02/28/2020 Friday (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

Yuhuuuu spend the day holding my hat. What a windy blustery salty one it was.

Although I spent hours out in the park the only 2 seal I saw were 2 of are new young girls.

The swimmer RL98 Lina was down in front at Lyman's and RL74 Kami the one that hides in the Main Pool.

The albatrosses were putting on a show playing in the wind. We had a downpour, after it was over I went to check some nests some of the chickies looked like wet rats. The bigger ones were shaking and grooming themselves.

The TRIO Snow Geese also had fun flying around.  More tomorrow 

 

02/27/2020 Thursday Monk Seal Dailies

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 was out before 7 am and found a huge seal resting left side high rock. They ID'd Kekoa RK72 he was alone and there were no other seals on site at this time.  They left to check other areas.

When they returned it was just Kekoa, feeling a little disappointed no one else showed up, they headed back to the car. One more glimpse to the water and they spotted a little green critter heading for the inlet.
Sure enough here come RL20 Kalua trying to haul in and finally made it up to left high rocks with Kekoa. He galumphed up on rocks and spotted Kekoa, went straight for him. Although the kid was happy to see Kekoa... on the other hand Kekoa gave him a look, hey kid! 
RL20 Kalua kept getting closer and sniffing Kekoa, poking his belly. Kekoa did nothing and all was peaceful.  RL20 Kalua moved around Kekoa and found his own spot to the right. Both went to sleep.

While Team Billand was enjoying this very sweet exchange Miss Kawena RH36 arrived.  Actually they're not sure how long she was there. They saw her tag, scar on corner of mouth and subtle bleach on right side. She didn't move at all just went to sleep.

They left the area to check other locations and didn't find any critters. When they did a recheck all three seals were still on site. Then the waves suddenly arrived covering the area. 

 Kekoa RK72

RL20 Kalua

 Kalua and Kekoa

 sweet little Kalua and very patient Kekoa

 Kawena RH36

Kawena

 Kekoa & Kalua getting hit by the waves

 Little kid washed out

02/27/2020 Thursday (part 2) Lesley's Ka'ena Update

I was out at Kahana all day yesterday. Driving home in the late afternoon I got a glimpse of a BIG seal at Aukai - wasn't able to stop so no ID. The seal was cordoned off and there was a volunteer there.

As I was about to go up our driveway I did one last look back and there was a seal hauled out on the beach. I backed up and went back to get it's ID. I was lucky cause it had just hauled out, was all breaded but one look with the zoom I got that white eye of R330 Squinty.

This morning I went to check on him he had just left according to the fresh trail he left behind.

Just a couple of galumphs away a freshly hauled out RL98 Lina was sleeping away.

From that spot I zoomed the whole beach and saw a seal on the opposite side of our bay. When I got the I IDed RW02 PVKauai by his scars then showed me his tags.

Down at the point I had a fun surprise RG22 (M) (KP2's young brother) was down near the waterline. I saw a little seal come in the pool like a torpedo and in a beeline came straight up to him - it was RJ28 (M) (Pohaku's 2017 boy). He has a NB on his LFF and for a while I thought it was "Lefty". Team T&D arrived and Tammy corrected me Lefty is RG28. I looked back at my cheat sheet and there it was. RG28 Lefty is Pohaku's 2015 kid. So my mix was in the same family.

As far as we know it's the first time RJ28 shows up on this rock. I saw him as a new born in Kauai so it's a pleasure to have him come around to visit.

He spent the morning rolling over and being roll on by RG22 - those 2 definitely know each other.

Sealette Kauai & Kauai volunteer team and Sealette Molokai - I/We are doing our best to keep an eye on your kids and it has been a challenge to keep up all these visitors.

Dave went to check the outside reefs and from there he looked at us and mimicked a small seal. I went over the opposite side to check and IDed RL74 Kami tucked up high on some rocks.

While we were at the point we got to see not one but two BFA flying over us.

We started to head back to check the birds. Tammy beside me said is that a seal, I looked to the Runway and yes there was a seal. Dave that was ahead of us pointed to the side and said there's your friend... turns out it was Mr. Pheasant. Dave also noticed that he was banded

This evening I got the information that he's one of the wildlife released birds from Kuaokala that manage to make his escape from the hunting area!!

Back to the seal on the Runway it was RN58 Luana.

We checked on PVKauai and Lina on our way out and they were still there. I saw her leaving after sunset.   more tomorrow 

02/26/2020 Wednesday Monk Seal Dailies

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

Team Billand observed Ka'ale RH32 in the outfall foraging and stealing his breakfast. The Billands believe there was another seal reported as an UU in the outfall with him.  They were unable to get any tag shots.

Team Billand then headed over to the west side beach. They spotted little green Kalua RL20 swimming trying to enter the seal inlet to lower rocks. The waves were big and strong, the little guy got pulled away.
Then Kekoa RK72 came in like he was trying to help RL20, but the little guy gave up. Kekoa came right in and hauled up on lower rocks. He remained there all day.

Little Kalua was struggling around trying to land. He had left and then came back with another seal playing in the rough surf. They went all the way to the right then around and back to the cave area. RL20 Kalua even tried to go to the crevice rocks but didn't make it. 

Finally with Nalu R3CX bugging him, he hauled up where Kekoa was sleeping. It was a big moment for the little guy.  Barb felt like a proud Momma.

Nalu R3CX came in to the left, swam around, being very vocal as usual. He spotted Kekoa on the rocks and headed for him. They had words so Nalu just stayed on the lower area. Kekoa moved up some to have more space to bask in the sun.

Team Billand left for a bit to check other locations and a beach near

the outfall they found RN14 Kalani.  He was sleeping all alone on the rocks.

They returned to westside site they founf Kawena RH32 with the other seals in the same spots.
To the right of seal inlet she was was resting and looked to have been there for a bit. She was high and dry with her tags visible. The scar on the right side corner of her mouth was visible.

Unknown at the outfall

 Ka'ale RH32 foraging

Kekoa Alii RK72

 RL20 Kalua

 a little help you can do it

R3CX Nalu and Kekoa having words

 Nalu

 RL20 and R3CX playing

RN14 Kalani

 RH36 Kawena