May 31, 2024 Friday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 10:12 am to 3:04 pm and again from 4:35 to 4:59 pm. 

When Marilyn first started viewing Rabbit Island she found that Aukai RL12 had pupped PO9 some time over night or early morning. They are about 30 to 40 feet away from RH76 Kala and PO8. PO9 was about 10 feet away from Mom Aukai in the direction of Kala and PO8. Aukai barked for her to return and ultimately PO9 did move nearer to mom. Later PO9 moved nearer the water and got pulled in. After awhile RL12 went after the pup but over the

next several hours the pup and Aukai were in the water moving up and down the coast. Mom tried to get the pup to follow her up the beach several times, but the pup did not follow and would get pulled back into the water.  When Marilyn left the second time, the pup was at the waterline and Aukai a short distance away. Marilyn has raised concerns for the pup.

RH76 Kala and her pup PO8 (born yesterday) stayed near the waterline but stayed close together. Kala kept a close eye on Aukai's pup as it moved in her direction.

Soon after Marilyn started viewing weaner PO3 hauled out on LPB where he has been hanging out. He was ID'd by hos weaner size and shape and light male belly.

Needless to say as much as it is exciting to have another pup born, it turned out to be a very stressful day. Let's hope tomorrow brings PO9 closer to mom and further away from the shoreline)

Team R&B arrived at Nimitz and was told by a beachgoer that they saw a seal way out. So of course Team R&B made the hike out and

found R407 Kawika. He was alone and resting peacefully.

Unfortunately their day had to end prematurely. They had a large screw in one of their brand new tires. They brought it in to be fixed which ended up taking all day.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for them.

Rabbit Island

May 30, 2024 Thursday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 11:04 to 1:58 and lets just say it was a very good day. Ultimately there were five seals seen today.

First things first, as soon as she started viewing she checked for the Adult Female she reported yesterday between 1BS and 2BS. She saw an adult female, but a soon after saw a dark head moving behind the waterfront rocks and Marilyn realized that the Adult Female had given birth overnight. This is a very difficult spot to get a decent photo. Marilyn could see thin applied bleach line on the AF's rear dorsal. Marilyn is 99% sure the new mom is RH76 Kala with her N77 applied bleach. The pup PO8 seemed to be moving around as much as it could behind the rocks. Kala's predicted birth date was today.  Right on time!

Aside from the new birth Marilyn found a very pregnant RL12 Aukai with weaner PO3 on the Lanikai side of LPB where they were yesterday. Aukai seems very tolerant of weaner PO3. Their loccation makes getting photos difficult due to the waves breaking along the shoreline. Today there was the added complication of huge numbers of Sooty Terns taking flight. RL12 was ID'd by her large adult size, N13 applied bleach. PO3 was ID'd by his weaner size and shape and light male belly.

At 11:56 pm Marilyn became aware that another seal had joined RL12 and PO3. This seal is labeled as Unknown Adult: small adult or large sub-adult size, medium gray ventral and at least one red tag seen during flipper flex. RL12 and the UA has a brief spat soon after the UA's arrival, but they seemed to tolerate each other thereafter. For a while all three seal were near other, but PO3 entered the water and did not haul out again.

Team R&B first find was Lefty RG28 who had just hauled up on high rocks. He seemed to move to make room for another seal.  Sure enough a second seal came in bobbing up and down. The seal was young looking, clean and no tags visible. The seal turned around and left. Team R&B thought it might be R617,

They were concerned about RG28 in that he had fishing line near his body. They studied all the angles to see if the line was attached. They believe he's okay, no hooks seen attached, just lots of line near him.

Next Team R&B checked Nimitz and found R407 Kawika. He was back at his spot resting on the reef. Today was good there were no people or dogs around for a change. They did see prints in the sand but at the moment no one was around and all was quiet.

Last find was at Kahe. There they found RL20 Kalua. He was alone resting on the rocks.

Rabbit Island

RG28

Unknown Adult (R617?)

R407

RL20

May 29, 2024 Wednesday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 11:40 to 2:10 om and there were four seals seen during that time.

On the Lanikai side of LPB were two seals:

RL12 Aukai: large adult size, darker female belly, pregnant and a N13 applied bleach on her right side. Marilyn doesn't think her nipples were protruding but it was difficult to tell. I can say we all are relieved she is there!

Very near Aukai was weaner PO3: weaner size and shape, light male

belly. He came around and in front of RL12 and they both went into the LPB surge channel. RL12 returned to the beach after a short while and later PO3 hauled out again.

Between 1BS and 2BS there was an Adult Female: adult size, older coat brownish female belly. presumably pregnant, not sure about tags or applied bleach. Marilyn think this could be RH76 Kala. The AF was down among the waterfront rocks and was almost impossible to get good photos.

At 11:58 am, a Juvenile Female: hauled out between 3BS and SRI: juvenile size, light tan female belly and two red tags.

Team R&B wasn't having much luck today finding any seals. Finally at one west side location they came upon two males on the rocks.

RM31 Kai was positioned so that his applied bleach N9 was very visible.

The next male at the water front rocks was a little more of a challenge. They spent awhile in the hot sun trying to see if there were tags. They noted he has subtle lines on his head, no tags, and a good healthy size. They walked away to get a better view and the seal decided to move. Finally they were able to ID R617 who is back from Nimitz area.

They made all they usual stops and was coming up empty. Finally at Nimitz they were watching a fisherman check his lines when they saw a seal coming in. The seal went to the reef, but didn't land.

Finally after 40 minutes or so they seal hauled out. They hurried over and could see the seal was R407 Kawika. He was so cautious while looking around. He became very vocal, rubbed his teeth with his flipper, rolled on his side and gave a big bellow.  Team R&B were glad they hung out to see him haul out.

Rabbit Island

RM31

R617

R407