March 28, 2019 (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

Team T&D and I had a great day out monitoring Ka'ena Point.

We started on the Mokuleia side and went all the way to the Waianae side and back.

Many visitors were out enjoying the day and we did a lot of outreach.

We were rewarded several times by wildlife. The whales were putting on a show so there were parts of our hike when Dave was way far in front while Tammy & I were whale, bird, turtle or seal watching.

RO40 "Ka'ena" was on the reef island in Main Pool, just beside him on the new pebble beach RL42 "Leia" and R3CU (M) were side by side. "Leia" had her rear flippers over his head as if to tell him stay put. Have you counted how many escorts the girl has had lately ? "Squinty" , "Rip", "Kauai Kolohe", "Kolohe", R3CU...

On Back Beach RK88 "Puna" was making his way down from the Naupaka line where he may have spent the night. 

Hours later when we came back from the Waianae side all seal were in the same places.

At the 20Mnts mark of the Waianae side we spotted RG40 "Holokai" in a tide pool protected by reefs from the big waves washing the pools.

On our way back we hauled out some nets (sea debris) that had been left on a side path in

the NARS

I a late afternoon check in front from CE Pt to Birth Beach no seals around. There's been an overnighter at Birth Beach for the last 3 nights but we haven't met, trails were fairly small so I suspect "Napua" but who knows?.?.?. When I find out I'll share.   More tomorrow 

 Way to go Team T&D 

 how cute are they?

March 27, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Melody. I know Lesley was out at Ka'ena Point for a very long day but a text message revealed she got skunked.

Melody came through today by checking on several westside beaches, well initially she came up empty until she got lucky.  On her second stop she came across Kekoa Alii RK72, and PvKauai RW02.  Kekoa was on high rock, and only raised his head a couple of times to look around. PvKauai was close by and when he hauled up on the rocks, well let's just say he made a mess. 
Guess he had to go... a lot !  PvKauai didn't stay on the rocks for long and after a little bit turned and slid back in the water, (thank goodness) and washed himself off.  He stayed in the water most of the day. 
On her afternoon check both boys were pretty much in the same positions.

Melody headed out to Ka'ena west and while Melody was enjoying her walk a couple of hikers approached and asked if she wanted to see some seals. ( LOL nice break ).  Melody of course answered "SURE", they kindly told her there were 3 seals down the way; one on its own and two together a bit further down.

The solo critter was R3CU laying flat on his back in a tide pool. Melody got a clear view of his tag. He pretty much was not interested in a lot of movement today just chilling in his private pool. 
Melody continued on her trek to find the next two. She was able to ID Ka'ena because of his sat tag, but the other seal was only known as a female, reported as a U/F.  They were at a distance in the tide pools so there wasn't much to work with.  
Ya done good Melody, a five seal day.

 Kekoa Alii RK72

RW02 PvKauai

 what a mess... I can smell it from here

 taking bath and getting clean

 R3CU  chilling in his private pool

 Ka'ena and U/F

 UF

Ka'ena RO40 

March 26, 2109 Monk Seal Dailies: Lesley's Ka'ena Update

Happy KUHIO DAY !

And what a beautiful day it was. Promise of a hot Summer all around.

On the news: the Wedgies are back. I first smelt them, saw there trails on the path then saw their butts sticking out of several burrows

Adult Albatrosses were away when I first arrived then we started to see some fly in from the ocean.

It was also a perfect day for whale watching.

My first HMSeal was RO40 "Ka'ena" hauled out at the entrance of his pool

Next RL42 "Leia" and RW22 "Kolohe" in the Main Pool. 

Seeing "Kolohe" today reminded me of 2008 - the year we started the first HMS Volunteer group on Oahu because of the 2 pups born on the North Shore "Kolohe" & "Hoku" . Then a little guy on Kauai was abandoned by his mom and brought to Oahu: our dear "KP2". We learned so much from those kids. And before them "Ka'ena" & "Penelope" and adult ones also. So many pups came after them, we shared and cheered every birth. News came by coconut wire from one rock to the other. DB was our center of communication. Days like today make me miss him so much. He would have been my first call " Chefinho, you won't guess who I have here" and he would say "NO but I know you're going to tell me". He would go thru his files and call back giving last date seal was seen or whatever. 

Thank you Lesley for sharing this memory....  means a lot to me and I am sure many others.

I had my hands full doing outreach at the point.

When I was heading back, by habit I looked down towards "Molting Beach" (we haven't seen a seal there for a long time) and to my surprise there was RN58 "Luana" try to rest on a reef but being washed by the in coming tide. She looks so big and healthy. Seems that the time to see her only rolling in the shallow waters is getting close.

Ended my day with more outreach at the gate. Many hikers out today making the best of this beautiful day. We even had a mid afternoon shower to cool off.  More tomorrow