June 6, 2023 Tuesday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, Tammy and Team R&B💕  Tammy's update is from the yesterday news department.

Posse pal Tammy day started out slow yesterday with just one seal. After several hours she ended her day with 8 seals.

First at 10 minute beach, best guess by size and location that this would be RL98 Lina, but many untagged seals showing up in the area she had to report it as an unknown/unidentified. 

On her way back she spotted a very bright white belly on the reefs, there was Kami RL74. 

Tammy stopped to check in on RL42 and PO6. There was another  seal visiting them but she could not get the ID.

Tammy also made a stop to  check on Luana RN58 and PO7.

Lastly she was both surprised and lucky to find RS36 Pualalni. Tammy watch her for a bit while she played in the shallows for about an hour. She entertained herself playing with seaweed and a mangrove pod.

Marilyn noted our sadness from the news released by NOAA today regarding the loss of RG76 Malama. She was born on Rabbit Island over a year ago. This news is especially disturbing because so much time and labor had been spent to rehabilitate her after she was weaned in an underweight status. We would all like to thank NOAA, Ke Kai Ola, and volunteers for their efforts in trying to give her a chance at life.  Here's the official link:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/hawaiian-monk-seal-updates?fbclid=IwAR3ClEHqKjQZ05swLMJdPGSPVRJFkHFY1VKVqsK5A34qzquWiVfT6C8FUgI#reward-offered-for-suspected-intentional-killing-of-rq76-(malama)

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:00 to 3:20 and there were no seals visible during the first two and a half hours of her viewing.  ( OKAY that dedication and patience).  Marilyn doesn't know if the lack of seals was due to the three spearfishermen who had landed with their kayak between the 1BS & 2BS.

Finally Marilyn saw weaner RS34 haul out near SRI at 2:33 pm. She was identified by her weaner size, shape and coloration, her two red tags and silver-dollar size NB on her lower right side. She rested for a while before hauling onto to beach near SRI.

Marilyn then saw the head of a young monk twice in the surge channel adjacent to the rock flats of LPB. At 3:05 pm, Marilyn finally saw weaner RS12 haul out of the channel onto the rock flats. She was weaner size, shape and coloration and had two red tags.

Team R&B were out searching for hours and was coming up empty. Finally they found RH76 Kala at noontime. She was alone hiding up in the rocks.  Team R&B spotted two tropical birds fly by several times, birds they had never seen before.

They got the news of Malama RQ76, who was killed back in March. They took this opportunity to sit and let their feelings out. Ironic that they found Kala RH76 who is RQ76's mom. No matter how hard we try, we can't always prevent the tragedy.

Next stop they found a seal in the rocks and they were trying to get an ID. Thankfully the seal showed his tags and it was RM31 Kai. He was alone and seemed content enjoying his rest.

Then Kai suddenly went from relaxed to holy crap there's a visitor.

Here comes big butthead RH32 Kaale. He came up and started bumping Kai. Then he climbed up to him and poor Kai was upset and started barking and whooping at Kaale RH32.  Kaale just did his thing, then left  leaving Kai alone.

Team R&B went looking for Kaale but no luck. They just not sure which way he went, but they kept looking.  They were still working off their sadness over RQ76.

Then they found another seal, adult who looks like they are molting. There was the beautiful large Lei Ola RH48.  She moved to cool off and that's when they saw her tags. 

RL42 & PO6

RL74

RN58 & PO7

RS96

unknown - unidentified 

Rabbit Island

Tropical Flyer

RH76 Kala

RM31 Kai

RH32 Kaale

Lei Ola RH48

Feb 03, 2023 Friday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

I am posting a link to NOAA's story of RQ76, born on Rabbit Island in 2022. Worth the read.!

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/hawaiian-monk-seal-updates?fbclid=IwAR2o2Z4MT42E_Ra9Y3cXlV8XyW9kA6lgDcodKswNO_trN5rkY5XflagTUg4#rq76%E2%80%94released-with-an-appetite-for-survival

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:45 to 2:05 and there were three seals during her observations.

On the waterfront of LPB about 30 feet from the 1BS were two seals.

Unknown Adult: adult size, yellowish brown belly (possible female), two red tags.

A short distance away was an Adult Male: adult size, dark coat, dark gray male belly. Tags were not seen.

On the waterfront about 30 feet from the 3BS was an Unknown Subadult: subadult to adult size, light ventral area, not sure about tags. Rear flippers were not visible.

Team R&B once again started at the outfall. And just like before a seal foraging off the outfall.

The seal has tags and is adult size, but that is all they could make out.

Next stop they found three seals and thankfully a volunteer on site. The trio consisted of:

RN14 Kalani, R3CX Nalu, and the beautiful RL12 Aukai.

They left and headed over to Kahe. They saw a seal on the rocks but didn't know if it was a male or female. Then they recognized a small ding on the right flipper. Then they know it was none other than RH32 Kaale.

At another west side location they only saw one seal. It was RG28 Lefty, alone resting on the rocks.

At their last stop with all the rain they decided to check. There were some whales out and about. 

Finally they spotted a huge female on the rocks. They waited for the rain to slow down and they got a photo of Leia RL42.

Rabbit Island

U/U

RL12 - R3CX - RN14

RL12 & R3CX

RN14

RH32

RG28

RL42

Whale

Feb. 2, 2023 Thursday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕  We also have monk seal in the news thanks to KHON2.  Here is the link to the story on this evenings news.  This little one represents the meaning of it takes a village.  

https://www.khon2.com/local-news/endangered-monk-seal-released-back-to-their-natural-habitat/

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 1:00 to 2:00 and there was only one seal on island.

On the waterline down from the 1BS on LPB was a Juvenile Male: juvenile to subadult size, light male belly and two red tags. She suspects he is the same seal she has been reporting for the past three days in this location.

Team R&B found Kalua RL20 in the outfall foraging and stealing fish. I bet he's related to Kaale. We know Kaale taught this kid the tricks. Even the fishermen said so.

From afar they spotted another seal foraging out of the outfall. It had a fresh cookie wound. IT

was pretty good size, along with other cc scars on the right side of the body.

After talking with posse pals they suspect this is R604 who has been out at Kaena Point. She was recently seen with a new CC wound.

Team R&B moved onto another site that has been busy. They arrived and ID'd RL12 Aukai and R3CX on shore resting.  A volunteer was there with signs. 

A tourist with a wrist band from Aulani, walked within a few feet of Aukai who turned and barked at the guy. The man took his time looking for his phone in his bag. In the meantime Aukai was still looking and not happy with this dude. When the dude got his photos he walked out and climbed over the ropes.  What an  #$$.

At another west side location they made a quick stop since they were on the way to an appointment. They were glad they did, they found RW02 PvKauai on lower rocks. R3CU was at seal inlet and to the right water front rocks was RH76 Kala.

Then they spotted a big seal swimming back and forth looking to haul out. He came around to

lower rocks inlet and hauled in. At first he did not look familiar, so they paid closer attention for markings and tags. Then they recognized the natural bleach on his left hind flipper and a tag shot. There he was RG40 Holokai, who has been at Kaena Point lately.

On their absolute last stop before their appointment they found another seal. There was RL08 on the rocks with another seal. They could not get an ID on the other seal other than it was an adult. 

Rabbit Island

RL20

R604

Tourist approaches RL12 & R3CX 

Aukai

R3CX

Aukai and Nalu

R3CU

RW02

RH76

RG40

RL08

Unknown Adult