01/11/2020 Saturday (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

Another cold windy blustery wet morning. As much as I love to be out at dawns I this week has been a real challenging one because of the cold wet weather. All I can say here is the job we are working on has been very successful despite the weather and the light has been giving great documentation moments.

Doing a walk around the NARS at day break I saw a different rock on one of the small beaches, so I went down to check and IDed R3CU when I left in the afternoon he was still there.

At day break I went down to the point and found 2 big male seals on Main Beach RO40 Ka'ena & R339 (M). R339 made his way down to the water and did full body 360 perfect for getting a full body documentation, he played the hippo for a longtime in the pool while  Ka'ena just slept away. 

On my second check mid morning Ka'ena was on the reef island and R339 that had been swimming on the outside came back into the pool and sneaked his way to Ka'ena. He made it till he touched Ka'ena with his muzzle. Ka'ena woke up startled and they both had some words before entering the deep side of the pool and play the hippos.

On Back Beach little RL98 Lina was tugged up in her Naupaka spot. People barely notice her there.

Back home I checked the beaches and didn't see any seals or trails.

Haven't seen the Trio of Snow Geese in a couple of days but I've been getting sighting reports from posses.

All report done, to a warm shower I'll go.   More tomorrow 

01/10/2020 (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

We had heavy rain here over night, so I had to change my plans regarding seeing the Lunar Eclipse this morning in order to do road assessment.

It was very wet, very windy and very cold.

I got to see some visitors from up the mountain come down for a stroll. The Albatrosses at first day light were flying around between squalls or just doing shaking dances to dry off some.  Groups of pre breeders were courting and singing alone, till next squall were they hunkered down till it stopped.

Down at the point R330 Squinty was in the Main Pool and on the Back Beach the "New Dude" R339 (M) was sleeping peacefully.

None of the "L" girls were around at that time. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it back there today. 

More tomorrow - stay dry out there and be safe 

 

01/09/2020 Thursday Lesley's Ka'ena Update

Another crack-a-dawn start. I thought I was prepared for the chilly weather, but for the first couple of hours the wind was going straight thru to the bones. We had several squalls thru out the morning and later in the afternoon as well.

I went down to the point to check the beaches and started IDing seals.

As I was documenting the "New Dude" R339 (M) in the shallow waters of the Main Pool when a torpedo also known as R330 Squinty entered the pool went straight up to R339. They had short words and settled down.

Team T&D met up with me at the point. Tammy asked me did you see Lina" I said "no that's Kami".... turns out both girls were on Back Beach on opposites ends". I had seen RL74 Kami in her nook and Tammy had seen RL98 Lina bellow some Naupakas down the beach where little "Puna" used to hide.

The 2 big boys took off playing. We started heading back. Team T&D spotted "Squinty" at the end of the Runway, he was in search mode. Did all the pools, I last saw him swimming around in Ka'ena's Pool.

I checked the beaches here in front and didn't see any seals or trails. 

Actually trails would be hard to see bc the wind is so strong on this side that my own foot prints disappeared in minutes covered up by the sand.

I did a cut & paste of RL74 Kami's CC bite. It happened on Dec 24th 2019 in 17 days it's dry and healed. The flap didn't fall off and stuck back on.

More tomorrow 

 

01/08/2020 Late News: Lesley's Ka'ena Update

There was a little mix up with email accounts, but here is Lesley's update from Wednesday 1/8 :

It was a VERY early start we were out in the NARS before dawn and sunrise. We were documenting Albatrosses with a film crew

We had a festival of rainbows, between many squalls. I made it to the point just after first day light, then again a coulpe of times when big groups of hikers came in to do outreach.

 RFL12 Aukai and yesterdays U/M were exactly where I left them yesterday. The "new dude on the rock" ain't that new with the photo documentation I sent in our "Sensei" IDed him as R339 "he has been in Kauai for the last few years, but he was first seen on Oahu way back in 2016 at KPt, at that time he was called Temp 410 until he was given a new permanent ID".

I looked down and saw a big seal in the side pool it was RL42 Leia . She lingered there for a while then left.

Little RL74 Kami hauled out and made her way to her nook among some rocks where she spent the rest of the day.

I then saw a head bobbing up ad down in the outer pool. RO40 Ka'ena later hauled out and took over the center island of the Main Pool.

I checked the front beaches in the later afternoon but there was no trace of seals. The wind was blasting the sand, not a nice place to lay around or walk today.

I'd like to thank our team of Sealettes from all rocks for sharing information and always stepping up to help solve our favorite puzzles "whoz this seal?". What great family we are

More tomorrow