1-1-2012 West Side Seal Story

Benny RE74 @ Makaha 

 Benny's large scar on the right side of his face

 Kermit R4DG @ White Plains

 Team Billand and Vera's Family out looking after Kermit today

 Nice shot of Kermit on the move

 Irma R010 @ Pokai Bay

 An unwanted visitor WAY to close to Irma 

Okay.. does he think she's going to sniff him like a dog? Really wish these seals would just be a little more aggressive and let people know to BACK OFF. 

 Irma, I'm out of here!

 Beautiful

 RO28 @ Paradise Cove

 Great shots... 

 HAaa this guy is imitating a seal... lol

1-1-2012 Happy New Year

(drawing by a Kailua school kid in 2010)

Aloha Good People! Just want to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope 2012 brings us all much happiness, health and prosperity... and mostly a healthy year for our beloved monk seals.


New years day is known to be the beginning for many.... well for me... January 1st 2008 was the day I met Chester, who changed my life. It was from day 1, I knew I had to do something and here I am four years later still plugging along.  What I am most grateful for is all of the people like you, who are stepping up and doing something to help this endangered species. I love being out and about hearing people talking about monk seals more now than they ever have.... unfortunately we have been faced with some difficult sad news, but that just makes it all the more important we are out there.  
Thank you all of you for all you do and I look forward to a great 2012.  
~da blog lady~
p.s. Happy Birthday to the seal whisperer!!!

12-31-11 Lesley's Trek to Ka'ena Point

Aloha,
The hike chosen for the last day of the year was Kaena Pt via the West side.
I went with the Pauly family and some friends - most of them first timers out there.We started off from Yokohama at around 10am. Half way thru the hike I saw a HMS in the water and called the others to look at it. Not only it was a seal but it also had a radio on it's back !!

After observing it for a while I got concerned with it's behavior. It was logging sideways not moving the flippers at all. I called the hotline, spoke to Nicole (in Maui) giving her a complete description of the situation & location (GPS). Then while we were talking I saw the seals head move up take a breath and go back in the water continuing logging. She told she had seen that behavior before it could be sleeping ?

My friends were looking with binoculars, taking pics and saw the seal swimming.

I checked back in with Charles and Nicole.

We went on, and as we were going thru the gate, I saw the seal again swimming in KP direction .

At the point we found another seal on the rocks but impossible to see whom it was for sure (F or M), no tags, lots of little scars. I couldn't see the left side of the head to see if it was 761. So U/U for that one.

We also saw several whales blowing and breaching, albatrosses nesting, spinning dolphins... what a "perfect" day !

I'd like to send a big thank you to Nicole (in Maui) and Charles L for helping me out.

Happy New year to all !!

Aloha,

Lesley

Kekoa! heading for Ka'ena Point.... ? .... we shall see

 U/U Unidentified/Unknown  

12-31-11 DB Dailies and More

As if awakening this morning knowing that you are a decrepit 69 year old isn't bad enough, I also found that I got a computer virus for my birthday ! Tanx Eh !! WELL..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAREST DB!

So, I'm working on Marilyn's computer, and hoping that my guru, John Johnson can come up with yet another miracle to get me outta' this mess ( virus , not age). DB where you picking up all these viruses? You need some heavy duty virus protection.

I keep today's report at minimum. Please check da' blog in the morning for Team Billands shots.

Much to my surprise I found Kaiwi (RK96) waiting for me at 0649 this morning, with that all too familiar butt stickin' outta' the Naupaka at Crappy Cove. Assuming that the Charles map was accurate she is newly returned from her west of the Reef Runway adventure. She has remained all day, moving down to the water front rocks at midday to cool off. Thank you to Marilyn, Z&P, Gayle, Kathy & Candace for the help.

Because Kaiwi took priority I didn't spend much time on Rabbit Island observations. I found Buster (RV08) up in the vegetation behind Seal Rock Inlet at 0818. His D#7 molt is 10%.

Team Billand checked in at 0723 with the report of Kermit (R012) fronting #1708 , White Plains.

At 1412 they reported that they were on their way to Paradise Cove for an animal, reportedly there for 2 hrs already. When the arrived at 1447 the U/F was out on the rocks. Witnesses said that she had been on the beach earlier, but a man poured water on her and she postured at him, and then hurriedly moved to the off shore rocks . At 1700 the Billands reported that it was Irma (R010)

At 1746 Team Billand called to report they were responding to an animal at Makaha. At 1808 they confirmed the Benny (RE74) ID.

Happy New Year Gang !

Kaiwi 

 

 Thank you Zeenie for the great shots! 

 Love this shot of her

 

12-31-11 Team Billand Ends 2011 with Bells and Whistles

Team Billand was out bright and early and found Kermit at 7:24 AM at White Plains by the cottages, which makes day 5. 

 Good Morning Kermit 

 Barbara's sand seal sculpture a tribute to the Molokai seals

 Okay Barb this is a great angle... almost look real.

 Miss Irma at Paradise Cove

 Police had been called before Billands arrived... apparently someone was pouring buckets of water on her. She reared her head and they backed off. Team Billand arrived on the scene just as cops were questioning people. They spoke with the culprit and it ended at that.

 I know Irma, can you believe they were pouring water on you?

 Benny @ Makaha

 Lots of foot prints around this critter

 Team Billand did some crowd control and educating