7/28/2010 DB Dailies

Kolohe was my first find, near the cliff at the right end of the beach on Rabbit Island at 0717. He would later move down to the water front rocks and remained there the rest of the day.

When I got to Spitting Cave at 0748 I found Duke doing 8 minute dives.

Back at Makai Pier at 0912 I found Sam near the water line at 1BS, and Buster near the water line on the far left end of the beach. They would remain there all day.

Team Billand reported Kermit at Maili Point at 0612, and then called again at 0700 with the report of Makaiwi fronting #1705 at the Nimitz Cottages. Makaiwi would depart at 1415.

At 0930 they called to report Rocky at Iroquois Point. The Team has been assisted the past couple of days by nephew, Brandon, from Maui. He has lived Monk Seal 101, as only Team Billand can teach it.

This was D#29 for R5AY & Pup at Turtle Bay. Dana Jones called at 1651 to report that Right Spot was at her usual location between the R5AY site and the hotel.

Buster

Kermit

Maka'iwi

Rocky

Brandon - Monk Seal 101 Training

7/27/2010 DB Dailies

I was on the road at 0614, and after a quicky pass through the SE quadrant I ventured into town and checked Sand Island at 0717. RIP and Ewa Girl were gone, so I picked up the stuff, and returned to civilization, in the burbs.

I was back at Makai Pier by 0925, but it would be 1020 before I finally found a critter. I just got the tiniest glimpse of a partially visible animal behind the water front rocks at the right end of the beach. Finally, at 1338 the rising tide force Kolohe up into view. He remained there the rest of the day.

At 1045 Sam hauled out to his usual spot at 1BS. He too would remain there the rest of the day.

On a pan at 1242 I found the little green dude, Duke on the left end rock flats. He remained there the rest of the day.

Barbara called early to say that her posse member, Mochiko , had reported an animal hauling out just briefly to White Plains, then reentering the water and swimming off to the west. At 0744 Robert reported Benny at Wind Sock, Kalaeloa Beach.

Meanwhile Barbara and nephew were making the trek to Ka'ena Point. Any of you who have made the trip to the end of the world, know what that takes outta' you. Imagine doing it TWICE !!!!! (They forgot the tripdod and had to go BACK !!). You'd all be standing over my grave if that were me. I don't know if it was worth two trips or not, but they had a heck of a day, bringing back news of T15M, RI37, Kermit, Ka'ena, Kerby, CeeCee & Kiko.

This was D#27 for R5AY & DAUGHTER !!!! ( I think its D#29 pup was born on 6/29 right? ) Yes.... Donna is correct... The office (Thea, Brenda & Tracy) concur that the pup is a female !!!!!!! You folks in the front line trenches need to start putting your head together and come up with a name. ( Just a note, Jim Brown called it very early on, and Mrs. Seal Whisperer also said she thought it was a female.)

Posse member Lesley called to say that divers had seen another animal near the point on the Kahuku side of the pup site, but there is no other info.

CeeCee

Kiko

T15M - Sharkbite (he was comparing scars with RI37 )

RI37 -healed - she still chubby, I assume since she had a still born, she is still packing some of her "Mom" weight.

5/27/2010 Ka'ena Point (cont).

Ka'ena and Kermit

Kermit

Ka'ena

Kerby

5/27./2010 R5AY and Daughter

We have a girl... how exciting is this? ... NOW, as far as a name, I do think a name was selected and adopted by some of the volunteers... and I apologize, I can't remember what it is. So please anyone who has been up at the site and knows the name (and the meaning) please share. 

In the meantime, this afternoon just when boredom is at its peak and I am too tired to do anything I received a wonderful phone call from Lesley. She shared with me that she was watching the little bugger swimming beyond the reef.... I have to admit Auntie was both proud and scared at the same time.  For me it made me feel really special to get the call..... I hate that I can't be out there helping. But with all the wonderful people looking after them I know they are in good hands, and I am grateful for your sharing.

7/26/2010 DB Dailies

It was not until my 2nd pass, Rabbit Island check at 0852 that I found what would prove to be Duke, amongst the rocks on the far left end of the beach. When I got back to Makai Pier at 1254 I found Sam hauled out at 1BS.

In between those two RI observation periods I on a mission to Sand Island. Dera called at 0857 with a report from HPD about two animals at Sand Island. I finally fought my way through town traffic and arrived at 0947. Since all my other SI animals had been toward the Keehi Lagoon end, I started there. Alas, I was wrong. I finally found them at 1025 near the Honolulu Harbor end of the park at a lagoon I'd never been to before. It would prove to be Ewa Girl, and RIP. I'd last seen RIP at RI on 7-23-10. Ewa Girl had not been seen since she and RIP were together at Kalaeloa Campgrounds on 7-15-10. I used Caution Tape to cordon them off. There was almost nobody at all in the area. Sand Island is not heavily used, during the week.

Team Billand found nobody on their morning passes through the W and SW quadrants. The Billands were at Turtle Bay for a while with R5AY & Pup, and on the way home found Rocky at Iroquois Point, at 1605.

Ewa Girl and RIP

Duke

Sam

Rocky

7/26/2010 R5AY and P02 photos from Barb and Rob

Well this seems to be the money shot... enlarge this photo and I pretty sure we have a little girl!

YAAAAAA ITS A GIRL!!!!!!!   doing a happy dance, well, a happy limp.

7/25/2010 DB Dailies

My first look at Rabbit Island at 0615 provided a glimpse of a "swimming head" off of the left end of the island. There was no way to get an ID.

On my 0723 check of Spitting Cave I found Buster doing 7 minute dives.

Rabbit Island was still a bust when I got back to Makai Pier at 0838. Posse member Stacey was visiting and manning the scope at just the right time, and found Sam hauling out to 1BS at 1118, and then at 1123 she saw Duke haul out to the far left end of the beach. Both would remain all day.

At 1431 M38 hauled out briefly to join Duke. He got no response from Duke and quickly reentered the water at 1434. He then hauled out to join Sam at 1BS. Interestingly, Sam initially moved away everytime M38 nuzzled, but when M38 started toward the water, Sam quickly moved to join him. Any time that Sam made contact, M38 would veer away. M38 entered the water with Sam right behind, but M38 must have said something to him, because Sam immediately returned to the beach. I did not see M38 again today.

Team Billand reported Rocky at Ewa Beach at 0930. They called again at 0958 to advise that a barking Rotweiller, tied in it's backyard, had driven Rocky off. She was seen swimming east, but they could not find her again. At 1622 Barbara called to say that one of their posse (Frank) called them to say that Rocky had just hauled out to Iroquois Point, and was resting comfortably.

The Kenyons did the Ka'ena Point trek on another Sunday adventure. The found Ka'ena and T15M at the end of the world. (I added a link to a Ka'ena Point news story with Team Kenyon pictures.)

This was D#26 for R5AY& Pup at Turtle Bay.

Sam

Duke

7/25/2010 Rocky on the move, and Buster at spitting cave

Rocky looking good, nice new coat and her girlish figure back.

Buster