2/2/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:(part 1) Benny RE74, Kolohe RW22, Kekoa RK72, PvKauai RW02, Kalani RN14, Right Spot R016, 3 Critters Rabbit Island

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Lesley, Gayle, and photographer Melody.  Lesley did her Ka'ena Point monitoring and that will be dailies part 2.

At 5:45 am Team Billand was out at Paradise Cove and found Benny RE74 way up by the Naupaka and footpath snoozing by the RIP CURRENT SIGN. There was a zone set up for him, and Team Billand spent time educating some nice folks from the mainland here on Oahu for the first time eager to see turtles but instead got Da Benny. The hotline was called, volunteer arrived at 7:20, team Billand left for the day at 7:30.

Next stop for Team Billand was a beach on the Leeward side. First found Kolohe RW22 on lower rocks alone chilling. It took hours before he would move to get the proper ID. Barb saw his tags, saw the transmitter patch slightly visible, the small subtle bleach on left should and much later the his cue ball right side.

Their next find Kekoa RK72 was all the way around the big rock snoozing alone. He barely moved at all day, when he did Barbara wasn't ready. She did see his small broken tag with a K.

While on site they saw a seal coming in from the Ka'ena Point direction, quickly coming the in the seal inlet, looking around who was on the rocks. He rolled in the water then looked more. Hauled up in stealth mode, so quiet and s l o w. Team Billand ID'd RW02 PvKauai.  He noticed Kolohe but moved to not wake him, stayed to the left of him. 

Another seal coming in from Ka'ena Point direction, but decided to grab a bite to eat first before landing. Team Billand waited and waited, then they spotted this head coming in looking cautiously. He saw PvKauai RW02 and without hesitation came in to land. This critter ID'd as RN14 Kalani hauling out surprised RW02 PvKauai and the cutest thing happened! Kalani galumphed right up to PvKauai, who turned to face him and they both kissed snouts and caught it on camera! They lay side by side rest of the day.  Kolohe checked them out but didn't bother with them.

Gayle spotted 3 critters on Rabbit Island today. She spend the morning hanging out with a volunteer who was dispatched to observe Right Spot. They left after lunch, but Gayle returned about 17:00 and Right Spot was gone.  Good she got some rest today.

Email from Melody brought news of Rocky at a beach on the Marine Annex at Iroquois Point. Rocky was ID'd by her natural bleach mark on her left front flipper.  Melody also sent photos from earlier in the day from Ewa Beach of Pohaku RO28.  Melody ID'd the 2 CC scars, she still wanted verification of her ID. I am pretty sure it's her. Ya done good.

Benny

 Kolohe

Kekoa

 PvKauai RW02

RN14 Kalani

 the KISS

 Pohaku RO28

 Rocky

Rabbit Island Critters

 Right Spot

2/2/2018 Monk Seal Dailies (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Point Update

It was 12:30 when I started my hike out to the point today. It was a very nice hike, weather had finally settled after a very wet night and morning.

I did some outreach all the way in and had 2 groups join me to ask questions about the albatross and were very happy when from one spot I told them I could see 3 seals. I then helped them a little.

RO40 “Ka’ena” was hauled out at the entrance of his pool.

Then on the Runway RG40 “Holokai” and R3CU were side by side. R3CU has a puka on his left cheek that’s healing well.

Jaime met up with me while I was trying to get some shots of RG40 “Holokai” eyes (per request) , but just as 2 days ago he was in a deep sleep so it didn’t happen. His behavior has been 100% normal.

While we were watching some whale activity with a visitor we saw some Ewa birds, at one point I thought one was coming closer to us but it’s wings were different, I jumped up and told Jaime it’s a BLACK FOOT ALBATROSS we were like kids on a playground. Jaime straight away let Lyndsey know. The visitors knew by our excitement that they were looking at something special.

Just before sunset I went down to Birth Beach but there was no sign of last nights visitor.

chickie 

 R3CU

 R3CU & Holokai RG40

 Ka'ena 

2/1/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: Benny RE74, Kolohe RW22, Kaale RH32, RIP RR70, Kalani RN14, RL42

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and a note from Gayle saying she got skunked today.

At 7:15 am Team Billand got to Lagoon 4 and found Benny RE74 in a zone already set up, by the security and maintenance folks. They fielded many questions from curious visitors, who got the history of da Benny. Team Billand called the hotline waited for volunteer. They left KoOlina at 8:15 am when a volunteer arrived.

Next stop a Leeward Beach where they found Kolohe RW22 already on the lower rocks all by himself. He was cautious at first, always looking like was expecting another visitor. ( oh and they showed up just later)  

Much later, three seals came into the area  (RH32 Kaale, RR70 Rip, and RN14 Kalani). They fought each other, barking, rolling over other but Rip gave Kalani a nip and Kalani was sulky after and landed alone on the rocks. Kaale and Rip had a jolly good work in the shallows. When they were done they went up on the rocks with Kolohe who set them both straight right away with several bellows and tail thrashes. All three settled for the day, and on Team Billand's next visit all three were still in the same spot.

After 12 the weather changed, it rained and got very windy and the seas turned rough. Team Billand

made one more stop and found RL42. She was hauled out somewhat dried and brown looking. RL42 was ID'd by her tags. Big waves started to rough her up, covering her entire body, at which point Barbara thought she would leave, but no she stayed just baring down on the rocks with wave after wave hitting her. She didn't care.  Barbara noted there was a lot of debris being washed up, something small and round came up to her either a coconut or ball.  Team Billand left shortly after to not draw attention to her.

Benny RE74

 Kolohe RW22 

Kalani RN14, Rip RR70, & Ka'ale RH32

Ka'ale getting barked at by Kolohe

Rip & Ka'ale

 Rip

 RL42