07/06/2022 Wednesday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:15 to 2:35 and there were six seals on island today.

When she first arrived she saw a subadult to adult size seal going into the water from LPB. She didn't get any photos and doesn't know if its one of the seals she later saw at RRB.

MO6-PO6 and MO7-PO7 were both having nursing sessions when

she first arrived. PO6 was mostly hidden behind MO6, but on occasion see PO6 head pop up. MO6 is looking fairly thin now. PO6 is 30 days old today so we shall see how much longer mom will be able to nurse her pup. Both Mom and pup entered the water about 12:37 and had a swim session until they hauled out about 1:25 on the opposite side of MO7 and PO7 from where they had started. PO6 immediately began nursing until it finally took a nap.

MO7 and PO7 had at least two nursing sessions during Marilyn's viewing time. PO7 is packing on the pounds and hopefully Marilyn will be able to determine its gender.

On one of the many viewing passes of Rabbit Island Marilyn became aware that an adult seal had hauled out to another seal on the Makapuu side of RRB. Marilyn is calling the larger of the two seal with a darker coat and dark male belly an A/M (adult male). This may have been the same seal she saw leaving LPB when she arrived. The other seal U/U: juvenile to subadult size, older coat and yellowish belly, not sure about tags.  They soon entered a channel in the rocks and Marilyn lost site of them.

Team R&B started their day seeing two seals basking on the rocks.

They ID'd RN14 Kalani and the smaller greener seal was RL20 Kalua.

They did see a lay netter out to the left of the seals. Thankfully the seals were still hauled out and resting.

At another west side location they found little Puka. RP30 was on lower rocks alone, snoozing in a crazy position.

Team R&B did a hike to Ka'ena West and once again it was hot. They

got to the end of their search, sat down to rest and were disappointed they came up empty.  Until 10 minutes later they spotted a seal in a small pond.  A small green seal who was Pe'ekai RP84. They were so happy to find him. Just as they were going to get a tag shot, he started to blow butt bubbles and then pooped. And now the tags were hidden.  Team R&B realized this is the furthest he's been away since January. Seems like the kid is going to move on. (Maybe .... maybe not)   People started to gather in the area so Team R&B left to keep him safe.

Rabbit Island

RN14 

RL20

RN14 & RL20

Puka RP30

RP84 Pe'ekai

07/05/2022 Tuesday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team R&B💕.

Team R&B are out there everyday despite there being slow and boring without any seals. I think its the seals telling them to rest a little. ( In my humble opinion only because I worry about them).

We also have lost so many of our dear seals in the last few years ( Kolohe, Benny, Pohaku, Nanea, Nihoa, Haupu, RIP, Kerby, Kermit, Irma, Lona and more).  But then again we do have a lot of new kids on island too, lets hope they grow up to reproduce many generations to come.

Today they found R3CX Nalu Boy, basking in the sun and rain. He was on the rocks and alone. He is looking big and robust. They noted how odd his neck area has looked like he's molting and he isn't. 

At another west side location they were happy to find Puka PP30 on lower rocks. He was snoozing and had a lot of crabby company. They were running on the rocks and bugging him. He became very aware of them, maybe lunch?

They had planned to do Ka'ena West trek but the skies opened up and it was pouring, so onward they went looking around.

Their last find of the say was RH32 Ka'ale. He is fat and healthy, no new markers or wounds. Ka'ale suddenly awoke looking around for another seal. Then he went into the small pond where he was well hidden. He's probably resting up with a full belly only to save up his energy to go start some trouble somewhere.   That's our Ka'ale !

R3CX

RP30

RH32 

07/04/22 Monday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 11:05 to 11:45 and there were five seals on island.

On Lanikai side of LPB near waterfront rocks was MO7 and PO7. They barely changed positions during Marilyn's short visit.

More in the middle of LPV was MO6 and PO6. The pup was nursing when she first arrived. Then about 11:17 PO6 headed for the water. MO6 watched for a while and then finally followed PO6 in the water. They were still in the water when Marilyn left.

About 11:30 Marilyn saw a partial view of a seal in SRI. The seal was reported as U/U, Marilyn only had a very partial view of this seal.  She checked before she left and did not see the U/U.

Team R&B decided to pull over during their search to watch the dolphins. To their surprise they found RL42 Leia and RN14 Kalani.  Their joy turned into anger later as they watched people approaching the seals. A woman wanted her little girl to pose near the seal, as they got closer, Kalani popped up and barked at them. Thankfully they got the hint, no more photos.

On their next stop they once again spotted just a sliver of a small seal in the rocks. There was RP84 Pe'ekai snuggled in and hidden away. Hopefully he'll stay hidden during the holiday chaos.

Because they are so dedicated to the seals! They did the Ka'ena West trek and there were no seals again.

On the way out they spotted a glimpse of a seal leaving. They quickly made their way down and saw R3CX Nalu rolling around in the water. He then landed up on upper rocks and was able to snooze.

At another west side location they found RP30 Puka after looking around. There were a couple of guys walking around, thankfully they left the seal alone (at least while Team R&B was there) Hopefully they didn't bother the little green seal.

Rabbit Island

RL 42 and RN14

Pe'ekai

R3CX

RP30 

07/03/2022 Dedication to our beloved DB

Today a group of us met up with Marilyn and made our annual tribute to DB at Makai Pier.  It's been five years since we lost him and there are so many of us that hold him close to our heart.

Here are Barbara's words and photos:

Today we made the long drive out to Makai Pier after being invited per Marylin.

It RAINED....then it cleared up and we saw a Iwa Bird flying about. 

We had plumeria flowers, some beer to make the cheers of DB's Service and dedication with

monk seals, THAT HE SO LOVED for 16 years.

We also did a happy toast to BENNY, our beloved seal who recently passed on.

The feeling of FRIENDS, Sharing good ole times, talking seal stories was so AWESOME.

Hard to believe its been 5 long years since SENSEI moved on.  He is truly missed and thought of daily.

Iwa

masked boobies

For DB

07/03/2022 Sunday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 1:25 to 3:05 and there were five seals on island today.

Marilyn was joined by Team R&B, Diane, Tammy, Tracy and yours truly to pay tribute to DB's life. Today is five years since he passed.

Initially MO7 and PO7 were near the water line. Further back and closer to the 1BS side of LPB was MO6 and PO6.  Mom and PO6 moved down to the shoreline where PO6 briefly entered the water.

Then they moved up closer to MO7-PO7. At one point the Mom and Pup pairs were less than 10 feet apart. PO7 is noticeably larger than PO6.

Between 3BS and SRI was an U/S: subadult size, two red tags, the seal never showed its belly so gender unknown. 

Team R&B spent much time looking and finally found a seal on the rocks snoozing. It was RN14 Kalani who was in pretty much the same spot as yesterday. 

In another location there was a seal seen between the rocks. They waited over an hour for movement but the little bugga just staying there snoozing. They thought it was RP84 Pe'ekai, and they finally got a view of his tags.

Then finally to their delight they found RL20 Kalua hauled out. He was alone snoozing in peace. The area was so crowded, there was not parking. They got what they needed and then made the ride to the east side.

Rabbit Island

RN14

RP84

RL20