1/29/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: Rabbit Island Critter, Right Spot R016, Rip RR70, Kolohe RW22, Kekoa RK72, Kalani RN14, Lei Ola RH48

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, our posse pals Gayle and Vicki. 

Vicki was at Turtle Bay today and although she didn't see any Hawaiian monk seals she did send some photos of some peculiar golfers on the course. She also found some grub that young monk seals so enjoy eating that it usually explodes all over their whiskers and we all go scrambling wondering if they have a fishing line coming out of their mouth.

Posse pal Gayle spotted one critter on Rabbit Island. She also spotted Right Spot R016 this morning, from Gayle's comment it sounds like Right Spot got her second antibiotic shot this morning and took off shortly after. Good, let hope this is all she needs and she'll be back to normal. 

Team Billand out on a Leeward Beach found Rip RR70 hiding in the high rocks alone. He barely moved the entire day.  They also noticed Kolohe RW22 midway trying to position himself. He did make it down to shallow water hole.

Next they came across Kekoa RK72 on high rock to the right galumphing higher up by Kolohe. He was up there until Kalani RN14 started arguing in the waterhole with Kolohe RW22.  Kalani came up and galumphed by Kolohe in the water hole, a small argument in the water, Kalani won but he decided to bug Kekoa.  In the end, Kalani glaumphed pass Kolohe and Kekoa in his own shallow hole for the day. (Just like little boys!)

At a different beach on the Leeward side Team Billand spotted a sparkling belly, glistening in the hot sun, hmmmm it was Lei Ola RH48. She was on the wrong side making it hard to see the hook, (of course). Eventually, after patiently waiting while sitting in the sun they spotted her tags and she flipped over. Her appearance is normal, weight is great, belly plump, coat in good condition, but still has that dam hook. Seems she needed some alone time away from the boys.

Sea Cucumber before it's eaten by a young monk seal

 Albatross on the golf course Turtle Bay

Rabbit Island Critter

 Right Spot R016

Rip RR70

 Kolohe 

Kekoa

 Kalani

 Kalani & Kolohe having words

Lei Ola 

1/28/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: Ka'ale RH32, Kalani RN14, Kekoa RK72, PvKauai RW02, Rip RR70, UU@Campbells, Rabbit Island Critter, Right Spot

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Gayle, Marilyn and Lesley.

Team Billand out on the Leeward side found Kaale (little butt head) RH32 was alone on the rocks resting with no one around to butt his little head to. 

Their next find  Rip RR70 at another Leeward Beach well hidden. He was there all day and ID'd by the ding  on his back and scar over eye. On their second visit to Rip, there were two people with some very large camera lens, guess they were there to get some photos :-)
Also on site there were three critters huddled together all day. Team Billand identified them as RN14 Kalani, RK72 Kekoa and RW02 PvKauai.

The Billands watched over a UU at Campbells today for an hour trying to get an ID. The seal was doing 5 minute dives, has a clean coat, no markers seen, a stub of a tag and a big white muzzle. 

Lesley & Jaime did Ka'ena Point monitoring this afternoon. As far as seals they got skunked, but they did spot the 1st albatross chick of the season. 

Marilyn spent almost two hours at Makai Pier viewing Rabbit Island. There was only one seal seal about 30 feet Waimanalo side of the 1BS. The seal a subadult/adult and possible female (although she wouldn't bet the cat on that) had at least one tag. Although the seal shifted position several times she could not get an ID.

Gayle was out and found Right Spot in the large tide pool bobbing around. She was eating something, unclear exactly what maybe a sea cucumber (yuck).  At one point she was heading out around the bend and then headed back towards the tide pool..... But that didn't last long as she lost site of her. Gayle was on site with several volunteers who are watching over her. She did return eventually at 17:00 and they all left her resting comfortably at 19:00.

Gayle noted 2 critters on Rabbit Island, although she didn't note what time she spotted the critters.

Ka'ale

Kalani RN14 & Kekoa RK72

PvKauai RW02

Kekoa

 Kalani

Rip RR70

Unknown at Campbells

Little Chicky

 Gorgeous day at Ka'ena Point

Unknown at Rabbit Island

1/27/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: Pohaku R028, Rip RR70, Kekoa Rk72, Kalani RN14, PvKauai RW02, Rabbit Island Critter & Right Spot R016

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Gayle. 

At 6 am Team Billand found Pohaku R028 snoozing inside a zone, they rearranged the signs a bit and the sagging ropes. ( all ropes were still up and THIS is a real entanglement concern, if anyone put up a zone, somehow you have to take the responsibility to make sure it is taken down at the end of the day). Team Billand called the hotline and left a message.  This is day #3 of her hanging out here. She is showing any signs of discomfort, any injuries, nothing out of the ordinary. Lots of people out and opportunity for education, mostly wondering if she is okay. Team Billand left at 8:40 am, before a volunteer arrived. 

Next stop for Team Billand was at a Leeward Beach were they initially found Rip RR70 resting up on

high rock. On there second visit he made his way to the pond and stayed there for the rest of the day.

Team Billand found Kekoa Alii Rk72 and they heard him barking at another seal, when they got a little closer they could see Kekoa was with RN14 Kalani, who appeared to have just hauled up.

PvKauai RW02 was in the small pond sleeping to the side of Kekoa and remained in the pond the entire time of observation. 

Gayle spotted the small critter again on Rabbit Island. She was trying to determine if it was male or female but was unsuccessful. 
Gayle did come across Right Spot R016 again today and noted her would is looking really good, although her left front flipper is swollen.  There were some folks around playing this evening splashing water (not at her) but the splashes spooked her. She gave a bark so the volunteer went to talk with them. Right Spot still was not as ease she went into the water and out to sea around 18:35. Gayle did not see her again.

Pohaku

Rip RR70

Kekoa RK72

Kekoa & Kalani 

Kalani RN14

PvKauai RW02

Rabbit Island Critter

 Right Spot