DB (cont) DOCARE

DB Post Sunday 9/6/2009

It was a busy little day at Rabbit Island. The cast began with Sadie tucked into the base of the cliff at the left end of the beach on my first look. When I got back to Makai Pier at 0830 I found that Buster and Mikala were together, rolling in the shore break at the left end, fronting 1BS.

That warm , fuzzy moment was disrupted at 0938 when Mr. Congeniality, M38 hauled out to join Buster and Mikala, and as always chaos ensued. Mikala moved up and out of the way, and M38 managed to harass Buster off to the left, and ultimately into the water.

At 1032 Kolohe hauled out at the far left end of the beach. At 1033 good ol' M38 hauled out to join him, but stayed only one minute, and returning to the water. Kolohe's D#5 molt is 95%. His dorsal epoxy patch is history, but his right side natural bleach is quite clear. He would remain there the rest of the day, with no further hassles.

Sadie would move down to join Mikala at 1217, and after some beach play, would enter the water together at 1300. At 1341 Sadie hurriedly hauled out to 1BS with , who else, M38, close behind. Mikala would haul out later at 1425.

At 1256 Colleen Heyer called to report that her friend had called reporting an animal fronting Jim Nabor's house at Black Point, When she arrived she found Rocky (for course).
The last sightings of Rocky have been at Nimitz Beach in the SW quadrant on 8-11 and 8-25. Her last Diamond Head visit was 8-3-09. Welcome Home Rocky !!!

Brenda Sparks called at 1319 with the report of Ewa Girl at Kahe Power Plant. The Kahe haul out is a first for Ewa Girl. Her most recent sighting have been at Campbell Industrial Park, (8-31) so maybe EG is heading back to Hanauma Bay. We shall see !

At 1351 David Schofield called with the report of an animal at Kaupo Beach Park. When I arrived at 1400 , I found Buster at the Makapuu end of the park, right where he has been hauling out of late. I put up the stuff and continued the adventure.

At 1425 on a check from the Makapuu Overview I found Duke at the rubble beach on RI at the far right end of the beach. He had been totally invisible from the pier.

DB Sunday (cont)

DB Post Saturday 9/5/2009

Rabbit Island was the only action today. On my first pass nobody was home, but when I got back to Makai Pier at 0923 I found Kolohe waiting for me at the left end of the beach, 70 ft left of 1BS. His is decaying nicely. His D#4 molt was a conservative 40%. I noticed that his right side natural bleach in now bare, and the Q ball sized white spot is clearly visible. It's a good thing because his dorsal epoxy should be history in a day or two. Kolohe would remain at that location all day.

At 0937 he was joined by Buster , who hauled out fronting 1BS, and galumphed over to join Kolohe. The was only minimal interaction. Both animals remained there together all day.

On a pan at 0948 I found Mikala on the far left end of the beach. She would enter the water at 1340 and after a short swim session, hauled out again, 50 ft left of 1BS.

At 1234 Duke moved up from behind the left side rocks on the rubble beach at the right end. He would remain there by himself the rest of the day.

DB Post Friday 9/4/09

It was another Rabbit Island day with the small critters. Duke spent the day by himself on the rubble beach at the right end.

Mikala hauled out at the left end, left of 1BS at 0959, and at 1125 she was joined by a rapidly rotting Kolohe. His D#3 molt is approximately 15%. They played a bit on the beach, and then did a swim/play session from 1227 until 1327. Kolohe would haul out to 1BS by himself at 1327. Mikala followed at 1411. Kolohe immediately went to meet her as her chubby body cleared the water. All were in snooze mode when I called it a day at 1500.

Team Billand found what would prove to be Benny, amongst rocks at Maili, at 0959.

DB Post Thursday 9/3/09

I arrived at Kaupo Beach Park (KBP) at 0545, to find that Buster had departed. I picked up the stuff and continued the adventure.

Initial checks of Rabbit Island , and the rest of the SE quadrant were a big zero, but when I got back to Makai Research Pier at 0900 I found Mikala just hauling out to the left end of the beach, 80 ft. left of 1BS.

On a pan at 1026 I found Duke at the right end of the beach and only partially visible in a place I call Seal Rock Inlet (SRI) . Partial though the view, I could still see his big beautiful N18 bleach. He would move up with the rising tide , to become fully visible, and remained at that location the rest of the day.

On a pan at 1106 I found Kolohe newly hauled out at the left end, 20 ft left of 1BS. He would galumph to Mikala and they would spend the rest of the day together. There was initial play on the beach, though Mikala did her best to try to get away, Kolohe was doggedly persistent. Ultimately, he would get her into the water for a swim/play session from 1144 until 1242. They would haul out together to the left end at 1242, and Kolohe continued his pursuit of Mikala. Things finally calmed down at 1254, and both went to snooze mode.

Kolohe's D#2 molt progresses quickly. I would guesstimate and conservative 10%.

DB Post Wednesday 9/2

The day got off to a slow start. Despite lots of looking, I didn't find my first animal until 0935. It was Mikala, hauling out 40 ft right of 3BS,at the right end of the beach. She would remain there all day.

At 1106 Duke hauled out 40 ft left of 1BS at the left end of the beach.

At 1150 Kolohe hauled out at the left end of the Middle Cliff (LMC), and after a short stay, reentered the water and hauled out to join Duke. The played a bit on the beach, and then entered the water from 1316 until 1359 for a swim/play session. They were visible in the water the entire time. At 1359 Kolohe hauled out by himself. I could not find Duke again prior to my departure from Makai Research Pier at 1500.

I'm happy to report that Kolohe has begun his molt. The top of his head and his face are bare, and he has a sizeable bare spot on the chest. I would guesstimate a conservative 5%.

At 1604 Tracy called with the report of an animal at Kaupo Beach Park. When I arrived I found Buster on the beach at the Makapuu end. This was exactly the same location as his haul out with Ewa Girl, on 8-10-09.

DB Post (cont)

Calling out Volunteers!!!!

Aloha Good People!

As many of you know our little Kerby is still out there with a hook in his mouth... I was secretly hoping he would make his way back to see papa smurf... but no signs of the little bugger. So please all those in the area.... no matter where you are on Oahu walk the beaches... check out the shorelines when ever you can... anyone willing to make the trek out to Ka'ena point do it...

I would advise if you going to make it out to Ka'ena point contact Jen Maldonado so we can maybe pace the number of people heading out that way... (in other words not everyone do it on the same day or time)...

I look forward to seeing most of you on Sunday at our next volunteer gala and wouldn't it be great to announce that little Kerby is hook free!

THANK YOU ALL FOR SUCH A GREAT SPIRIT! ~donna~

DB Post 9/1/09 Tuesday

On my first look at Rabbit Island, M38 had the place all to himself, to the left of 2BS. When I got back to Makai Pier at 0915 I found that Buster had joined the cast, right of 3BS. M38 was in cruiser mode at that time, and headed toward Buster's location. He hauled out to join Buster at 0933. Surprisingly, there was almost no interaction even though M38 got close. Buster would depart at 1004, and M38 at 1103. I would see neither of them again today.

At 0915 Mikala hauled out to the far left end of the beach. At 1216 she was joined by Duke. They would snooze there the rest of the day.

On a pan at 1114 I found Kolohe, newly arrived on the beach at the right end of the Middle Cliff area. He would remain there the rest of the day.

Barbara Billand did yet another KP trek today. She found Ka'ena, T15M, and a young , Molokai male, RI13. He is mostly seen on Molokai on the Bloy/Pike expeditions, but was reported previously at Ka'ena Point by Joanna Tabor on 12-31-06. This appears to be visit #2.

BB Ka'ena Point Adventure