DB Post Monday 3/9/2009

Rabbit Island observations were a challenge to put it mildly. It would be 1414 before I ever saw an animal out there, which would turn out to be RB08 at the left end of the island. I moved down to Kaupo Beach Park (KPB) at 1456, and found that RIP was hiding up in the Morning Glory at 3BS, at the right end of the beach. He had not been visible at all from the pier.

The Billands reported M&M at the Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park, and Kermit on the west side of the Nimitz Beach jetty. Aloha, DB

Kermit

Kermit

M&M

M&M

Kaaawa & Ka'ena Point

Aloha Good People!

These photos are from Sunday on Oahu's north shore. Joanne Tabor submitted the photos of Benny and Female I37 from Ka'ena Point. It's been a while since we had some photos from there and as usual Ms. Joanne comes through.

The other two photos are from John Johnson who responded to KC hauling out on a very narrow strip of beach... You can see from the photo of the road... how close she is by simply looking where the people are gathering. Apparently the sound of cars don't bother her at all...

Benny & I37

KC snoozing unaware of the people or cars

KC camped out on narrow strip of beach near Kam Hwy

DB Post Sunday 3/8/2009

When I got back to Makai Pier for my 2nd look at Rabbit Island , I found Mojo, Buster and RB08 all in a group at the left end of the beach. It was especially good to see RB08. She appears none the worse for wear, after her fish hook, and fish hook removal ordeals. Mojo and Buster seemed more intent on playing with each other than paying attention to the little girl in their midst, but around 1130 RB08 followed the boys into the water. At 1140 all three hauled out at the right end of the island at 3BS, where they remained the rest of the day.

Team Billand reported 2AW at Tracks (0902), then Kermit on the west side of the Nimitz Beach jetty (0948), and lastly Irma and Ewa Girl both at Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park (1040).

John Johnson called at 1335 to report an animal at Kualoa Point. A subsequent conversation with Tracy confirmed that it was KC. She was there yesterday also.

RB08, Buster, & Mojo

Kermit
Irma & Ewa Girl

2AW

DB Post Saturday 3/7/2009

It was another miserable, cold, wet day with pretty much constant drizzle. My first animal was an U/U at SC. The critter appeared to be in travel mode, surfacing only twice with no pattern. I saw red tags, and that was about it. My guess is either Buster or RIP, but of course that is only a guess.

On my 2nd Rabbit Island check I found what would prove to be a smallish, U/F, with 2 red tags, up amongst the Morning Glory, at 3BS, and only partially visible. I hung in there until 1700, but the animal never moved down, so I can only say that it was one of the girls, either RB08 or Sadie but........?????

At 1138, Kolohe hauled out 60 ft right of 3BS at the right end of the beach. He galumphed well up into the vegetation and remained there all day.

The Billands called at around 0930 to report a "swimming head" at Tracks but the animal never hauled out while they were there.

The Billands also reported Kermit on the west side of the Nimitz Beach jetty at 1617.

David Schofield called at 1450 reporting an animal 1/2 mile north of Chinaman's Hat, on a narrow strip of beach, along side the road. This is R5AY's old haunt, but today he described what is most probably KC

Unidentified Female & Kolohe

Unidentified Female & Kolohe
Kermit

DB Post Friday 3/6/2009

It was yet another cold, windy and off & on wet day. A perfect day for a Monk Seal to lay around and do absolutely nothing, and therein lies the story of my day. Right off the bat I found what would turn out to be RIP up in the Morning Glory at 3BS on Rabbit Island, and his little brother Mojo spent the day on the beach front incline at the far left end of the island. Mojo stay right there all day. RIP moved down to the the beach front at mid day and remained there all day.
I'd done many, many routine pans of the entire beach front through the day, but on one of those routine pans, I suddenly saw a little head peeking out from behind a grass clump, 90 ft. of 3BS, well up above the beach. He never did move down, but after hours of diligent waiting, he finally showed enough to allow me to see the epoxy on his back (ex-transmitter location) and I finally confirmed that it was Kolohe.
Team Billand had Whale duties today, so they only reported 2AW at Tracks (Kahe Power Plant), and a swimming head off shore of the Nimitz Beach reef, which in all probability was Kermit, but of course that ID is a scientific no-no. Aloha , DB

2AW

Kermit

DB Post Thursday 3/5/2009

The first critter in ran into was RIP, doing 8 minute dives at Spitting Cave. He was still there when I departed at 0805.

My first look at Rabbit Island had been a bust, but when I got back to Makai Pier at 0900, I found what would prove to be Mojo at the left end of the beach. On a pan of the beach I found Kolohe up in the vegetation, 60 ft right of the 3rd Blue Sign (3BS) at the right end of the beach. He had lots of company. The Sooty Terns and Brown Noddys began landing on 3-2-09, but today was the mass arrival date. The Sooty Terns were not happy with the short , fat kid flopped in the nesting area. They were letting him know it, but he just lolled there happily, until he decided to move down to cool off, at 1110.

Mojo got in the water at the left end, and later hauled out to join Kolohe. He did some nuisance nuzzling, but quieted down relatively quickly.

At 1139, Buster hauled out to the right of the 1st Blue Sign (1BS) at the left end of the beach, and remained there the rest of the day.

Things got more interesting at 1154, when RIP arrived back at Rabbit Island after his morning feed at Spitting Cave. He hauled out to join Mojo and Kolohe at 3BS. He and Mojo went several rounds of bickering and battling, trying to gain prime access to Kolohe. Despite shooting tons of shots of the battles, I got absolutely no action shots at all... bummer ! Ultimately , RIP gained the closest access, but as quite often happens, having won the battle, he lost interest, and returned to the water at 1314, only to haul out a few minutes later to harrass Buster for a while. After some nuisance nuzzling, RIP settled down and the entire Rabbit Island cast was in snooze mode when I departed the pier.

Team Billand reported 2AW at Tracks (Kahe Power Plant, and Kermit & Irma at White Plains, though today, Irma was at the east end, and Kermit at the west end. Aloha, DB

Kolohe RIP & Buster

RIP, Mojo & Kolohe

RIP, Mojo & Kolohe

Irma Kermit

DB Post Wednesday 3/4/2009

I waited all day for little RB08 to show up on Rabbit Island, but alas, she was not around today. I can't say that I blame her. First of all she'd already done 4 days in a round which she never does, and then she had a totally unfun day yesterday, so I'd go some place too. Maybe tomorrow ?

As it turned out RIP and Buster had the place all to themselves. Buster was at the left end, and RIP was at the middle, and since it was a cold, wet, windy day, neither moved a whisker.

The Billands seemed to have an a much more interesting day, finding Irma and M&M together near the "Fire Surf School" at Kalaeloa Campgrounds, and Kermit at his usual reef perch on the west side of the Nimitz Beach jetty. They also reported an animal at Tracks (Kahe Power Plant, but impossible location and homeless encampment made an ID impossible. Subsequent checks of my photo files shows that the animal is R018, and adult male, last seen at Makaha on 2-23-09 (by the Billands). Aloha, DB

RO18

Kermit

M+M

M+M & Irma

RB08 Mission - Crew sails out to Rabbit Island

Aloha Good People!
The following picture is from DB of the NOAA folks on their way to Rabbit Island to remove the hook from RB08. As I was posting the blog and looking at the photo well it made me thing of something.... see if you agree. ( Read the lyrics below the photo ).

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale

a tale of a fateful trip,

that started from this tropic port,

aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailin' man,

the Skipper brave and sure,

five passengers set sail that day,

for a three hour tour,

a three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,

the tiny ship was tossed.

If not for the courage of the fearless crew

the Minnow would be lost.

The Minnow would be lost.

DB Post Tuesday 3/3/2009

It was anything but a routine day at Rabbit Island. When I confirmed that RB08 was in fact there, Mission RBOB was on. The Littnan Expedition of intrepid NOAA personnel headed out with no cooperation whatsoever from weather or seas, and successfully completed the removal of a sizeable Alua hook . Thank you from the bottom of my little, bald heart to each and every participant.

There were other Rabbit Island residents as well. RIP, Buster and R301 were all there, post mission. Fortunately, RB08 had entered the water and did not have to deal with any of the boyz after her ordeal.

Team Billand was busy as usual, reporting 2AU at Maili, Benny at White Plains, Kermit & Irma at Nimitz Beach, and Ewa Girl at Campbell Industrial Park.

Brenda Becker called to advise that R5AY, had been reported at Waialee Beach Park.

RB08

R301 & RIP

RIP & Buster

2AU

Benny

Irma

Kermit

DB Post Monday 3/2/2009

It was another wild and wooly day at Makai Pier. The Rabbit Island cast was all at the left end of the island, and consisted of little miss fish hook...RB08, RIP and Buster. Plans have been made to assist RB08. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the seas to cooperate.

The Billands reported 2AW at Tracks (Kahe), at 1100, then Kermit at White Plains at 1144, and lastly, Irma at Kalaeloa Campgrounds, at 1150

RB08

RB08, RIP & Buster

2AW

Irma

Kermit

Volunteers Come Through Again

Hey Miss Donna,
The crew was back breaking up the R042's pen at Kaneohe Marine Corp Base this morning. It went so fast! These workers are getting lots of experience of setting up and breaking down Pens. Good Job all you worker bees. Good Team Work!!! BB

DB Post Sunday 3/1/2009

When I got back to Makai Pier for my 2nd Rabbit Island check, I found yesterday's group, in yesterday's location. It was RIP,Mojo,Buster and RB08 all in a little gang, at the left end of the beach. RB08's fish hook was still visible. Planning is underway.

Posse member Colleen called at 1242, from her sickbed to report an animal to the right of the showers at Diamond Head. When I arrived at 1324 I found Rocky cruisin' on the rock flats. There wasn't much that could be done for her since it's solid rock, but I put up signs on the approaches. Rocky is an ol' DH pro. She can handle.

Team Billand reported Kermit on the west side of the Nimitz Beach jetty at 0850. They called again at 1349 to report Benny once again at White Plains today. Lastly, came the call at 1500 reporting Ewa Girl along with M&M at Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park.

Posse member Sarah called at 1130 to report an animal at Puena Point, near Haleiwa. Todd White responded and confirmed KC at 1220