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Monday, November 2, 2020

11/02/2020 Monday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand.

Team Billand arrived at KoOlina where there were no seals, but they did get to see a beautiful sunrise.

At 8:15 they found Kekoa Alii RK72 at a west side location. He was seen on lower rocks alone. He stayed there all day long. They spotted a seal coming in, looking around, but then it took off. They were not able to get an ID so it was reported as an UU.

Just before 10:30 they were at the bay and spotted R3CX Nalu on the rocks. His tags were visible and

they did not see any line on him today, maybe he tossed it.

There were seals out on opposite side of the jetty. They saw three seals playing in the water, one was Lei Ola RH48 and the other ewas Kaale RH32. Lei Ola would land first, Nalu was already up on the rocks from earlier. He didn't move, seemed tired and full belly. He looked up at her and she came all the way up. She is looking quite large, and very green with tags showing. Next up was Kaale RH32, by the time they got back there he was already hauled up with Lei Ola and Nalu. The original third seal seen in the bay went back around the jetty to the right and was foraging.

They saw Aukai RL12 foraging in the bay. Her signature scar between shoulders were the give away. RL20 Kalua was also foraging by the buoy and swimmers. A few times he made his way by the jetty.

Team Billand drove out further west and did not see any seals, they did see a couple of asses and some cows.

After looking through out the day they finally found Benny Re74. He

was at a west side beach. His molting is looking like its moving along. Seems the swim did him some good.

Just before 3 they went back to one of the locations and now found RL70 Leina hidden away. It took them a bit to get her ID. Kekoa was still in the same lower rock spot snoozing.

Kekoa RK72

Lei Ola RH48

R3CX Nalu

Kaale RH32

Lei Ola and Kaale

Aukai RL12

RL20 Kalua

A couple of Asses

Benny

RL70 Kalua

Sunday, November 1, 2020

11/01/2020 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn and a new monk seal fan.

I received an email from a woman named Simone who had an encounter with N3 today, while out on a boat with her husband on the southeast side. Simone was swimming when her husband spotted him right behind her (within 10 feet). She swam to the boat and boarded, but N3 followed and was super curious and came right up to the boat, sniffed around the prop and engine looking up at them several times. Then N3 went back to the bottom about 20 feet of water foraging on the reef. Simone reentered the water and saw him feeding, but soon after he came back towards her, so she re-boarded the boat. Again he hung out for a while.

I was able to fill Simone in on a few details on N3 and that yes he is young and curious. I also thanked her for keeping distance and getting into the boat, rather than interacting.

Marilyn checked a few spots on the east side this morning and she was pleased to find RK24

Wawamalu (or as I prefer Bruno) on the rock flats. He was ID'd by juvenile size, new coat, light male belly, line scar on left neck and K24 tag. Marilyn checked again in the afternoon and there were some adoring fans nearby, he seemed unperturbed. He looks healthy, no new markers. Always a treat to see our east side kids close to home, especially when his sister N2 Nohea was seen yesterday.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island for about two hours today. Originally Marilyn only saw one critter but eventually there was a total of four.

UJF unknown juvenile female near SRI. New coat, female belly and two tags. Marilyn was wondering if this was RK38 Lauloa, Aukai's 2018 pup.

UU unknown unknown, Marilyn noticed this critter about 15 minutes after arriving in the inlet of RRB. She thinks it may be one of the weaners but she never got a full view of the seal. She lost sight of the seal about 45 minute later.

RK37 Huia arrived between the 3BS and SRI about an hour later. Juvenile to subadult size, newer coat, light female belly, 2 tags and a natural bleach on the lower left side. RK37 is Sadies' pup born on 5/11/18.

UAM unknown adult male, was in the corner of LPB. He was partly dry so he may have been there for

some time before Marilyn actually noticed him. Adult size, newer coat, gray male belly with a natural bleach near the penile notch.

Team Billand went to check on Benny RE74 first thing this morning. When they arrived there were 5 people and one seal. Benny eyes were open he was facing the woman taking photos, well aware of people being there. There were signs up but people were still close, so they made some adjustments to the zone. Team Billand called the hotline. They could not determine his molt progress, since he seems to be moving along slowly. While watching over him they spotted the turtles were on the reef grazing on Limu. And then at 8 am all hell broke loose.

Robert spotted another seal coming around the rocks into the cove. It was RN14 Kalani, coming in cautiously approaching Benny, who immediately reacting and started barking at Kalani. As Kalani continued, Benny went into fight mode, letting Kalani know to stay away. As exciting as it is to see it is also scary at times. Team Billand did their best to keep folks back and thankfully all were cooperative.

Benny wasn't giving up and neither was Kalani. At first Kalani seem to just want to rest but as things progressed Benny kept at it finally dive bombing into Kalani. Finally Kalani went to the left side of Benny, guess it was far enough away, because Benny finally let him be. Team Billand readjusted the ropes and called the hotline to update. Volunteer arrived just after 9, and Team Billand filled her in.

After leaving da Benny and Kalani Team Billand checked another west side beach and found two seals

snoozing. On lower rocks was Kekoa Alii RK72 and RG28 Lefty was to the right in his water hole snoozing alone.

At 11 am Team Billand arrived at the bay and found RL20 Kalua foraging near the buoy near the boats that were fishing. His tags and head scar were visible at one point. There was a lot of activity at the bay today.

Next they spotted Aukai RL12 hanging out by the boats further out at times and then coming by where the swimmers were.

They walked around to investigate the rocks and there was Kaale RH32 on the rocks with Lei Ola RH48, snoozing side by side.

They did see Nalu R3CX who has been with Lei Ola the last couple of days, He was all over the place, by the boats and swimmers and then he disappeared. Team Billand went back to check Kaale and Lei Ola and there was Nalu hauled out side by side with them. The three of them are all looking quite healthy and chubby.

N3 "weaner"