JANUARY 29 - WINTER ON KAUAI

       
          We managed to get a snorkel in this week,  over on the south side in Poipu.  It is about 10 degrees warmer than Midway.  We are getting concerned over the aquarium hunters taking the reef fish for high cash - the truth is, most of the fish taken die before they arrive at their destination.  


Please don't take me away!
(racoon butterflyfish)

Gil caught this shot 
of the Christmas wrasse with full fins out travelling with the big female red-lip parrotfish


          Gil is well into preparation for the canoe club with everyone turning out to clean boats, trim trees,  straighten, tidy, and get in the spirit of the 2012 season.  We have gone a couple times with the recreation group, including this morning.  Twenty foot swells came in yesterday so we ran up Hanalei River and back, 3 boats, 5 miles.  Too good.


Gate is open, come on in and sign up


Sunday morning brings a motley crew with passersby getting the scoop

     While Gil cleaned boats in Hanalei, I did the ocean count in Princeville.   We had one 30 minute segment where eleven different whales were observed.  We recorded 100 blows and 117 slaps (with either head, tail, or pect fin).  It seemed two were having a contest slapping the water at one point.  When it is very active we can't stop to take pictures so it looks fairly uneventful below.  Absolutely gorgeous day with sun, clouds, breezes, a little sprinkle of rain and we watched the water go from fairly calm at 8:00 am to fast swells getting bigger and bigger by noon.

Some of the Princeville observation group doing the January Ocean count


 Left

 Center

Right at Cliffs Club   

          We take turns scanning for whale spouts and then other behaviors they exhibit while our partner records what we call out.  We had moments when there were whales in all three directions slapping and spouting and getting the humans on the hill very excited!

          The count was Saturday 1/28 and last Monday I kayaked along this same section of coast with a friend.  It was calm and no wind, amazing for January.   We cruised the eight miles from the Light house to Hanalei Bay.  

Calm seas from Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse to Hanalei Bay





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