10/28/2010 DB Dailies

On my 2nd look at Rabbit Island, from Makai Pier at 0840, I found Buster snoozin' 60 ft left of 1BS. At 0849 Duke would move into view from behind Buster.

At 0921, Kolohe hauled out to join the other two. There was light , play interaction between all of the cast. At 1102, with Duke in the lead, all three entered the water. I got only glimpses of their play activity since the water conditions were extremely rough. At 1306 all three hauled out together to 3BS, again with Duke in the lead, and went to immediate snooze mode for the rest of the day.

On one of many pans of the beach at 0901 I chanced to see a hind flipper flex and then a head scratch, 40 ft left of 1BS, behind the Morning Glory covered sand dune. I'm always atuned to that spot since I know critters can be there at the base of the cliff. Just as with yesterday's find, it would prove to be Sam. He would finally move down to cool off at 1308, and remained there the rest of the day.

Team Billand checked in at 0703 with the report of Irma near tower #2 at White Plains.

Dana checked in ate 1600 to advise that a volunteer had confirmed Ua Malie at Fishermen's Point, TB, and also two other animals, one skinny with tags, and a larger critter with a scar on a hind flipper. Without supporting photos it's impossible to tell who they might be, but my guess would be R5AY and Right Spot, but that is purely personal opinion. To all you posse persons....... ya' gotta' get photos guys , so we can get positive ID's on your finds. 
Aloha good people, please make sure you take the opportunity to double click on the photographs to enlarge them. You will enjoy more detail especially the photos from Rabbit Island. *there are time when certain pics will not enlarge, unfortunately thats beyond my control.)

 Buster, Duke and Kolohe

 Sam coming out of the green

 Irma and honorable man in blue

10/27/2010 DB Dailes

The Rabbit Island cast of characters grew a bit today. For the first time in several days there were a total of 3 critters out there. I found Buster at 0641 on my first look, and when I got back at 0900 I found Duke up in the grass. On a pan at 1156 I just happened to see a hind flipper flex up behind the sand dune and Morning Glory, 40 ft left of 1BS. I'd had no clue that there was anyone there. Finally the animal moved down into view at 1303, and it proved to be Sam !

On my 0713 , Spitting Cave check, I found Kolohe doing 7 minute dives.

Team Billand reported Irma at White Plains at 0649, fronting #1708. Her D#9 molt appears to be 100%.

They called again at 1009 to say that Dera had called them about N28 being in Makaha. There is no N28. It took a bit of rechecking but it would prove to be N26, Benny, showin' off his new bleach. Unfortunately, he was run off by a dog at 1019.

The Billands checked in again at 1423 to report that one of their posse had called with the report of Rocky at Iroquois Point.

A 1346 Dera call advised that RI37 was once again at Shark's Cove today. She sent me Liz Weske photos from yesterday (10-26). I presume she looks much the same today, though I day older.

Sam

Kolohe

Irma

 RI37

10/26/2010 DB Dailies

It was a miserable day at Makai Pier. It's beginning to feel like winter. Wind, rain, too cool weather. It was a Duke day at RI. He had the place all to himself.

I found Buster at Spitting Cave, doing 14 minute dives. This is a new SC observed dive time record . Ewa Girl held the previous record at 13 minutes.

Team Billand checked in at 1006 to report Irma , once again, at White Plains. She departed at 1650.

Lesley called at 1212 to say that she could find no Ua Malie so far today, but beach walkers told her that there were two large animals at separate locations on the Kahuku side of Kahuku Point. She was trekking off th solve the mystery. At 1228 she reported Right Spot. Despite miles of walking she never located a 2nd animal.

Dera called at 1446 with the report of an animal at Shark's Cove. It was reported to have red tags. An evening email from Tracy brought word that they critter was RI37.

 Right Spot showing of her white spot

 big white spot... seal shadows?

 Irma

10/25/2010 Ua Malie's Map

Here's the latest map of Ua'Malie's journey... per charles although this map is a higher quality map its not necessarily accurate.  Not sure if those lines that look like she is shooting up into space, are a glitch, or her b-lining it to deeper water and heading towards the windard side.... only Ua knows...

(thank you Dr. Charles, but you may need to provide some explaination to us)... also the pup has a different sat tag than say benny and maka'iwi (4DF)...  is one more accurate than the other? 

10/25/2010 DB Dailies

Sam had Rabbit Island all to himself on this gray and dismal day. I found him at 0651 at the cliff, left of 1BS. He never moved down, and for that matter, barely moved.
Team Billand called at 0613 with the report of Irma at WP. She may well have overnighted since she was lying near the signs. She would depart between 1230 and 1300.

The Billands called again at 0920 with the report of Benny at Guard Rail Beach, Maili Pt. Eric got an N26 bleach on his left side.

Eric also redid M&M's N23 bleach at Ka'ena Point today. She also got a left side, mid body bleach.

Team Billand got a call about an animal at White Plains at 1528. When they arrived they found Irma...again, same spot as her morning visit.

Karen Turner found Ua Malie at Fishermen's Point, Turtle Bay, and what she thought might be Lona on the Kahuku side of the point. Unfortunately, photo evidence does not provide enough info to make that ID.

Benny - Great shot with the bird.

 Irma cracks me up, she still curious like the young'ens and she does have a thing for signs. Jury out on whether she likes them or not.

 Sam and the yellow arrow

 So peaceful Ua Malie

 Unidentified.... looks more like someone was hiding, great shot.

Late photos of molting Irma from early Sunday morning

Photos were sent into Dana by volunteer John Sadowski who took these shots early Sunday morning. Amazing how much she shed between the morning and afternoon.  Thank you John for sharing.

1/24/2010 DB Dailies

On our 0750, Spitting Cave check we found a bumper crop of critters. First it was Duke, fronting the big rock, munching on a pufferfish, and 200 ft to the right were Buster and Kolohe together. Buster remained for only one up. Kolohe was buggin' him, and he apparently took off. We did not see him again. Duke and Kolohe remained in their respective locations with no observed interaction.

SC was teaming with life today. We spent time with a group of six Eagle Rays ( I never saw more than 4 before), and a boat came by with Dolphins on the bow wave, and of course there were lots of turtles. The only thing missing was a Whale. No luck there.

My first look at Rabbit Island had been a bust. When I got back to Makai Pier at 0930, the place was still bare, however on a pan at 1023 I'm happy to say, I found Sam was just hauling out to the far left end of the beach. He moved up and remained the only RI resident for the rest of the day. I've been stressin' for 11 days now, since I last saw my youngest. The last sighting was 10-13-10. I guess it doesn't get easier the more you are around them... But of course you are the proud PaPa.

At 0955 Team Billand checked in with the report of 4DJ at Iroquois Point, and at 1138 came the next call with word that Irma was fronting tower #1 at White Plains. At 1640 they found Rocky at Nimitz Cove.

Team Kenyon survived yet another trek to the end of the world at Ka'ena Point. They found Ka'ena on the way in,a half mile from the trail head, and Kerby&Ka'ena together on the way out along the Waianae side trail, and CeeCee further in. Kiko was at the point again today.

Eagle Rays - okay I'll ask being a dam yankee... what is the difference between a sting ray and eagle ray?

Little man Sam

Duke and Puff