November 28, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving, and again I will say I am thankful for all of you our monk seal ohana.
Looks like we had a lot of folks out and about today. Our dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Marilyn, posse pal Vicki and posse pal Justin and Christine.

Team Toombs went out to Ka'ena Point today making the hike from the Waianae side. First find was RL20 Kalua easily ID'd by his N19 applied bleach. He was in the larger tidepools on their way out to the point. Then they found RO40 Ka'ena at back beach ID'd by his 055/054 tags. At runway reef they found RN58 Luana ID'd by her N59 tag.
Team Toombs called their sightings into the hotline. From all they saw all the seals appeared in good body condition with no fresh wounds, hooks or lines.  

Posse pal Vicki headed up to Turtle Bay and her only find was RG40 Holokai. He is looking healthy and handsome.

Team Billand were out on their usual trek around but along they way they got a flat (bummer).  They were able to get a temporary fix and managed to find two seals (of course they did).

Just before 9:30 they found RIP RR70 on lower rocks sleeping alone.
RH76 Kala was up above him snoozing, snuggling the rocks. 

Team Billand couldn't stay long between the flat and need to get to their Thanksgiving Dinner. Having said they they did pass by one last time on their way to dinner and both seals remained.

Marilyn was out early today and did a quick check on the south east side. She did find RO16 Right Spot, and called her into the hotline. Right Spot was ID'd by her old coat, right side NB, female belly and no tags.  She appears to be gaining weight after weaning her pup about a month ago.
Marilyn did a drive by later in the afternoon and she was still there.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 10:45 to 12:45 today. Tony Q joined Marilyn today and spent time getting some aerial views. There were five seals on the island today.
UMM - unknown molting male, adult size, male belly. About 40% molting mostly on the belly.
UJF - unknown juvenile female, juvenile size, cream colored female belly and two tags. She started up alone near the morning glory, but later moved to the left closer to the water and UMM.

Behind the waterfront rocks in the Middle cliff there was UU#1 - unknown unknown #1 Marilyn only got a partial view and guesses it to be a subadult to adult size with a newer coat. 

About 40 feet right of the 3BS was an UJM - unknown juvenile male, juvenile size, male belly, new coat and two tags.

Behind the waterfront rocks to the Makapuu side of SRI was UU#2. Marilyn only got to see part of this seal above the rocks. She guesses it to be sub-adult to adult size with a newer coat. She never was able to see the belly or tags.

 Holokai RG40

 Kalua RL20

 Ka'ena RO40

 Luana RN58

RH76 Kala

 RIP RR70 

Right Spot R016

UU#1

UMM & UJF

UJF

UJM

 UU#2 

November 27, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies - Happy Thanksgiving

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand and Lesley. Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

Team Billand went to check out paradise cove before 6 am this morning. The last couple of days they kept hearing of a seal there but by the time they arrive the seal is gone. So they arrived before daylight and there was Da Benny RE74. He was to the right by the Luau near the ropes. The waves were big slapping him about but he just stayed. They got out the signs preparing for any visitors.
Benny didn't wait around for anyone he decided to leave at 6:24.  He headed up the channel, so Team Billand headed over anticipating his next haul out but he never showed up. 
Team checked a few of the beaches in the area and hung around for an hour, but there were no other critters to report.


It was close to 10:30 before they found the next critter on the west side. The seal was hidden in the rocks and after much waiting, the seal finally showed some ID markers.  Her tag H76, and female belly it was Kala RH76.
Volunteer Melina arrived and they spotted a "dark" seal with a ding on it's back and another seal foraging off shore. It was hard to see with the glare of the sun. Melina left the site and Team Billand stayed on.  The seal did not land so they left.

On an afternoon check they see a second seal Ka'ale RH32 who had joined Kala RH76 on the right rocks. It took a whole for some movement, but with patience they got the tag and spotted Ka'ale's small scar above his right fore flipper.  Ka'ale seems seemed tired, in that his body was draped over the rocks, keeping tabs on Kala who was still sleeping in the same spot.


The other seal foraging did not land, RIP RR70 was ID'd after looking at the pictures. He was doing 7 minute dives.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for all of you and all the support you have given me over the years, but mostly grateful for all the people out there kicking up the sand looking after our beloved monk seals. It matters, and so appreciated.

oldie but goodie - Happy Thanksgiving !!

Benny RE74 

 Kala RH76

RH32 Ka'ale

 RIP RE74

November 27, 2019 (part 2 ) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

It has been a couple of days but I managed to get out to the point this morning.

First check at dawn was here in front where. RW02 PVKauai was there, he spent the night, when I came back in the afternoon he was down at the waterline. He has been here for the last week or so since finishing his molt. Just taking some time alone to rest and recuperate his energies.

Next I found RH36 Kawena , she hadn't been seen since last week since she was seen with a very thin line on the left side of her mouth. There was nothing today. She was nice and clean. Being a possible seal of concern I called the Hotline and sent photos in to NOAA & them.

Out at the point RL74 Kami was hauled out near the waterline on Main Beach barely visible because of the new landscaping done by the big swells.

Although I had first checked Back Beach when I arrived I missed seeing RL98 "Lina" (finally sharing her nickname "Melelina", but intend to use the short version "Lina"). I think it's because I my attention was on the big slab that the waves threw up on the beach.

Some hikers arrived while I was doing outreach with a family on Main Beach and told me there was a big seal on the beach. I went back to ID it, thinking it must be Ka'ena...no that's a small seal. She was tucked up in the Naupakas near "Puna's" favorite spot. From up on the high dunes we watched her move down and try a couple of times to make herself comfortable. It took a while and she went to sleep.

I hope both little ones get to get together again.

On my way out I stopped again at Hidden Beach and found a freshly hauled out RN58 Luana

Back at 10 Mnts Beach R330 Squinty was just hauling out right in front of Kawena. There was some interaction then they settled down.

Perhaps I'll have some time for a quick check tomorrow.

Wishing you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING