10/01/2021 Friday Monk Seal Dailies

 Today's dailies are brought to you by Lesley, Marilyn, Team T&D and Team R&B💕. Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies. PLEASE see part three for Marilyn's Rabbit Island update.

Today was Team T&Ds last day of looking for seals on the Big Island. They were rewarded with four seals. First find was RW34 Waimanu, who is one large seal. Its really amazing she can float. Next there was RL50 Kaulana.  After walking for a bit they came across Hiwahiwa PH1. Their last find of the day was R408.

Team R&B found RL70 Leina early on. She was on lower rocks snoozing and scratching. To their surprise they noticed she is about 25% molted.

At the outfall they found three seals foraging all over. There were at least 40 fishers there today. They saw Kaale RH32 was there but didn't stay very long. Aukai was catching fish left and right. Also was RN14 Kalani getting his fill.  They did see a seal on the rocks resting. It was Ka'ale RH32, but Team R&B couldn't get to the area because of the dogs. Ka'ale wasn't disturbed and resting peacefully.

They made it out to KoOlina and found a zone set up around RW22 Kolohe. They were concerned aas he is looking quite thin and has another nose wound. There were a couple of volunteers on site.

Of course one of their stops was to the bay where the green goblin RL20 was foraging. The kid is like the eveready bunny. 

At a west side beach they thought there was seal but it was just a rock. Then much to their surprise they saw RL42 Leia and a freshly molted R3CX Nalu. They were resting peacefully together.

They had been searching for Benny all day. They were stopping every

possible location coming up empty.  Last stop late in the day they checked paradise cove. There he was on shore!! He's still hooked and there is line on his body.  A luau was taking place and only a few people approached. Team R&B explained what was going on so they left him alone. They stayed with Benny until sunset.  

PH1

R408

RL50

RW34  OMG!

RL70

RH32

Aukai RL12

RN14

Kaale hauled out

Kolohe

RL20

R3CX and RL42

Benny

September 15, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team T&D, Marilyn and Team Billand.   
I have a couple of photos of Kawena from yesterday that came in late last night from Team Billand.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island today from 1:30 to 3:30 pm today. There was one monk seal (better than none), which raises the question were are all the SE quadrant seals?

She spotted the seal on the rock flats near seal rock inlet. UAM (unknown adult male) ultimately moved up and laterally from SRI. The seal was adult size, old coat, two tags, and good chance it was a male belly. It is possible this is RG32, but Marilyn could not say for sure.

The masked booby chick as mostly hidden in the weeds today and did not come out long enough for photos.  


Marilyn had checked other spots this morning but did not find any other critters.

Team T&D still on the Big Island, went looking for seals together this morning. They found Waimanu RW34 sleeping in a tide pool. Volunteer says Waimano is estimated at 850 pounds WHOA! This may be because she is feeding at the fish farm. Word from KKO volunteer that is her favorite tide pool and they call the rock she's hugging Waimano's pillow. 

Tammy went back out solo in the afternoon and went over to visit the folks over at Ke Kai Ola. On the way they got a call that weaner RL50 Kaulana hauled out, and this was a must see. He could easily be seen from far away by his white weaner belly on a lava rock. He rolled enough that she got to see his NB on his back. The volunteers call this his "butterfly wings".  He was born on March 20th which makes him almost 6 months old. Tammy noted he is long and big for a weaner, some say he is following Waimano to the fish farm. (oh boy !).

A special note worth sharing from Tammy, and in this case I am going to just cut and paste her own words... what I will say is I agree with her.
"Today is day 6 of checking Big island beaches, I have seen 3 seals and have 3-4 more to hopefully see.  Dave and I have been checking together in the morning, we come back for lunch,  then I go solo in the afternoon.  I must say I have always had the utmost respect for Team Billand, going out everyday for hours and hours everyday, every week, every year for years and years.  I have always admired their dedication and toughness, but these last 6 days, going out twice a day, I’m exhausted.  I don’t know how the Billands to do it.  I have a few more days on the Big Island and will go out and look for seals in hopes of seeing all the seals and living like the Billands."

A Team Billand arrived at KoOlina at 5:30 am after they received a call at 5 am.  They first went looking for their poles and some old signs.  Two people were walking the beach and noticed the seal, and went right over to it. They got really close and Team Billand called out from across the beach to get their attention. Team Billand were able to educate them about our Hawaiian Monk Seals. 

Team Billand called the hot line immediately and put up the zone. 

There were lots of swimmers and they were getting really close to the seal. Team Billand would call out when they were in hearing distance but some people were just being ignorant and disrespectful.

Team Billand spent the rest of the morning with more respectful visitors and they were more understand.

At 11 AM they got tired, called the hotline one last time and was told there were no volunteers available until noon.

So as of today and after spending so much time with this sweet girl, RH92 is named Nalani. 

Team Billand left KoOlina and check out some west side beaches. They found Kawena RH36 in the shallows by a sandy patch. There was gunk on her face, tags were showing. Kawena hid between the rocks.  There was a man that came by to pick opihi, she saw him, and stayed put until he passed and then she took off.

Also note Team Billand did see her here yesterday as well. I'm including pictures of both days. (double dose of Kawena).

Team Billand's last find of the day was the beautiful Lei Ola RH48. They found her to the right alone on the rocks, snoozing. Barbara noticed some thin fishing line around her mid body, but a wave swished her around, and then she could no longer see the line.

Team Billand kept a close eye on her and noticed the line coming from her mouth. There was no hook seen, but a very light line about 5 feet.  Team Billand submitted a report to NOAA.

 RL50

 RW34 Waimanu 

 Uknown Adult Male 

 RH92 Nalani 

 new?

 Kawena RH36

RH48 Lei Ola

 mr. crabby