked like RH92 was hunkered down and snoozing. Who knows maybe she'll spend the night.

Team R&B first find was Kala RH76 snoozing alone on the rocks. Then they saw something shine and wiggling up on the rocks was R407 Kawika. He finally moved away from tracks! He saw Kala, he could smell her. While they were there was no contact, they just rested comfortably.

Along with searching for seals Team R&B watched a Glaucous Winged Gull in action. It was on the hunt for fish, he picked up a fish that was on the wall and flew away to the water to eat it.

Over at the outfall they saw two seals foraging, right away they ID'd R3CX Nalu. The other seal was smaller and younger. Much to their surprise it was RL20 Kalua. He's usually at the bay, but made his way to the outfall. Once Team R&B were sure of their IDs both critters left the outfall.

At a beach close by they spotted Kekoa Alii RK72 on the rocks alone. Then they saw another seal coming in, it was RH32 Kaale. He would eventually join Kekoa Alii RK72 and both went to sleep.

As they walked away, they heard a seal sneeze. They didn't see any others so they kept walking. One of the beach locals saw them and said LOOK see it? Sure enough below was a cute little guy, RL20 Kalua. The little guy seemed to have moved his location (probably better fishing).

Rabbit Island