July 27, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Marilyn. A late email from Justin T. from his dive today!

Team Billand arrived at the pupping site at 5:30 am, a little earlier today and when they arrived there were already footprints in the zone.  (maybe happening overnight).  Seals were up on shore snoozing, and then Nanea was awake and ready to go. Mom barked out and she came back.

Mom and pup went in the water near the rocks for over an hour and a half, with the pup popping up to sniff out the rock crevices, over and over. At times waves came over rocks and poured over pup who got excited. Mom would hang out with pup to reassure her she was safe.

Pup took off, Mom barked and the kid kept going, Pohaku went over and they both swam near the fence. It looked like they were going to haul out outside the pup zone, so everyone moved their things. Nice to have everyone cooperate.

At 9:30 a third seal came in slithering, Team Billand couldn't get a good shot. They were able to rule out Benny, RN14, and RG28.  Pohaku charged the U/U one time and the seal took off. 
As if there wasn't enough to do, or excitement Team Billand collected a bucket of box jelly fish, which helped keep people out of the water. 

Team Billand left about 11:45 for a break. They returned at 1:50 pm and mom and pup were sleeping. Once again the pup suddenly wakes up and headed for the water. 
This time it turned and came back on it's own.  At one point both Mom and pup were in the water and were out of site. Team Billand and the volunteers on duty were checking the are and keeping people back. 
Finally they spotted Pohaku hauling in and heading up by the Naupaka.  Nanea showed up while Pohaku was calling out.  Geesh this kid is really independent.
Once they were all settled in Team Billand left at 3:30 to take junior sealette Olivia home.

Marilyn had a busy day on her Ka'ena trek today, a total of six seals.
The first seal of the day was R330 Squinty on the Lyman Beach. He was ID'd by the line scar on his forehead, NB inside his RFF, male belly and no tags.  When she checked on the way out he had moved down a bit but still in the neighborhood.

At 10 minute beach she found RK88 Puna, looking very green. He was ID'd by size, scar on his neck and his green coat. On the way out he was still at the same location.

The third seal of the day was RN58 Luana on the waterline at hidden beach. A local fisherman said she had been there yesterday, overnighted and still there this morning. She was ID'd by her female belly, N59 tag, and parallel line scars on her head. On the return in the after noon she had moved and now was in the company of R333. 
On Marilyn's hike out R333 was ID'd by applied bleach "10"  and a number of CC scars.  Today he had a fishing line coming out of the left side of his mouth. They informed the hotline who was already away and had volunteers looking for a reported hooked seal.  

When R333 had joined Luana she was not thrilled and there was an interaction between them. At one point his mouth was open and Marilyn was unable to see a hook.  Marilyn met up with the volunteer and was told NOAA was planning a response. (hopefully they can get to him today).

There were no seals on the Main Beach or Back Beach in the NAR. On the way back to the parking lot she came upon da Benny on the reef in BG's pool, He was ID'd by his face scar, E40/42 tags.  A nice surprise since he was hanging out with Pohaku and pup yesterday.

And the last but not least among the rocks at birth beach (tables) there was RL20 Kalua snoozing.
Looks like he is using the rock for a pillow. He was ID'd by his L20 tag and applied N17 bleach.

Just as I was starting the blog this evening an email from Posse pal Justin and Christine arrived with photos of a UU they spotted while scuba diving today on the west side. They called the NOAA hotline to report.  This was about noon time in about 3 to 20 feet of water. They could not see any clearly defined characteristics or it's gender or tags. The seal overall appeared to be in good condition with no wounds, hook, lines protruding from it's mouth.

Pohaku and Nanea - look at that FACE!

 UU briefly visiting Mom and Pup  

 Squinty R330

 Puna RK88

RN58 Luana & R333 

 Luana RN58

R333 line

 Benny RE74 

 RL20 Kalua 

UU seen while divers were at Yoks

UU 

July 13, 2019 (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update from the Past Week

Aloha all,

Well it has been a VERY busy week and although I haven't had time to sit down and share some seal reports with you I did get to see seals everyday.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I was at the HCC - so my seals checks were early morning before leaving and in the evening at sunset.

On Tuesday Jul 9th: RL20 "Kalua" got to spend the day with his uncle RH32 "Ka'ale" . At sunset I got to see both of them cuddling up, strangers would have thought it a perfect mom&pup scene.

RL20 "Kalua's" mom is RN58 "Luana", sister of RH32 "Ka'ale" their mom was R912 "Nihoa"

On Wednesday Jul 10th: RL20 "Kalua" and RH32 "Ka'ale" were visited by RE74 "Benny" in the late afternoon. I found RK40 "Napua" alone on another beach where it seems she spent the day alone and unbothered.

On Thursday Jul 11th: RL20 "Kalua" and RH32 "Ka'ale" were visited by RR70 "RIP". 

 RN58"Luana" and R333 (M) were down at Camp Erdman Pt, while I was checking and documenting them a seal came like a torpedo from Birth Beach side. It was RR70 "RIP". R333 (M) entered the water and chased him away. Soon after second seal showed up RH32 "Ka'ale", R333 (M) was still in the shallow water and had some hard words and lots of splashing went on. RH32 "Ka'ale" turned back and swam towards BB.

I had to head to town, but Team Tammy and Dave arrived shortly after I left to go monitor the Pt and reported a handful added to these !

On Friday Jul 12th: RL20 "Kalua" was visited by R330 "Squinty". When "Squinty" first showed up he checked the kid from far and left to search every inch of the beach towards CE Pt. He came back and spent some good quality time playing with the pup in the shallow waters.

It has been very entertaining to watch "Kalua" p lay with all sorts of treasures. In the afternoon I went and check on him and found him hauled out among his favorite rocks sleeping. 

Just then RK40 "Napua" hauled out on the opposite side of the beach right in front of where our long time friends Lauray and Kelly were spending some good beach time with friends.

Shortly after NOAA's team showed up to give the kid his booster shot. He barely looked up and went back to sleep.

This morning I found RL20 "Kalua" play/foraging in shallow waters.  

 Let's hope RL20 doesn't take after his uncle Ka'ale