August 2, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and their daily dose of Pohaku and Nanea.

When they arrived to the site there was no one home at birth beach, but once they got a look around they could see Mom and pup were on the other side outside the zone.
They put up signs to block people getting too close, and called the hotline right away.

Team Billand noticed a seal coming in and was able to ID Benny RE74. He came slithering right up to Pohaku who reacted mildly with a bark, she had finished nursing Nanea. Pup looked and had no reaction. Benny swam about, came back to Pohaku again, then left peacefully. Pretty uneventful for da Benny.  
Team Billand saw Benny heading out to the right, and then noticed another seal passing by at a fast pace. Initially they could not determine who this was. 
Then RN14 Kalani came up to Pohaku for a visit. He was persistent and landed on shore, looking at the pup and Pohaku. She barked and he took off to the other end, and no sooner had he left he came back. This time he was closer, face to face.  Pohaku let him have, but Kalani just doesn't get it and didn't leave, just stuck around. On his last encounter Pohaku let him have it with a loud bark, and off Kalani went.

They thought Kalani had left, but no he was hiding by the rock until Benny returned.  Benny was heading towards Mom and pup and RN14 charged at Benny (not a good move) a fight broke out. At least they were good enough to move to the left of Pohaku to fight.  

People gathered to see the commotion. RN14 chased Benny out of the area.  RN14 slithered out of the area not seen again.
Barbara noted that at one point Nanea PO5 charged into the water to bark at N14 Kalani, as if to tell mom, " I got this Mom, no worries".  This little one is a sassy one.

Team Billand did manage to find a couple of other critters today. They found RH92 at KoOlina.
Lei Ola RH48 was om the west side hanging out on the rocks relaxing.

If you didn't catch the news tonight there was a nice story about RH38 being released after her stay at Ke Kai Ola.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/08/03/marine-mammal-hospital-nurses-ailing-hawaiian-monk-seal-back-health/

Benny RE74

 Benny & Pohaku & Nanea

 RN14 Kalani

 Benny & Kalani being boys fighting it out 

 Pohaku RO28 & Nanea PO5 

 This makes me very nervous... especially if they are left up overnight with high surf coming in.

 Lei Ola RH48

 RH92 

August 1, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Melody and Lesley. Lesley's complete Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies. Also an update from NOAA.

Wonderful news from NOAA! R333 was released today and is hook free. They were able to remove the hook without surgery! He was fitted with some new bling and has tag 3CK/3CL along with a small sat tag. Hooray, and thank you NOAA Team and the posse and volunteers that help get this boy the medical attention he needed.

Team Billand was up an at em at 5:30 am and arrived at the pupping site. They carefully walked down the footpath in the dark, all they could see was wallows near the fence. Pohaku and Pup were to the left at birth beach with two visitors walking in the dark at the site. Team Billand remained silent and the people left. Team Billand called the hotline to update them.

At 6:20 am Team Billand spotted a second seal coming in from the west side and were able to ID RN14 Kalani, who swiftly came into the area. Mom and pup were on the rocks exploring and didn't notice him at first. RN14 landed on birthbeach alone, looking around. He then went to the rocks and that is when Pohaku (mama bear) let him have it. Her mouth wide opened and big bellows, RN14 took off around the corner. He came back once more, Pohaku charged him once more, and he left.

Team Billand left at 10:30 for a break and returned at 2. Mom and pup were sleeping on shore by waters edge. 
On Kalani's third visit was around 2:30, when Pohaku was nursing the pup. She knew he was coming, let out a big bark and Kalani took off for good. Young dude doesn't take the hint.
Right after his visit Pohaku took Nanea into the tough surf to the rocks, almost out to the opened sea. They hung out there for a bit, then came to shore to nurse once again. The surf was so rough Pohaku hauled up by the footpath with Nanea.
This was very close for visitors to take photos, they call gathered at

the fence being excited to see them up close. Pohaku was aware of their presence, and thankfully the big group left, allowing Mom and pup to snooze peacefully. Team Billand finished their day at 4:30.

Melody was onsite from early morning until early afternoon. She pretty much watched the Kalani drama along with Team Billand. When Team Billand took their break Melody got some photos of Nanea nursing. A couple of cute photos of dribble nose.

When Team Billand took a break in the morning they of course stopped at a west side location. Apparently when RN14 Kalani left Mom and Pup and was resting up. Of course he wasn't finished with his visits to the pup site.

Team Billand also found Kekoa Alii RK72 at another west side location. He was pretty hidden in a water hole snoozing mid rocks. Team Billand recognized him by his infamous scar on the right side of his face.

R333 gets some new bling 3CK/3CL

Pohaku giving Kalani the heave ho

 dazed and confused, but persistent 

And Rn14 doesn't give up

 Pohaku RO28 and Nanea PO5

 Once again

 Bye bye - see ya later

 Kalani left and hauled up on the west side

Kekoa Alii RK72

 Finally Nanea and Pohaku resting  

Lunchtime with Auntie Melody

August 1, 2019 (part 2 ) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

It was one of those full and busy days out here. As usual in these reports I only write about the HMSeal world and some other wildlife.

On my way to meet Team T&D to head out to the point I found RG40 "Holokai" overnighted at BB/Mokuleia, there were other trails on the beach so he had company last night.

We checked for RL20 "Kalua" but he was out foraging

We found RN58 "Luana" at Hidden Beach exactly where I saw her yesterday. She may be starting her molt. On our way back and on a late afternoon "rescue" I had to go out for, she was still there.

RO40 "Ka'ena" was on the Runway. While documenting him I noticed a cut on his RLF outer digit. At first it looked like a tag had been torn off be all 2&1/2 tags are still there. We didn't have a chance to see his back.

RG28 "Lefty" was on the waterline of one of the new beaches of Main Beach (we doubt he would stay there for long), he turned briefly and his molt is near the 10%.

R333 "Hunk" was released with new blings 3CK / 3CL his ID remains R333 and a satellite transmitter to go along with his "10" bleach. He swam away peacefully. If we see him around again he will be easy to ID 

Big mahalos to NOAA's team for another successful one.

We went back and followed RG40 "Holokai" & RL20 "Kalua" playing in the water for over an hour. Holokai was the gentle giant and Kalua the rascal. finally Holokai" dodged he little fellow and headed out North.

In the late afternoon I found RL20 "Kalua" sleeping peacefully at BB/Mokuleia.  More tomorrow