MonkSealMania.blogspot.com: RL47 L47/46 m 2019 Namakana

Saturday, August 17, 2019

August 17, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

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

Marilyn went to the pier to observe Rabbit Island from 12:40 to 1:55 today. When she arrived there were five seals and a 6th seal showed about about 10 minutes before she left.

There were four seals all at Left Point Beach.
RL47 Namakana was closet to the rock flats left of LPB. ID'd by weaner size, shape and coloration, 2 tags and male belly.
UJF#1 - juvenile size, female belly and 2 tags. It's probably RK37, or RK38 based on size. She was later visited by UM#2.

Initially together were UM#1 and a sub-adult female with a new coat, most likely RH36 Kawena. They moved apart and back together several times and had a few spats. The UM#1 was subadult to adult size, maybe with one tag showing on ventral size of flipper, older coat, and dark male belly. He may have a line scar above the right eye.

About 1:35 pm Marilyn became aware of UM#2 who had arrived and was pestering UJF#1. This seal had two tags, older coat with perhaps a lighter belly. This may be RG32. He ultimately chased UM#1 into the water and then went over to bother RH36 Kawena.

Initially on the rock flats of SRU was UJ#2. The seal later moved up among the rocks at the mouth of SRI. The seal was juvenile size, had two tags, and a new coat. Marilyn never got a clear look at the bellly. Marilyn thinks it's probably RK37 or RK38, but can't be sure.

Team Billand arrived at pupping site before six am. Upon arrival, they spotted three seals on shore, Pohaku RO28, Nanea PO5 and none other than Da Benny RE74. It was so early that it was too dark for decent photos, and turns out Benny left within a few minutes.

Pohaku and Nanea were on Birth Beach resting, with lots of wallows and trails on shore in the zone area.
At 6 am Benny came back a second time, headed to Mom and Pup, looking, getting closer closer. He veered off a bit and when he checked back on Mom and Pup they were in the water.
Benny approached and Pohaku went nuts and charged Benny. Nanea stayed to the side and out of the way. Benny and Pohaku went at it, it stopped and Pohaku charged him again, this time there was contact, biting Benny in the neck. ( WHOA ! Pohaku a tough broad). Benny moved away slowly leaving the area. Pohaku then landed and settled in and fed her kid.

Team Billand got a call from a friend that a seal had hauled out at a nearby beach. They went to check and ID'd RH92. They called the hotline and folks around helped them set up a zone.

At 6:30 Benny returns (aw geesh doesn't he ever learn). He comes around looking and then landing closer to the fence line moved around and then turned over and went to sleep for an hour.

When he woke up he moved closer to Mom and Pup. Nanea barked but stayed with Pohaku. Benny came within 20 feet of them turned over and went to sleep. ( you got to love him... he's either clueless or a real romantic)
After his nap he moved down to the water line and cooled off, and that is where he remained for the rest of the time Team Billand's observation. All is quiet and all sleeping.

At 11:30 Team Billand left for a break and returned at 1:25 pm. They found Pohaku and Nanea alone on shore snoozing. Some of the folks said Benny was his dumb self and fought with Pohaku about like five times until Pohaku gave it back and he left by 1:15.

Pohaku once again was settled in and fed Nanea, then the pup grew restless, entered the water with Mom following. This was their first swim of the day.

By 3 PM the surf was high and the tide was up, Mom took pup into the channel to explore. Team Billand lost site of them at 3:30 and decided to call it a day. WOW what a day.

News from out Pal Val on Kauai. She generously sharing a couple of photos of KC and her pup PK4 (Pup Kauai 4) born earlier on July 19th than Nanea.
Val also sent a photo of PK5 showing of its teeth. Now this is Rocky's kid born either late evening July 19th or very early morning July 20th,'

RL47 Namakana

UJF- UM and Kawena RH36

UM and Kawena

UM #1

UM #2

Pohaku and Nanea and DA Benny

Pohaku Kicks Benny's Butt.

Don't mess with me Benny

haaa Mom you kicked his butt.

Da Benny

RH92

Benny Nanea and Pohaku

Nanea

PK5 Rocky's kid showing off it's choppers

KC' Pup PK4 being a drama queen

Mom I'm hungry

Mommmmm I'm hungry

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! I wanna eat!!!!!!

Friday, August 16, 2019

August 16, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Mrs. Whisperer Marilyn.

Marilyn decided to take advantage of having the day off today and headed to Ka'ena Point. She hiked form the Yokohama site, and at the 20 minute mark she spotted a seal in one of the channels. The critter swam away before she could even get her camera ready. The seal was adult size but no possible ID.
A short distance later at 8:36 am, she spotted a critter resting on a rock rubble beach. The seal was sub-adult size with an older coat. Marily n was able to ID Lei Ola RH48 byt her H48/49 tags. She entered the water and headed in the Waianae direction about 10 minutes later.

There were no other seals seen on Marilyn's trek so she hurried home to check Rabbit Island.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from Makai Pier between 2:30 - 3:20. There were five HMS on Rabbit Island. On Left Point Beach there were 3 seals, Marilyn believes them to be:
RL47 Namakana - weaner shape and size, two tags, light male belly.
RH36 Kawena - sub adult size, new coat, 2 tags and female belly. She was too large to be one of last years girls.
U/M #1 - this seal only showed it's hind end (I hate when they do that). Older green coat, male belly (?) and 2 tags. Possibly RG32 but she won't bet the cat on it.

Near the 3BS:
Unknown Male #2 - adult size, older coat with green, darker male belly. She was never able to see tags, so may be the seal that has lost it's tags or has only small piece left.

On Rocky Right Beach there was a juvenile female with a new coat and 2 tags. Marilyn believes this to be RK37 (Sadies 2018 pup- RL47's older sister) because of the NB on the lower left side near the rear.

The masked booby chick is beginning to get some of it's adult plumage. It's "mask" developing around the beak.

Team Billand arrived at the pupping site at 6:00 am. They had been looking for seals and coming up empty. Finally they found Pohaku RO28 galumphing up at birth beach and Nanea followed. They had a nursing session.
After the feed, the pup and mom decided to go to the channel and they disappeared. Team Billand waited and waited but did not see them. Then Team Billand received a call from Auntie, and she had eyes on Mom and pup.

Team Billand headed over and there they were sleeping on shore, but the waves came and washed them off, so from there they went exploring. They landed in between the rocks for another nap.
At this point Team Billand got a call of a seal at another cove, so they went to check.

They were able to check and there was a nice little seal sleeping in the corner. Security arrived and brought the signs and ropes and blocked off a very busy beach. It was RH92
Team Billand called the hotline right away to update them on the crowds and seals location. She is looking green but healthy just laying there by herself. The scar on the right of face was visible and sar on right fore flipper too.

Team Billand stood watch, and did they best to educate the crowds. Then they got another call from Auntie. Mom and pup are back and on shore once again in a safe spot,
Pohaku and Nanea were exploring the rocks, rolling to get something but couldn't tell. Pup moved toward the channel. They notified the volunteer so people would get out of the water.

Meanwhile they see Nanea has something, and when they got a closer look they could see it was a plastic bag !!! She was pulling it out of the rocks, Pohaku headed over to her and got the pup to move. Nanea thankfully let the bag go, and it floated away. (too bad no one could get it) Pohaku then took Nanea into the channel.

Team Billand headed over to the other cove.
When Mom and Pup approached there were lots of people waiting with the cameras and phones, happy to see them.

Mom and pup explored the rocks for a bit, waves came in crashing over the rocks, so Pohaku took Nanea towards birth beach for a feed.

All was good, people were respectful and Melody was on site along with Team Billand. Melody ordered pizza and they had a picnic watching the seals. (such a nice image... did anyone save me a piece?) Team Billand called it a day around 3 pm.

Lei Ola RH48