1/25/2010

Benny & Kermit @ White Plains

Rocky @ Nimitz

1/24/2010 DB Dailies

At 0723, from Makai Pier, I found RIP snoozin' fronting 1BS on Rabbit Island. On a pan at 1016 I found a Bad Guy, spear fisherman, at 3BS moving to the left. At 1017 he encountered RIP, who alerted to the guy, and turned to posture at him, and then hurriedly departed. The Bad Guy continued on to the left tip of the island and then turned and walked back to the right, reentering the water at the far right end of the beach. His little journey allowed him to pass all 3 of the "No Landing" signs.........TWICE !! My initial DOCARE call , reporting the action was at 1030. I called again atd 1039 to advise that he was off the island. I observed him haul out to Kaupo Beach Park at 1118. There was no observed DOCARE response..............AGAIN !!

At 1104 Mikala hauled out to the right end of the beach. Her new, upside down N20 , left side bleach was clearly visible, though photos could not capture the bleach due to lousy lighting.

Team Billand called at 0848 to report Kermit at Nimitz Beach. They called again at 1640 with the news that Benny and R018 were at Maili Pt, but 150 ft apart.

Keith Kenyon mail arrived with today's Ka'ena Point news. They had found Ka'ena and Kerby at the end of the world today.

1/24/2010 (cont)

Kermit @ Nimitz

Benny @ Maili Point

R018 @ Maili Point

1/24/2010 Ka'ena & Kerby @ Ka'ena Point

1/23/2010 A Monk Moment

Aloha Blog Lady,

Greetings from the Kalaupapa Overlook. Behind me you see the peninsula of Kalaupapa, this place is famous for several reasons. The most obvious is St Damien and the other involves us Hawaiian Monk Seals. You see, the area behind me is known to the volunteers here,as the "monk seal nursery" This past year 6 monk seal pups (3 males/3 females)were born and in 2008 there were 7 pups. Kp2 even spent a little time exploring this area. It is a sheltered area that is safe, nice quiet beaches and lots of tide pools to learn the basics of monk seal survival. Simply, a perfect place for monk seal moms to have and raise their pups. We are looking forward to another great pupping season at the monk seal nursery, which should be starting in just a few short months.

We have received some sad news from Kalaupapa today. Yesterday, while NPS biologist Eric was doing his weekly seal trek he found a still born monk seal in one of the tide pools. Mom, RV10 was right near the still born pup. RV10 is a 5 year seal, which makes her the second youngest known seal to give birth. (RI15 is the youngest) NOAA officials will be preforming a necropsy tomorrow to determine the cause of death.

Every death of these endangered animals is so heartbreaking. That's why it's SO important that the MONK SEAL STORY is told and shared by all that live and enjoy the Hawaiian Islands.

Till next time,
Monk

Kolohe Video at Sea Cave - being very Zen

1/23/2010 DB Dailies

At 0600 I found Right Spot waiting for me right where I'd left her last night. I redid the cordon and continued on. According to witnesses she left Sandy Beach at approximately 1130, of her own volition. Marilyn had called at 1150 on a routine check to advise that she was gone. I picked up the stuff and then went to the Blow Hole Lookout. There I found Right Spot doing 11 minute dives. This is her 3rd mid day departure and the 3rd time I've found her immediately thereafter at Blow Hole.

At 0753 we found RIP at Spitting Cave doing 7 minute dives. On a 1530 check he was no longer there.

You will note that there is no Rabbit Island reference today. That is because it was one of those rare Zero days at RI. It's a good thing the bleaching mission was yesterday !.

Team Billand called at 0904 with the report of Kermit near LG tower#1 at WP (of course, it's a weekend, where else would he be) . Their next call was at 0946 reporting Irma at Wind Sock, Kalaeloa Beach. Lastly they reported R018 at Makaha at 1530.

A late afternoon check of YouTube brings video footage from a Lanai Lookout dive of an animal that is impossible to ID.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUD3mWZDAkg

Another YouTube video shows a definite Kolohe at Sea Cave on 1-16-10.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thgxy-Wso9E

RIP @ Spitting Cave

Right Spot @ Sandy Beach & Blow Hole

Ro18 @ Makaha

1/23/2010 Look at those NIFTY signs!

Kermit @White Plains surrounded by some nifty NEW signs.

Irma @ Wind Sock.

1/22/2010 DB Dailes

It was an action packed day in DB's World today . The Rabbit Island cast of Sadie, Buster, Mojo, Kolohe and Mikala would have visitors today. NOAA personnel, Mark and Shawn did a bleaching mission to Rabbit Island and bleached 4 of the 5 cast members. There was a bit of a mix up on the numbering but its nothing that can't be rectified by remembering the postioning of the bleaches. Sadie got an N20 bleach on both sides posterior. Mikala got an N20 bleach on her left shoulder and across her butt with a girdle. Buster got an N21 bleach on the left side posterior only, and Mojo got an N21 bleach , upside down on the right side only.

At 1312 I recieved a call from a posse member reporting an animal just hauling out at the east end of Sandy Beach. When I arrived I found Right Spot. I cordoned her off and did some PR. I rechecked her through the afternoon, and will return at dusk.

Barbara Billand and associate did the KP trek today, and at 0907 Barbara reported Ka'ena , Kerby and R018 at the end of the world. R018 had been last reported on Kauai.

Robert Billand called at 1104 to report Benny at Kermit's Reef on the west side of the Nimitz jetty. He had apparently been there since 0840. He also reported a swimming head off shore of WP, but I never heard anything more about that, until Barbara called at 1653 reporting Kermit at White Plains fronting #1708.

(okay I tried to do things orderly so I could remember who was in which pictures.... but it didn't quite work that way... sorry DB)

1/22/2010

Benny @ Nimitz

Kermit @ White Plains

Ka'ena @ Ka'ena Point

Kerby @ Ka'ena Point..

RO18 @ Ka'ena Point

1/21/2010 DB Dailies

It was yet another windy, cold day out there. Though observation of Rabbit Island were okay, the north winds again cause distortion that made photographing the RI cast a bit of a challenge. Right Spot was a no show so the RI crew was the only game in the SE quadrant. Incidentally, I found a shot of a probable Right Spot taken yesterday at Sea Cave, on the Island Divers site, so she is still in the area. I had already known about Kolohe being there, but a later dive apparently found 2 animals.

The Rabbit Island cast began with Buster to the right of 1BS at 0708. When I got back to Makai Pier at 0920 I found that Sadie was up in the Morning Glory to the right of 3BS. At 1105 she would be joined by Kolohe. Mojo popped up at 1007 for a brief haul out at the left end of the beach, but finding no chicks he reentered the water and hauled out again at 1024 at the right end of the beach. Shortly after his arrival Mikala hauled out to join him and Mojo was all over her, playing and climbing on with gusto. I lost sight of them behind some water front rocks after a while, and later Mikala hauled up into view by herself. On a pan at 1109 he would haul out to join Buster, where he remained the rest of the day.

At 1105 Kolohe hauled out to 3BS. Sadie was just moving down to cool off as he arrived so they met at mid beach and rolled and played for a bit, before settling down to snooze mode for the rest of the day.

Team Billand called at 1009 with the report of Kermit at Tracks. I believe this is the first time he has been seen there. At 1122 they reported Irma at Wind Sock, Kalaeloa Beach. Apparently she had been seen there by NOAA guy , Shawn at 0800. The last call came at 1325 with the report of Benny and 2AW together at Palm Grove, Campbell Industrial Park.

1/21/2010 DB Dailies (cont)

Kermit @Tracks

Irma @ Wind Sock

Benny & 2AW @Campbells

1/20/2010 DB Dailies

It was a quiet day out there today. The only action in the SE quadrant was Mikala and Duke hauling out at opposite ends of the beach on Rabbit Island...... period !

Team Billand reported Irma "lolligaggin" in the water just off shore of White Plain at 0735. She would finally haul out to the east side of the east end perimeter fence at 0810. They also found Kermit at Kermit's Reef, on the west side of the Nimitz jetty at 0808.

A late afternoon check of the Island Diver's website brought news that Kolohe was at Sea Cave (front of Portlock) today. Thank you Jo !

Duke

Mikala

Irma lolligaging

lal⋅ly⋅gag  /ˈlɑliˌgæg, ˈlæli-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [lah-lee-gag, lal-ee-] Show IPA

–verb (used without object), -gagged, -gag⋅ging. Informal.
1. to spend time idly; loaf.

2. to indulge in kisses and caresses; make love; neck.

Kermit

Little Man Kolohe