September 14, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn, Our Pal Val and Lesley. 
Lesley's update will be a little late but should be coming soon.

Marilyn sat at Makai Pier for one and a half hours and got skunked. NO critters today.

Our seal Pal Val had an incredible seal day and this comes after no being out on the beach for two weeks. Val found three of the five Kauai's chubby kids (weaners).  They are all looking good and appear to be thriving.  They spent most of their time up and down the beach and kinda sleepy. Val did manage to get a couple of action shots of RL52, RL28 and Pebbles RL58. 

Interesting note: Our pal Val made a great observation, that today our seal posse had three islands covered. Team T&D on Big Island, Val on Kauai and our crew on Oahu.  Not bad for a bunch of friends who met oh so many years ago.

Team Billand went out to KoOlina at 5 am, this being day 15 with RH92. 
When they first arrived they did not see any seals, so they took down the signs and kept looking. Sure enough they spotted RH92 way up by the beach access. She some how got behind the gazebo and was sound asleep.
They met up with a fisherman who was just coming in from fishing, he approached Team Billand to say hello and they he nearly stepped on the seal in the dark at 4:45 am. He thought it was crazy that the seal was sleeping so far from the water. 

Team Billand quickly put up a zone and Rob left to get junior sealette Olivia.  Barb stayed back and good that she did as there were lots of folks out and about, wondering where the seal was. Then when they saw where she was they all had a good laugh. "What the heck is the seal doing there?"  Answer (hiding from horny male seals and two legged critters) ... just resting.
Barbara called the hotline and left a message.

At one point RH92 moved down or was trying to, seemed disoriented being surrounded by all the beach chairs.  She tried to go through the chair, backed up, put her body on the chair, stopped, then went around the chairs and in between. 
At that point RH92 headed in a different directions and Team Billand scrambled to get to the signs. The crowds were moving with RH92, and Team Billand had to discourage them from talking to her and give her room so she could get back to the water.
Barbara managed to get the zone done, but it was already so hot and humid. They did lots of educating.
At 9 am a volunteer arrived (hooray).  Volunteer Winnie suggested there was an error in the ID, Team Billand explained who the seal was and they had just spent the last 14 days watching over her through her molt.

They left the site for a special lunch with granddaughter.  
When they returned they saw H92 was gone from the site and moved across the lagoon. They thought they saw a seal in the water, but it was gone. They saw signs were up and visitors were near by. They walked over to check out H92 and a gentleman said the volunteer left.  So Team Billand stayed for a bit and asked folks to stay behind the signs.

At 2 pm upon a recheck, H92 was still there, and still lots of people trying to get close.  Team Billand called it a day by 2:30.

 RH92

 RL28 

 RL52

 RL58 aka Pebbles (Rocky's kid)

August 31, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and some news from our pal Val.

News from Kauai brought to you by our pal Val.  She spent some time with PK5 Rocky's pup. Val describes her as the most perfect petite seal she's ever seen, and that says a lot. She's sassy, vocal, energetic.  I have to share another little tidbit from Val... since most seals on Kauai don't get names like here on Oahu and Val really prefers to use tag reference, but today she thought of the perfect nickname for PK5.  Pebbles, cuz she's a tiny Rock(y) !!!! LOL  perfection all the around.
(BTW - Good luck in the race Val ).

Team Billand was back to a somewhat normal seal day for them.  At 6:25 they headed over to KoOlina and found RH92 who was already in a zone.  They made a couple adjustments to the zone, since it was about 2 feet from her head and they were able to ID RH92. She looks like she is ready to molt anytime now.
There were two large fish near her body, not chewed, it looked fresh and the crabs were having a feast. RH92 was not participating in the feast (which is a good thing)
Team Billand called the hotline. They then educated the folks who came to see the seal. 

Team Billand checked out the westside hot spots and they found RG28. The last time they saw him he was very green. But today he is very handsome with his brand new coat. They spotted the white on his left flipper and they "may" have seen another cookie scar, but not sure.
He looks a little thinner, but that very well may be because he just molted. He was alone on the rocks.

Their next find came at 1:50 and to their surpise Kekoa Alii RK72 was on mid rocks, alone and snoozing. His marker on his face was visible. He looks good and healthy and Team Billand was thrilled to see Ewa Girls son, since it had

been a bit.

Marilyn was checking out all the spots on the south east side this morning from about 10:45 to 11:20. She came across a juvenile seal with an old coat wedged tightly up against the rock wall. This critter never showed it's tags or it's belly so technically it is being reported as a U/U. However, Marilyn is willing to bet TWO cats that this is RK24.  Such a nice find, if it is him.

Next Marilyn headed over to the Pier to view Rabbit Island from 1:15 to 3:00 pm. Photo conditions were not ideal most of the time it was overcast.

There were four critters on Left Point Beach. 
UAM (unknown adult male) with an older coat, two tags, male belly and no distinctive markings. He entered the water about 1:30 and moved a short distance down the shore where he encountered RG32 and then galumphed his way over to RL47.
UAF (unknown adult female) adult size, female belly, at least one tag, and no other distinctive markings. Marilyn think this is likely RB12 Sadie who has completed her post-wean molt. 
There was a UAF reported with an older coat on 8/24 and this may be the same critter with a new coat. Timing makes it right for Sadie.
RG32 subadult to adult size with an older coat, male belly and two tags. He also entered the water at some point and later came back on shore with RB12.

Closer to the 1BS was RL47 Kamakana, ID'd by weaner size and color, two tags and male belly. He was visited by the UAM.  

At SRI (seal rock inlet) there was UJF#1 (unknown juvenile female #1) newer coat, female belly and two tags. This is most likely one of the 2018 Rabbit Island pups, either RK37 or RK38.

Far to the right on Rocky Right Beach was UJF#2 with a newer coat, female belly, two tags. This is probably one of the 2018 pups.  RK37's natural bleach was not visible on either U/J/F.

And lastly the Masked Booby Chick is still hanging out up on the cliff.

 Rocky and  PK5 "Pebbles"  LOL

 Here Mom and Pup posing for a Patrick Ching painting. 

RH92

RG28

 Beautiful white bleach marker

 Kekoa Alii RK72

RK24

 U/A/M and RL47 Kamakana

 U/A/M and U/A/F

 RG32 and UAM

 RL47 Kamakana 

 UJF #1 

 UJF#2

Masked Booby Chick

August 19, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand. I also received a link to Kauai's Seals. - Thank you Gayle for forwarding the information.

A little news about our Oahu Girls KC and Rocky and their births on Kauai.
https://kauaiseals.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/monk-seal-monday-67-a-tale-of-two-pups/

Team Billand were at the pupping site before 6 am. When they arrived Mom and pup were in the shallows and Nanea came up higher, but Pohaku stayed in the water.  Pohaku was barking for the pup to come back, but Nanea paid NO ATTENTION and just stayed in her sleep position.

Pohaku continued to swim up and down, barking, then galumphed to the pup and checked on her. Nanea snorted and flipped over. Pohaku went back to the water. Finally Nanea went to Mom and Pohaku turned away.  The kids' first lesson in pay back !  Mom flipped over and pup had a feed in the shallows.

At 7:48 RN14 Kalani came in to visit.  Pohaku barked and he went to the corner of the cove. After a quick return and some heavy breathing, RN14 Kalani left the site (for now).
Mom and Pup fell asleep for quite some time and when they did wake there was another nursing session.

Robert took a break from the pupping site to check on some west side beaches.  He found Ka'ale RH32 who hadn't been seen for a bit (or no reports of his appearance).  In looking at the photos they notice he has a one inch hook in his bottom lip, showing with a little four inch leader line sticking out.  The good news the hook is visible, the bad news his location does not allow safe access to remove the hook.

Other than the hook, Ka'ale is looking quite big and green. The hotline and NOAA team were updated on Ka'ale.
I know Barb was relieved to find Ka'ale, since it has been a while.  I was actually thinking he might have gone somewhere to molt, but not yet he is still quite green.

Robert also found RN14 Kalani at one of the haul outs. I guess after he left Pohaku and Nanea he went off to be by himself.  

At 2:30 Team Billand both back at pupping site, found both Mom and Pup in the water exploring.  They then hauled out and folks started gathering. There were a lot of people out today and quite a few that would be considered too close. Team Billand did ask a family to back up, and when they didn't comply they left it up to the volunteer on site to handle. 

Suddenly another seal approached Pohaku and Nanea.  IT's Benny, he came up on shore just short of mom and pup and just looked for the longest time. Then slowly left the area going to the channel and gone! 

About 4 or so there is another seal, this time RN14 is back. He came close to Mom and pup. She barked and moved towards him, that's when he moved out, tried to come back, then left.  Hmmm Pohaku must be sending some pretty strong BACK OFF vibes.

Mom and pup remained on mid beach. There were people around, some were visitors, some workers, but all was done respectfully.
At 5 pm Team Billand called it a day.

 Singing for her breakfast

 someone's coming to visit

Ka'ale RH32

 Mr. Green has a little hook  

RN14 Kalani

Pohaku RO28 and Nanea PO5

 Benny periscope