8/16/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RO28, RR70, RH32, RN14 & RL42

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Lesley. Lesley's complete Ka'ena Update is part 2 of the dailies.  I also heard that Rocky was back on Oahu, I don't have any photos to share at this time, but I am sure we'll have some soon.

Team Billand was out early this morning, but they were not at the outfall. Instead they headed over to Plains and spotted two seals on shore side by side. There were signs up, small zone put up by the surfers (another good example of building relationships with the community). Team Billand put up ropes, because were starting to walk pass the signs. 

Team Billand called the hotline and ID'd Pohaku RO28 & RIP RR70. At 8:30 they spoke to a friend that use to be a volunteer if she would hang out with the seals, because they had to leave. Thank you Laurie for helping out the posse. Not five minutes later Laurie called that a third seal came up on shore fighting with RIP. Team Billand ran back only to find RIP, alert and in his best macho posture, still with Pohaku who had dashed up to get away from the fight.  Team Billand just missed the 3rd seal and no one got a photo. So they headed out again and a volunteer was arriving.

After leaving Pohaku and RIP Team Billand had been to the outfall and it was monk seal free today. Hmmmm maybe the fish are getting smart. Although they were told one was there about 15 minutes before they arrived. So Team Billand headed over to a nearby beach. There they found the bosom buddies hauled out on the rocks.  
Team Billand noticed a woman running to the site, a man already taking pictures with a huge camera, and a drone flying by. Apparently this team is filming the "bosom buddies" and got some action shots of the two in the water having words.  Team Billand did ask them to please keep a safe distance, especially since they had a large lens. They went down to where the seals were anyway. SHAME!
The "film" team finally left and Team Billand decided to leave as well.

Then at 2:30 Team Billand made the Ka'ean West Trek ( soooo hot) and all the way out to the 40 min mark. They found RL42 Leia molting. She was on her side at first, making her belly visible. She moved around a bit and then her backside was visible. Neck is clean and flippers still peeling. She is over 45% molted.  She was alone and no one was around, so Team Billand left her resting.

 Pohaku & RIP

Bosom Buddies!  Ka'ale and Kalani 

RL42 Leia

8-30-11 DB Dailies

It was a busy little day in the Oahu Monk Seal world. The dawn patrol found Irma and Ka Iwi snoozin' at AD at 0550. It was a long day of fence mending, fence extending, and watching the two explore undiscovered territory. The waves and tide were of major consequence at AD today. The two swim session were more a matter of survival that fun play time. Irma and Ka Iwi explored 100 ft to the east beyond any other travels to day. I had to extend the fence line an addition 100 ft. The ultimately hauled out at about were yesterday's east end fence line had been. They were still there when we departed for the evening. There were many feeds. I lost count. Thank you to all you AD posse people !!! Each and every one of you is worth your weight in Manapua.

I just put in a hour at Makai Pier, but managed to document Nani (RK60), Duke (RA12) , and Kolohe (RW22) on Rabbit Island today.

Team Billand had a busy day. The called to report RIP (RR70) and M&M (R020) at Maili Point, at 0714.

The real highlight of the day came with the Billands report from the Reef Runway. They found Kekoa RK72) there, with a packing strap tightly wrapped around his mid section. They called the office, and a quick response from NOAA personnel saved the day. Thank you to Shawn, Sean, Mark &  Dera, also to Eileen, the eyes and ears of the Reef Runway. Special thanks too to the Billands for having that magic knack of finding the weirdest stuff. Incidently, the NOAA people also carried off a truck load of Marine Debris before departing.

Reports from Turtle Bay once again talk about aggressive behavior with R5AY and Pup. That behavior is a hallmark of R5AY's relationship with all of her pups, but this sounds noteworthy.

Posse member Clay Gates reported a late arrival of Rocky (RH58) to Iroquois Point at 1530. Thank you Clay for being on it, and for the shots.

Classic Rocky on the lawn @ Iroquois 

 Wasn't it Rocky who hauled up on a lawn in Diamond Head?  

 Hope this doesn't become a habit, I can hear it now... We have a call of a seal in someone's back yard and it's heading for the pool

 M+M @ Maili

 RIP and little white rock @ Maili

 RIP and M+M and a coke bottle

 ***** LATE ENTRY **** from Karen R. We have R5AY and PO3. Looks like the kid is hiding from Mom 

 Yesterdays' news... Barb sent me these photo late yesterday. It shows RIP with a coke bottle ( wonder if its the same one as today) This photo shows RIP holding onto the bottle

8-22-11 DB Dailies and more

Marilyn, Lesley and I arrived for "dawn patrol" at 0600, and set up Base Camp Irma. Irma and pup were snoozin', but began moving to the water front rocks, tide pools. The tide was on the rise so the pup got swept a time or two but managed to get back to mom. On each of my following checks they were in the tide pool.

On my 0850 look at Rabbit Island, from the Makapuu Overview I found Kolohe (RW22) at the base of right Middle Cliff. By the time I got to Makai Pier at 0910 he had moved down near the water line to cool off. Also at 0910 I found Duke RA12) at Seal Rock Inlet, and chunky little Nani just hauling out to the left end of the beach. She was faced with an impossible cut in the beach front. She tried it once, but then galumphed 60 ft left to find an easier incline.

Team Billand checked in with the report of RIP (RR70), and M&M together again at Maili Point. The rising tide washed RIP off the rocks, but they boy just won't give up.

At 1417 the Billands called with especially good news. They were with Rocky (RH58) at Iroquois Point. Posse member Clay Gates had called them. I notified Colleen immediately. Both are blood pressures have dropped dramatically .

Team Billand checked in again at 1436 to advise that Runway Posse member, Eileen had called to say that Ewa Girl (RS00), and Kekoa (RK72) had been on the birth beach, five feet apart since 1030.

When I stopped by the ADs site this afternoon, Carroll Cox was there. He has become a regular at the site. Though I love you dearly Donna, he has taken pity on us Monk Seal folk, and given us the Rolls Royce version of the Kia model tent that Donna provided. He swears this thing is a piece of cake to open and close, with no set up. I'll be finding out this evening when I break down Base Camp Irma. Carroll said it was idiot proof, and I'm living proof thats the case. The new tent is just pop up...pop down ! Thank You Carroll, and thank you also to Marilyn,Lesley, Diga, Tammy, Lauray, Amy & Mike for all the help.

Karen Turner sent photos from today at Turtle Bay. Thank You Karen ! I must apologize to all of you who have been serving in the trenches up their. It was brought to my attention today that you are still in a quandry as to sex of the pup. I got so busy with Irma & Pup and Rocky in Waikiki, that I seem to have neglected to tell you thatI queried my office Senseis some time ago, and it was a unanimous Female response ! I humbly concur.

Nani attempting the big climb 

 Rocky's natural bleach mark left fore flipper

 Rocky @ Iroquois...

 M+M and RIP @ Maili

 playful banter or fore-play

 M+M

 RIP