DB Post Sunday 7/26

At 0601, Right Spot hauled out to Sandy Beach. She had last been to Sandys on 10-19-08 after weaning her Molokai pup. According to my records this is her pupping window. She is looking chunky, about pregnant ?????????? We shall see . She was last seen on Oahu on 5-18-09, on the North Shore. She was still there on my 1800 check. I'll be returning shortly to recheck her.

At 0747 I found Irma doing 9 minute dives at Spitting Cave.

The Rabbit Island cast was M&M and pup, once again at the Middle Cliff area, Duke at the right end of the beach, and at end of day near 2BS, and an U/M with red tags, that I could just never get enough info on to make an ID.

A Sandy Beach lifeguard called at 1655 to report that a lady had reported an animal at the cove at Sandy Beach. When I arrived at 1700, I found nobody, but in conversation with the lady, she showed me in camera shots of a red tagged animal that briefly hauled out, did a few head bobs and then returned to the water. My dollar is on M38. She will be forwarding shots.

Right Spot departed Sandy Beach, of her own volition, at 1920. I picked up the stuff and called it a day at 1945.

DB Post Sunday (cont)

DB Post Saturday 7/25/2009

The Rabbit Island cast was M&M and Pup at Middle Cliff, and Duke and Kolohe at 3BS. I would observed Mom and the kid do 1 swim and 2 feeds. Kolohe began the day up in the grass above Duke , who was down on the beach. Once Kolohe moved down, they would both spend most of the day near the water line fronting the 3BS.

At 1339 an U/M, with red tags, hauled out to join Kolohe. It was at that time that I realized that I realized that Duke and slipped away while I wasn't looking. The U/M is exasperating because I just couldn't get a decent look at him. It may well be one of the family , but I just can't get a good look.

From 1045 until 1234 there were two bad guys on RI. DOCARE ultimately got them at Kaupo Beach Park, but both drew barks from M&M when they passed by. They also stopped to check Kolohe and Duke, but the animals appeared to be unaware of their presence.

Team Billand reported , zero in the morning, but on the afternoon check of Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park they found Ewa Girl.

DB POST FRIDAY 7/24/2009

The day began at 0545 when I found Irma waiting for me at the Cove at Sandy Beach. I got her cordoned off, and because there was a bus load of teenagers in her area , I hung around. It's a good thing I did because at 0628, in swims M38 to join Irma. He must have learned something from his 4 day stint with her, because this time around he only stayed until 0705. At that time he reentered the water and swam off. It was not to be the last of M38. I rechecked Irma multiple times though the day. She was still there on my 1600 check, and I'll be returning at dusk to reassess.

At 0808 , from the Makapuu Overview I got my first look at the Rabbit Island cast. M&M and pup had moved to the Left Middle Cliff/ 2BS area, and remained there all day. In fact they were hidden behind rocks all day. Kolohe was up in the Morning Glory at the right end of the beach, and directly below him was Buster. Down from both of them, on the water front rocks was Duke.

When I got down to Makai Pier at 0820 I confirmed all those ID's and also found that there was an U/U on the left end of the beach. I never got a chance to ID that animal because at 0828 M38 hauled out and the U/U moved down to the water line to confront him. I never saw a belly or hind flippers on the U/U but based on behavior during the spats with M38 , I guess it was a male. It might well have been one of the regulars, but with the junk morning light, VOG, and wave action at that end of the beach, no ID was possible.

I did not see the fish hooked animal today, however I drew some joy from at least being able to rule out Kolohe.

M38 was in classic "cruiser mode" today, hauling out to bother everybody except M&M.

M&M was totally uncooperative today. She and the pup were behing water front rocks all day, near 2BS. I only saw bits and pieces of them, however I did see 1 feed.

At 1047 , Team Billand reported Ewa Girl at Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park.

I last saw M38 on Rabbit Island at 1400. When I checked Irma at 1600 she was still there, and alone. When I went back at 1730, there was M38 lying there beside her. The boy definitely put in some mileage today. Both departed, with Irma in the lead, at 1953. I picked up the stuff and called it a day at 2000.

DB POST (CONT)

CSI Whales Alive - Patricia Sullivan Article

http://www.csiwhalesalive.org/csi2009_07.pdf

Check out page 11-12.
Aloha,Jen

Dana's Report from Kauai July 16th-19th

Hi, I'm Baaack,
Spent 3 long and wonderful days with the "Seals of Kauai" at least several of them. Also had some great outreach working with Earl and local fishermen. The Kauai volunteers are incredible and it was such an honor to work with them.

R5AY, who we all know and love, is the protective Mom as always. Her baby girl is just about a week shy of this Mom's normal weaning date. Mom and pup look very healthy. 5AY isn't nearly as lean and emaciated as we have seen before, but that could change over the next few days. Right now she has quite a bit of bulk still on her and the baby is a fat little inquisitive thing. She was most interested in the signs erected to protect her little fat self. 5AY was also the ever protective Mom with two males swimming around her and the pup on several different occasions. In one of these shots she finally just got tired of dealing with one and chased him away instead of putting up with him sniffing around. He took off pretty quickly when she started coming after him. He came back yesterday, but she set him straight again. Gotta love that Honey Girl.

The other pup, now a weaner, was doing the typical swim and sun program. He was much watched over and looked after by volunteers, even though Mom had gone. Very healthy and inquisitive, when he wasn't snoozing. Had some funny moments getting in and out of the water off the shelf.

We had several HMSRTO Volunteers dedicate their time and finances to assist our friends on Kauai, they were treated with great respect and received with warm Aloha. Thank you.

Thanks,
Dana

DB Post Thursday 7/23/2009

When I arrived at Sandy Beach this morning at 0520, I found that Irma had departed. I picked up the signs and continued on. I did multiple rechecks of the Irma's/Sandy Beach areas through the day, but nobody ever popped up.

From the Makapuu Overview (MO) at 0642 I could see M&M and pup doing a swim in the Middle Cliff area. They would remain in that neighborhood all day. I observed 2 swims and 2 feeds.

From Makai Pier at 0657 I saw a smallish, red tagged animal, I believe to have been a male, with an old coat, haul out to just above the water line , 30 ft. left of 1BS. It was apparent from the fist moment that the animal was in distress. The way it was flopping and flapping around, and the exaggerated head movement, all indicated what I have come to know as a fish hook. It would take until 0832 before I could positively confirm a hook, leader, and line in the left corner of the mouth. Due to the horrible morning lighting, overcast conditions, VOG, and the fact that the animal was directly in line with the off shore backwash waves between the pier and RI, I had a difficult time with observations. The animal appeared to be smallish, perhaps 1-2 yr old, with an old coat, and lots of algae. I saw 2 red tags, I can't rule out Kolohe, but I believe it was a bit larger that that. The bottom line is, I have no ID. The animal was in obvious distress, and at 0832 began to reenter the water, however the line got stuck in the water front rocks and the animal once again began flopping around like a fish on a line, pulling the line taught. Something gave and the animal entered the water. I did not see the animal again today. I notified Tracy of all of this at 0832, however the animal was not seen again today. Hopefully, tomorrow will provide an opportunity to get the job done.

I relocated to the Makapuu Overview at 0920, hoping to be able to see the fish hook animal , however that did not happen. I did, however, find Duke from that location. He was hidden down behind some rocks at the right end of the beach, and was invisible from Makai Pier. He would later move up with the tide, and remained at the right end of the beach all day.

When I got back to the pier at 1100, I found that an U/M with red tags, was on the water front rocks, 60 ft right of 3BS. It was a M/L male , however I could not get an ID. My guess is Buster, but I really got no info. He entered the water at 1205 and I did not see him again today. The overcast conditions and VOG made observation difficult.

Posse member Betty, from Hanauma Bay, called at 0744 to report that one of the early morning swimmer ,regulars reported having seen "a small animal" in the cable channel at the right end of HB. No other info was available.

Team Billand checked in at 1105 with the report of Ewa Girl, at Palm Grove , Campbell Industrial Park. Fishermen witnesses said she hauled out around 0900.

Mary Jay called at 1329 to report that Rocky had hauled out in Ewa Beach, at the same location as day before yesterday.

Pic from the Mokes

Here are some shots Karen took while we ventured over to the Mokes.. no seals but sure is pretty. ~donna~

Psst..DB can you see us... over here

The knees!

No tracks here!

The bird wasn't telling us nothing !

Unidentified Female Seen Out on the Mokes

Aloha Good People;

Tuesday the good people at KSK (Kayak Sailboards Kailua) came by and told me there was an adult female out on the Mokes... and although they weren't sure it was the same seal they had seen for the prior three days...

So my little seal alarm went off and as soon as I finished my morning shift at the Pizzeria I called Karen Bryan and off the two of us went... paddling our tooshies off. Guess what? No sign of her, but based on the description I got (adult female, no tag and cookie cutter scar) we guessed it was KC and before leaving the little islands... I called my mentor the seal whisperer, who got a kick out of the fact that I was still on the island. He agreed good chance it was KC.

Wish I had some photos.. cause it was gorgeous!
~donna~

DB Post Wednesday 7/22/2009

Irma and M38 where waiting for me at 0520 when I arrived at Sandy Beach. They were right where I'd left them last night. They move down and up with today's tides, and were still there on my 1600 check. I'll be returning to SB shortly. This is D#4 of their Sandy Beach vacation.

The Rabbit Island cast was M&M and pup, once again at the Middle Cliff area. I would observed 1 swim and 2 feeds today. Duke showed up at 1022 and spent the day at the right end of the beach. Buster joined him at 1504, and all were still there when I departed the pier at 1600.

Karen Bryan called at 1547 to report an animal at Pyramid Rock at MCBH. KC would be my guess, but I'm awaiting photos.

Tracy called from Kauai, late in the day to advise that she had tagged R5AY's daughter (RA20), and another male weaner at Larson's today. R5AY had weaned her pup yesterday.

M38 departed at 1908. Irma was still there when I departed at 2000.

DB Post Tuesday 7/21/09

Irma and M38 were waiting for my at 0530 when I pulled into Crappy Cove, at Sandy Beach. They were right where I'd left them last night. I restrung the rope, and continued on. They would , once again, remain all day. I checked them every two hours, and did lots of PR . They were still there on my last check at 1600, and I will return shortly.

The Rabbit Island cast was M&M and her chunky pup at mid Middle Cliff, and Duke at the right end of the beach. There was an U/M at the left end in the early morning, but he left before I could get a confirmed ID. I believe that it was Buster, based on the mottled belly, but with Mojo known to be in the area, I can't rule him out.

Team Billand called at 1032 to report RIP and Ewa Girl at Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park.

I picked up the rope at Sandy Beach at 2000. Irma and M38 showed no signs of leaving.

I thought the day was over , however Mary Jay called at 2008 with the report of Rocky in Ewa Beach.