9/2/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

Long weekend, lots of work around here doing outreach with campers, hikers, fishermen,...

It poured all night, everything was green and roads very slippery, just like driving on butter.

Regarding the seal world:

I started off at 7:30am checking Camp Erdman, it was seal free and people packed.

Then the front of our beach access an overnighted RG40 "Holokai" was sleeping on soft sand. He was there till the early afternoon but gone at sunset.

Heading in to the point RN58 "Luana" was in a little nook @ Dragon Rock Cove. She was still there when I went out in the afternoon with Jaime. She had fitted her self in cove in a reef wall.

In the NARS, RK36 "Kauai Kolohe" was doing the hippo in Nihoa's Pool. I got a water shot of his tag from the cliff !!

RO40 "Ka'ena" hauled out over some reefs into some tide pools after bobbing up and down looking for friends. He was still there in our afternoon check.

Jaime and I got poured on this afternoon and got soaked to the bone. Our drive back was a little adventure and the Polaris did great.  More tomorrow 

9/1/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) RH32, RH48, RR70, RO28&RE74, RK38, & UJF

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Lesley, & Marilyn. Lesley, Marilyn and Diane did the Ka'ena Point trek and Lesley's complete update is part 2 of the dailies.

Team Billand headed out at 6 am to what is known as Ka'ale's Kitchen. There he was doing his thing chowing down, managed to eat two stick fish and some aukule. Team Billand stayed for three hours and it sounds as though the area was packed with fishermen. Wonder if this is seasonal, or all year round?  I worry about Ka'ale, although there is an abundance of food for him it's a very popular fishing spot. At some point with all the great outreach Team Billand has been doing there is going to be a clash, and I hope Ka'ale doesn't bear the brunt of it.

Team Billand found the beautiful Miss Leia RL42 at a westside beach. She was alone and enjoying her peaceful rest on the rocks.

Next find was while Team Billand was on their Ka'ena West trek. At the 30 marker they spotted a seal coming in. They were able to ID RIP RR70, he remained on the rocks.

On a Leeward beach they found and happy to see Lei Ola. She was resting comfortable alone on the rocks. Her hook was visible and she is looking healthy and relaxed.

During the early afternoon Team Billand went and checked one of the busier beaches. Upon arrival they found Benny RE74 and Pohaku RO28 together, on shore with a zone set up by the life guards. Volunteer Laura was on site. The beach was crowded as it's a holiday weekend it will be long busy time. Of course these two decide this is a good place to be.

After a long morning at Ka'ena Point, Marilyn made a brief visit to Makai Pier. She only spotted two critters on the island this afternoon.
An UJF (unknown juvenile female) was about 20 feet left of the 1BS. She has a nice new shiny coat, and according to Marilyn she'll bet a cat that it is RH36 Kawena. She never showed her right side, where her new applied bleach N6 would be.
RK38 Hali'a was about 30 feet right of the 3BS. Marilyn was able to ID her by weaner size and coloration, female belly and two tags. She never changed position during Marilyn's observation.

 Ka'ale RH32

 Lei Ola RH48

 RIP RR70 

 RL42 Leia

 RO28, Pohaku & Benny RE74

 

Hali'a RK38

 UJF (maybe Kawena)

9/1/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

It was a long busy day.

Marilyn & Diane came out for our Saturday monitoring and work we did.

We started with RG40 Holokai on Mokuleia side of Keiki Coves. He's looking sharp in his new coat, still a little slim. He spent all day in the same spot we checked on him on our way back and I did again at sunset.

When we were getting ready to enter the gate I got a msg from a posse of 2 seals at the entrance of the park. We turned around and headed there, just on time to enjoy seeing R303 "BG" & her U/M escort. He wouldn't leave her side and every time she looked up he was there at her side. Like a "glue pot". We all agreed that she's had enough. She was face to the water and being washed be waves when she finally moved in, he did loose the chance and followed her closely. We saw them go out to the deep and into the waves.

Back in the park with many stops along the way for several different reason and looking at every nook and crevice till we found RK88 "Puna" freshly hauling out in his little cove @ Ponds.

In the NARS while taking a break @ Main Beach, Marilyn spotted a seal swimming in, he came into the Main Pool, did the full tour, left, check the outside on Waianae side, went around to the North Shore side and on. Finally hauling out into his pool RO40 "Ka'ena" settle to sleep.

At that pint we saw 2 Dolphin tour boats come from the Waianae side very close to the point. One boat left and the other followed dolphins, leaving them between the shore and them. Looked like they were breaking distance rules. They stopped and let all the tourist get into the water for probably 10 mnts if that much. Got all back on board and left. The ocean was very bumpy and it was windy making it very hard to document. I'll be sending a report with what we have.

On our way back we checked on RK88 "Puna" he was still there fast asleep.

At Hidden Beach RW02 PVKauai was hauled out and people were having a fun beach day. We did some outreach regarding getting out of the water when the seal decides to leave.

We went on checking beaches. RG40 "Holokai" was still there and looking down the beach I saw a seal between CE Pt and Lyman's - It was little RK40 "Napua". Glad to see her after a couple of days MIA. We came back and the girls left. I was calling it a day when I got a call,  just after a nice cooling off shower... being needed back in the park so I put my nice sweaty uniform back on and went back out till sunset.

It was a nice 7 seal day and in great company.   May tomorrow be a little calmer...