MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: RJ16/17 (m) 2017

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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

10/25/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 2) Lesley covers from Camp Erdman to Turtle Bay

This morning I went down to CE point to ID an overnighted seal. It was RW02 “PVKauai”.

While I was taking pics of him, both of us got caught by an enormous set that rolled up the beach out of nowhere. He, that had been facing the water in a very deep sleep, got tossed up the beach and ended up face up with his blood red eyes opened wide. I, distracted taking a photo standing behind the Naupaka got water halfway up my legs. We recovered our breaths, PV galumphed further up and went back to sleep.

On my way back, this evening he was still there.

After doing a couple of errands I headed out to my old stomp grounds: Turtle Bay to see them seals.

There I met Marilyn with DB’s family and Diane on her shift. Marilyn and the others left for lunch & I stuck around with Diga for the afternoon. We were prepared for the rainstorm, but it seemed to keep going around us from all sides. We definitely felt the chill in the air.

Back to the seals…out at Kahuku Point under the iron trees were: RT10 “Ua Malie”, RK36 “Kauai Kolohe” and little RJ16 “Kahuluokalae” Ua’s pup (from now on I’m calling him “Hulu”). The adults are looking good in their new coats and were sleeping. Little “Hulu” after a short nap started playing around with whatever was in front of him, on his sides and back. I got my weaner fix, hadn’t seen one playing for a while.

Before we left “Ua” moved a little as if to be a barrier between the rolling in sets and “Hulu”. He moved closer to her but not too much, seemed that one raised look from mom kept him back. So, he turned and started playing with a branch beside him.

It was a good opportunity to update photos of ID marks on the seals.

“KKolohe” is full of dings and dangs, got good shots of his notched RRF, scarline behind LFF and more, all these help ID him when tags
aren’t visible (like today)
“Ua’s” scar on top of LRR, the line scar on the top right side of her neck and others. Her T10 tag has lost its white paint but the T11 is perfect.
“Hulu” has a NB under his LFF. At first, I thought he had a wound then I realized that it’s a thin NB line. On the right side of his neck he has lighter patch of fur, with time it may no longer be visible. His blings are brand-new.

All along the coast from Ka’ena to TBR, I saw the waves were rolling in high on the beaches, big volumes of water washing the sand. Winter swells are here !

Lesley - You had quite a day - lots of good seal sightings and wonderful people company, the only thing missing was me haaaaa only kidding.

Nice find Natural Bleach Mark - It does look like a wound but you called it!

RK36 Kauai Kolohe

Baby boy Hulu RJ16 and Momma RT10 UA Malie

RT10 Ua Maile

RW02 PV Kauai

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

10/18/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) Ka'ale(RH32), Kekoa(RK72), RL42, Ua Malie(RT10), Kauai Kolohe(RK36), Holokai(RG40), RJ16, 2 Rabbit Island Critters, Right Spot(R016).

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, Vicki, Gayle and Lesley. *please see next post for Lesley's findings.

Team Billand found Ka'ale RH32 at Kahe today, he was alone and snoozing on the rocks. They were happy to see him back, they decided to leave the site as to not bring attention to him.

Team Billands next find was in Maili where they found Kekoa Alii RK72 sleeping alone on the rocks. They stayed for a bit and looked to see if another critter would haul out, but no one came. On their second visit to the site he was still there alone sleeping on his side.

Next stop for Team Billand was at 20 min beach where they found RL42 resting comfortably and she was alone, no one around bothering her. Barb noted there is a gate set up at the walk entrance. Seems this is one way to keep the trucks going through, until they figure a work-around. And lastly Barb came across thanksgiving dinner (only kidding) a Big Turkey walking around, she wouldn't disclose the exact location. She said he's cute, I say eh.... monk seals are cute. :-)

Team T&D (Tammy & Dave) were on the north shore and they found a bumper crop of critters. (I don't know if they crossed paths with posse pal Vicki because she covered the same group of critters).

They reported on RK36 Kauai who is about 80% molted., on the other hand Ua Malie RT10. Big brother Holokai RG40 and baby boy RJ16 were also close by.

As mentioned Posse pal Vicki was also on the north shore and reported a critter party, with Mom Ua Malie, older brother Holokai, and baby boy RJ16, along with Kauai Kolohe who may or not be related but a good chance he'll be next years daddy. (just saying)

Gayle was happy to report R016 Right Spot is 100% molted and looking good. She stayed away from center stage at Sandys and was east of the 2nd life guard station. Gayle was able to rope her off where she spent the day. Gayle left her 18:45. Gayle also spotted two critters on Rabbit Island and sent a couple of photos despite the choppy conditions.

Ka'ale

Kekoa Alii

RL42

Due to the holiday season this birds location will remain a secret until 2018 :-) Good luck tom turkey

Kauai Kolohe

Molt about 80%

Ua Malie

Holokai

Seal Yoga

It's a family affair

baby brother

Here he comes RJ16

Critter party - Rk36, RT20, RG40, RJ16

RG40

RK36

RJ16 and mom RT10

Rabbit Island Critters

Right Spot looking beautiful in her new coat

Thursday, October 12, 2017

10/12/2017 Monk Seal Dailies: Kekoa & Lei Ola, Buster & Right Spot, Rip & BG, Luana, 5 Rabbit Island Critters, Holokai & RJ16, Ua Malie & RK36

Today's Dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Team T&D, Lesley and Gayle. Also check out the next post of Yesterday's News from Lesley's find.

Team Billand found Kekoa Alii and Lei Ola together both snoozing on the rocks. Lei Ola still has a hook in the left corner of her mouth. Other than the hook Lei Ola seems normal, showing no stress from the hook, sleeps on her side and back. Kekoa Alii was a real gentleman, didn't bother her and stayed close sleeping on his side of the pond. On their later visit Kekoa moved to a deeper pond and Lei Ola is still on her side of the pond on her back. Neither are showing signs of molting.

Team T&D (Tammy and Dave) did a drive around the Island. First stop checked out Right Spot and Buster spent some time with chatting with posse pal Gayle. Next stop was Hauula but noone was home. Onward and upward to Turtle Bay where the brothers Holokai & RJ16 were by the Keiki Pool.
Their last find of the day was the boyz momma Ua Mali and RK36.

News from Lesley from Mokuleia this afternoon where she found RR70 "Rip", he's approximately 30-40% molted. Toward parking lot she found RN58 Luana in a little cove across the parking lot. (new haul out location - as well as new sand beach due to tides shifting sand). Lesley met up with a new volunteer and spent time sharing information about the two critters.

Gayle was with Right Spot and Buster together when she found them this morning. Busterr left sometime between 11:30 and 4 pm. Day 3 of Right Spot's molt and she's 30% molted. Gayle left at 18:30. A UU did a swim by at Sandy's about 10:30 am, took a look at Buster and Right Spot never hauled out and swam east.

Gayle's Rabbit Island check there were FIVE critters. Four critters were all together and the small lone one wasn't that far away. Gayle's thoughts were one of the critters could be the UU (subadult) who did the swim by earlier at Sandy's.

As a side note I was told today there were two critters on Moku Nui from a friend who was kayaking. When I asked if there were any markings I was told "the dlnr person said it was an aunty and pup". hmmm okay. So what I gathered is possibly an adult female and a young/weaner kid. What's interesting is Gayle's email mentioned that Aka was on Moku Nui.... sooo in the end we know there were two seals on moku nui, one large and one small :-)

Kekoa and Lei Ola