01/30/2022 Sunday (part 2) Lesley's Weekly Ka'ena Update

There was a change in schedule this week due to some movie filming in the park.

On Monday I went down to check the beaches before crews arrived and had a VERY pleasant surprise. 
RK36 Kauai Kolohe had overnighted at our doorstep. Last I saw him was when he was about to start his molt last year, he'd spent several days here than when he started molting he left and hauled out at Turtle Bay. He went MIA till we got word he had been sighted on Maui in November.

He spent 4 nights and days here then left. He no longer has his tags so he can only be IDed by his scars.

RO40 Ka'ena  was out at the point on and off. He has been choosing other tide pools over HIS usual spots.

I saw RL98 Lina on Monday, then on Tuesday she was seen by Team Tammy and Dave with

a big fresh CC bite on her RFF shoulder. I monitored her all week. The wound is healing fast. She has lost her 206 tag so now she'll have a scar for IDing purposes. She's going to be 3 yrs old this year and had NO marks at all. She does also have a N34 bleach

RL74 Kami spent the week up and down the coastline

RG28 Lefty joined RL98 Lina on Saturday - hope he gave her some advice about where to stay away from CCs ( - that's my human comment)

The first LAAL chicks have hatched, the fuzzy balls are adorable. The word is out about the pair of BFAL that nested and laid an egg at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, the egg wasn't fertile. We monitored the parents and saw them taking turns on the nest every 2 weeks. 

We have had several others come to visit some banded and some not. This past week PRC team was able to band one!

The whales have taken over the show. I can definitely say, that it has been the best whale watching month of January in a very longtime.  The swells have been great, our driveway is full daily into the night with surfers and lots of surfing & other stories. It's always an eclectic group, age and races with surf as common love bringing them all together. Star gazing has also been out of this world. Lyman still thinks he will turn me one day into a navigator.

And in a blink the first month of the year is over.

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! 

Albatross 

Whales