7/10/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Lei Ola, RL42, Ka'ale, Kawena, Aka, Right Spot

Today's seals sighting come from Team Billand, Gayle, Mrs. Whisperer and NOAA HMSRP.  Our little PO2 "Aka" got his bling today!

Lei Ola RH48 & RL42 at 20 min mark
Early in morning, found RL42 just Ten feet apart from Lei Ola at the 20.
L42 might be going into a molt soon, she is so grubby looking...and has been at this location few days now. HMM.
RH48 Lei Ola has a mark on her left upper shoulder, could be just a WET MARK, not sure. Nothing serious any ways. Just noted that different. Both girls are resting comfortably on the rocks. No one around ..... YET.

Ka'ale RH32 at Kahe
He wasnt there earlier, we had checked two times before. On our last check in afternoon, he was on the edge of the rocks, getting hit by the rising tide.

Gayle reported Right Spot R016 at Kaupo and a few shots of activity at Rabbit Island. (thank you Gayle).  We also have the following report from Mrs. Whisperer from her day at the Pier and a couple shots from the eastside.

I arrived at the Makai Pier about 7:30 to watch the NOAA team tag Aka. When I first viewed Rabbit Island I saw no seals. When I looked over at Kaupo Beach Park at 0820, I saw a seal out on the rocks that I later identified as Right Spot (R016). As I panned across Rabbit Island just after the NOAA team led by Mark Sullivan arrived around 0930 I found Kawena (RH36) up close to the cliff at Middle Cliffs. Soon thereafter Aka hauled out on the west end of the island. Due to some technical difficulties the NOAA team had to delay their approach to Aka until about noon. He was herded up onto the beach from shallow water and got his new bling (tags J06 and J07) and now has his official ID of RJ06. He was measured and vaccinated, but was too squirmy to allow for blood to be drawn. 

While waiting for the tagging, Tracy and I discovered a turtle that appeared to be in distress and we saw that it had fishing line around its left front flipper. The turtle later seemed to disentangle itself, but Terry Kerby and colleague from the UH HURL research sub program, got in the water and were able to collect a fishing lure and about 20 yards of line so other animals won't get entangled. Overall a good day for marine animals. (Thank you T. Kerby)

Lei Ola 

 Lei Ola and RL42

Ka'ale 

Aka RJ06/07

Kawena

 Kawena as seen from Rabbit Island

Right Spot

Thank you Gayle NOAA out at Rabbit Island

 Right Spot... (that view of the pier will always be about DB)

8-31-2013 DB's Dailies:

At 0550 I found Kea (RN46) lolling in his nook, tide pool at the rock flats 200yds east of the wall. He would leave the tide pool at 0818 and begin a leisurely swim/ forage session heading west. He would haul out to his usual snooze rock at the rock flats, 100 yds east of the wall at 0939.

　

During the morning there would be two brief visits from Benny (RE74). He swam through checking the spot were Kea had been yesterday, but not finding anybody continued on to the east. At 0957 he would once again swim through, again checking the beach but finding nobody, and once again continued east. That was not to be the end of Benny. At 1124 Tati called with the report of an animal at Kaupo Beach Park. When I arrived witnesses said he had swum through but people lining the shore would not allow him to haul out, and the animal departed. While I was talking with the witnesses at 1140, Benny made a return visit. Once again the adoring hordes would not allow him to haul out, lining the shore with their camera/phones in hand. I honestly don’t think he had hauling out in mind anyway. He was simply checkin’ for chicks, and finding nobody he continued the adventure.

Surfers at the AD break reported Benny in the line up at 1300.

　

At 1333 Ocean Safety reported an animal at Sandy Beach. When I arrived at 1337, of course I found Benny !

Sandy Beach lifeguards reported Benny’s departure at 1449. He tried to haul out to the far east end but the masses wouldn’t allow it, and he departed.

　

At 0640 Team Billand reported M&M (R020) at Kalaeloa Campgrounds. She would be run off by fishermen, but returned at 1648.

　

At 0936 the found Kolohe (RW22) at Secrets.

　

Lesley called at 1206 to report that she had spent with morning with R912&Pup, and also did th Ka’ena Pt trek, finding Ka’ena (RO40) at Ka’ena’s Pool, at the end of the world.

　

Team Billand reported Pohaku (R020) at Maili Pt at 1648.

　

The Billands reported that RIP (RR70) had joined M&M at Kalaeloa Campgrounds.

　

At 1813 the Billands reported that RIP had lots of fishing line wrapped around his transmitter. Much had been cut away, but they said 30 ft or so remain. I don't know if I missed it or not but I didn't see any of the photos of this.... not sure if there were any photos... hopefully the matter was handled and RIP is free from any tangled lines

  

Check the blog in the morning for the Billand's day.

Benny on the prowl at ADs

 then Benny hits up Kaupo Beach Park

 And finally makes his way to Sandy's for a rest

 Benny sure knows how to get around especially at the beginning of a long holiday weekend 

 Kea hitting his fav spots

 R912 and pup... boy this kid loves nursing... it's tail is always up in the air...!!!

 Okay so is that a little bleach mark at the flipper tip?

 okay mom's tail is in the air.... maybe it's genetic ?

 Ka'ena

 

 Had the whole place to himself

6-27-2013 DB's Dailies: Kaiwi&Kainoa@RI, Buster@SB, KC@KBP, M&M@KCG, Irma@IRQ, Kekoa,Ewa Girl&Pup@RR, 2AW@Makaha, RK36@KP

At 0902 Ocean Safety called with the report of an animal arriving at Sandy Beach. When I arrived at 0909 I found Buster (RV08) fronting the Middle's break, right in the middle of the show. I cordoned him off and he has remained the rest of the day. Buster rolled to the sea at 1834.

At 1027 I found Kaiwi (RK96) at the far left end of the beach on Rabbit Island. She has remained the rest of the day.

David Schofield called with the report of an animal in distress at Kaupo Beach Park. When I arrived at 1242 I found a perfectly fine, fat and happy KC (RK28) on one of the fingers of rocks off shore. The caller thought she was stuck on the rocks and needed assistance. She was invisible from the beach. She was still there on my afternoon check.

Kimo called from the 1/3rd mark on his Waianae side march to Ka'ena Point, at 1410, with the report of RK36. He was just seen at TB on the 24th. The boy defintely gets around.

Team Billand reported 2AW at Makaha at 1419.

Yahoo has been a nightmare for some days now, and tonight it has decided not to let me attach photos. I've sent my shots via gmail. I've asked the Billands to send their stuff to Donna, so check the blog in the morning....  Sorry to our regular followers for all the delays in posting lately.... very rare DB has technical difficulties... and to make it worse with my on going internet problems... not a good week for the blog.  But in the end dedication and determination (okay shear stubbornness wins!).

 Buster 

 

 KC @ Kaupo Beach Park

I had to check this photo out... I originally thought... I don't remember KC having a big bleach mark... but it's not... just a dry patch.

 RK36 - thank you Kimo who was out by Ka'ena Point

 as reported 2AW @ Makaha

 However Team Billand also found MM @ Kalaeloa

 and big momma Irma out at Kalaeloa too!