11/2/2014 DB Dailies: Kea@SB, Kolohe,Buster,Kainoa&Aukai@RI, Duke@SC, RIP@Maili Pt, Pohaku@PC , Haupu@WP

Kea was gone when I arrived at Sandy Beach at 0615. I picked up the stuff and continued the adventure. On my 5th recheck, at 0750 I saw Kea’s swimming head, moving toward the outfall. He hauled out at 0752, and moved up to the Naupaka. Kimo Smith and I redid the cordon, and Kea remained all day, moving up and down a few times. His D#8 molt appears to be 70%. Kea remains at dark.

At 0741 Marilyn called with the report of an animal doing 8 minute dives at Spitting Cave. She saw , and photographed 2 red tags, but was unable to read the taqs. An afternoon analysis of the shots confirmed the Duke ID, by his hind flippers.

At 0922 I found Kainoa at Rocky Right Beach, on Rabbit Island.

On a pan at 1031 I found Kolohe (RW22) 60 ft left of 1BS.

At 1046 on a pan I found Buster (RV08) just hauling out, fronting 1BS. His stay would be brief, rolling back to the water at 1055.

At 1140 he would haul out again to 1BS, and this time moved up and remained. I notice that Kolohe was gone from his location at 1201, and at 1210 he hauled out to join Buster. They had some words, but both would remain.

 At 1058 on a pan I found Aukai (RL12) behind Seal Rock Inlet. All would remain the rest of the day.
At 0754 Team Billand called with the report of RIP (RR70) at Maili Pt.

 Diane Terai called at 0800 with the report of Pohaku (RO28) at Paradise Cove.

 The Billand’s last official act , before heading off on vacation was to call from the airport to advise that White Plains lifeguards had called them to advise that Haupu had hauled out there.  Have a great trip Team Billand.... here's hoping you hit the jackpot!!

 Aukai

 Buster

 Kolohe and Buster 

Duke at Spitting Cave

 Hey there!! It's Kea heading for Sandys

 and he made it

 moving on up

 look at that belly !

 and for sure the cutey of the day!

Pohaku's butt at paradise cove

 Well there you go a better view... 

 and here we have Rip at Maili point

11/1/14 DB's Dailies: Kea&Buster@SB, Kainoa,Aukai&Kolohe@RI, Duke@SC, Haupu@KoOlina, RK36@GR, RIP@Maili Pt, Nihoa,Ka'ena&Luana@KP

As usual of late, the day began with the find of Kea (RN46) snoozin’ in his Naupaka patch, at the Sandy Beach outfall. He was just beginning to stir. I continued on with my route. Posse member Barbara who had remained, called at 0632 to advise that Kea was moving down, and that another animal had arrived, remaining in the water at the outfall. I was just up the road so I got back to 0635 to find Kea just about ready to entered the water, and Buster (RV08) right there waiting for him. Their play session would run from 0635 until Kea’s haul out back to the outfall at 0727.
 They would range from the outfall moving west as far as Half Point , and then head back toward the outfall. All the action was within 2 to 3 ft of the shoreline. Thankfully, there weren’t too many folks on the beach at that time, and the few observers and dog owners were cool. Kea would haul out to the outfall at 0727. Buster would remain in the shallows a few minutes, finally swimming off to the west at 0730. Kea’s D#7 molt is a conservative 40%. Kea remains at dark.

At 0835 I found found Kainoa (RN04) left of the 1BS , and Aukai (RL12), 50 ft left of Seal Rock Inlet, on Rabbit Island. Kainoa would begin moving down toward the far left end of the beach, just as Kolohe (RW22) began his haul out to that location. They would meet mid beach, and remained together the rest of the day.

At 1058 posse member Gayle called with the report of an animal doing 8 minute dives at Spitting Cave. Her ID of Duke (RA12) came at 1200 with a clearly readable A12 tag shot. Ya’ Done Good !!!

On a routine check I found Buster (RV08) hauled out to the Blowhole end of Sandy Beach. I cordoned him off and he remains. Buster was gone at 1810.

Diane Terai called at 0800 with the report of Haupu (RB24) at Lagoon#4, KoOlina.

 At 0936 Team Billand called with the report of RK36 at Maili Guard Rails. They could see another animal down the beach, and at 0946 called with the report of RIP (RR70) at Maili Point.

Marilyn, Lesley & Ken did their usual trek to the end of the world. Marilyn called at 0939 with the report of Nihoa (R912), 50 yds right of the Main Pool, at Ka’ena Point. At 0956 she reported the arrival of Ka’ena (O40) swimming into the Main Pool. On their way out she reported finding Luana (RN58) at 10 Minute Beach, at 1156.

Duke at Spitting Cave  

 Buster at Sandys 

 wonder if he'll hand around long enough to molt here... LOL a nightmare!

 Kainoa and Kolohe at Rabbit Island 

 Kainoa

 buster and kea hanging at sandys.... 

 for an adult male buster is pretty gentle with the young'ens

 a game of peek a boo by the rocks

 Kea with his signature white bleach mark on the right flipper 

 determination at its best... well at the very least pretty darn cute

Ka'ena at Ka'ena Point... 

 thats' right i'm cool !

 RN58 little Luana

 Nihoa R912

 I wish i had the ability to be this comfortable on an uncomfortable surface

Rip at Maili Point

 RK36 at Guard Rails

11/1/2014 Lesley's Ka'ena Point Trek

Marilyn, Ken & I did the KPt monitoring hike today. 

Marilyn & I combed Birth Beach and other beaches, nooks, found many trails, signs but no seals on our way into the point.

The tide was high and the swell was rolling in.

As we arrived near the Main Pool we found Ken watching R912 "Nihoa" . We sat at the point and waited while doing outreach with visitors and hikers.

After a short while I heard Marilyn calling out "seal". Looking towards where she was pointing we saw a seal swimming between Back Beach and Main Pool. Shortly after the seal entered the pool and tried to settle despite being rolled by the waves. On one of the rolls we saw the pit scar mid back followed by the scar on the top of the RFF making RO40 "Ka'ena" ID possible.
 

On our way back coming close to 10Mnts Beach we spotted RN58 "Luana" rolling on the beach. It looked like she was getting ready to leave but she ended up turning around and galumphing up the beach. She was very restless and seemed to be scratching her face a lot in the sand.  She's starting her first molt (signs on her face noticed last Wednesday and today). It's a slow process and looks more like shedding then a catastrophic one.
Back at the cars we saw a Halloween left over parked behind us.  Aloha,  Lesley 

 R912 Nihoa resting comfortably 

 RN58 Luana

 Ka'ena