04/10/2021 Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

 

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, Lesley and Team R&B💕.  Marilyn, Diane and Lesley did a survey of Ka'ena point today and their update is part two of the dailies.

Team R&B first sighting on the west side was Nalu R3CX.  After leaving for a bit when they returned there were lots of trucks and folks ulua fishing. They did not see Nalu again.

Their next find was a seal seen off the rock area. RL12 Aukai was swimming by. She never landed, there were volunteers in the area keeping track. 

Last find for Team R&B was a seal at yoks that was hooked. They ID'd RN14 Kalani and notified the

hotline, volunteers in the area and NOAA. They build a make-shift zone to keep people away. At one point RN14 took off, but thankfully he came back on shore in the same spot.

Marilyn not only did the Ka'ena survey today but she also went to check on Rabbit Island. There were a total of six seals on island today.

At LPB there was an UU unknown seal mostly hidden in the sand, that looked to be a juvenile to subadult size and a lighter coat.

A short distance right of the 1BS were two seals together: UM, adult size, darker male belly and at least one tag. Next to him was an UJ, juvenile to subadult size, lighter belly and tags.

At the 3BS was a juvenile female with two tags, Marilyn could see an applied bleach girdle in front of the rear flippers and she is reasonable sure a N5 applied bleach. This would make this critter RM90/N5 Mele, who just returned from her stay at Ke Kai Ola.

In their usual spot RF34 Momma Pua and P01 now 3 weeks old were mostly in snooze mode during Marilyn's visit.

Nalu R3CX

Aukai RL12

RN14 kalani

Rabbit Island Mele M90

U/M and U/J

UU

RF34 Pua and P01

01/09/2021 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and Lesley. Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 11:30 to 1:30 today and there were only two critters on island today. 

When she first arrived there was only one seal at SRI. UAF, unknown adult size, medium gray mottled female belly and two tags. She moved up and down several times. She is a healthy size but not sure if she just been eating good or pregnant.

About 12:25 Marilyn became aware a newly hauled out very small seal about 30 feet of the 3BS.

Marilyn is pretty sure this was RM90/N5 who is now considered a juvenile. She as ID'd by her small size, light female belly and two tags. 

In non-monk seal news, but Rabbit Island inhabitants the sooty terns are back. Marilyn heard them as soon as she arrived. Later she saw various sized groups flying to and fro around the island. They usual start nesting around February/March.

Team Billand with junior sealette Olivia arrived at tracks just after 9 am. The beach was crowded and people were very very close to the seal. They ID'd RN14 Kalani, they did what the could to keep people back and called the hotline to inform. People just weren't listening today and with much frustration they left.  Junior sealette gave Grams, some encouragement to keep trying no matter what.  (smart kid).

At another west side site they found RK72 Kekoa Alii. He was on the rocks snoozing resting peacefully.

Next stop was over to the bay. They found Lei Ola RH48 and Nalu R3CX hauled out together on the rocks resting peacefully.  RL20 Kalua was on the rocks resting alone. RN44 was also sleeping on the rocks, but he was where people come to jump. 

Last critter of the day was one they spotted earlier but didn't stop. There were just too many homeless people and their dogs in the area at that time.  When they returned they took a chance and walked the path and glad they did. There was little N4 Kai laying there. He was fine and resting, although Team Billand is not happy he is in this location. They took some photos and left in a hurry, not wanting to bring any attention to him. They texted volunteer Melina who lives close by. She was able to get out there later in the day to check on him.

RM90 N5

UAF

RN14 Kalani

Kekoa RK72

Lei Ola RH48 and R3CX Nalu

RL20 Kalua

RN44

N4 Kai

12/13/2020 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

 

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

FIRST I have some unfinished business from yesterdays post. I crashed out before reading ALL of Team Billands emails. So from yesterdays news; In addition to their other sightings they also found RL70 Leina and a unidentified unknown. The critter just didn't give them enough to go on.

Kawika R407 was still at Tracks with lots of people surrounding him.

Unfortunately there were no signs or volunteers on site.

And last part of the day they found Ka'ale RH32 with Aukai RL12 hauled out. Both of them were surrounded by people, same deal no signs.  Just after they arrived both seals left for the open water.

As for TODAY, Team Billand started their day at the outfall and upon arrival saw three seals foraging. Aukai RL12 was getting her fill of food and keeping up with the boys. Later she hauled out at Tracks. RN14  Kalani was foraging and on occasion going after Aukai. She would put him in his place, and then he was back to foraging.  Ka'ale RH32 was busy stealing and foraging, all over the place as usual.  Ka'ale left the outfall and tried to haul out at tracks, but he didn't stay.

Between 10 and 2 pm they were at the bay. There were seals but it took some time to get their ID's, but persistence and patience paid off.  RN44 was spotted, by the end of the jetty with lots of splashing. He popped his head up with eyes wide opened. When they got home and checked their photos they could see a fishing line over his snout. They will go out early Monday to check. RN44 continued to forage far off shore.

RL20 Kalua was busy moving from right to left, He was moving fast which made getting a good photo difficult. 

R3CX Nalu was foraging and bothering Lei Ola RH48. They went further out to stuff themselves. Seem there is a new school of fish far from the jetty in open ocean away from hooks.

Just after 2 pm Team Billand found R407 sleeping in a pond and RN14 Kalani was on the rocks

keeping his eyes on R407.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 10:50 to 12:20 pm. There were originally two seals on island when she arrived. On LPB was M90/91 N5 id'd by her small weaner size and flipper tags. Her applied N5 bleach was visible. During her observations N5 moved up and back down the beach.

About 100 feet Makapuu side of the 1BS was a molting adult male. Adult size no visible tags, molt about 45% today. Most of the ventral side is molted and there are a few molt spots on the dorsal side. Marilyn believes this to be Kekoa Alii RK72 from his facial scars on right side.

Then about 11:20 Marilyn became aware of a large seal with a new coat that was newly hauled out behind the rocks at SRI. He galumphed in the Makapuu direction and Marilyn could see his "cue" ball NB behind his RFF. This confirmed RW22 Kolohe's ID.

RL70 Leina

UU 

Kaale and Aukai

Kawika R407

Today's Sightings: Kalani RN14

Kaale RH32

Aukai RL12

Nalu 

RL20 Kalua

RN44

Lei Ola

R407 and RN14

Molting Adult Male (Kekoa ?)

M90/91 N5

RW22 Kolohe