32 11-05-63 Up today at 0630 and out on the North Tower by 0730 observing. Today was a day of relatively light bird activity for all species by frigates and the remaining Tropic-birds: These species were active all day, and the Frigates at 1500 had 37 birds in the air. Few albatross were seen from my station, but Wirtz saw one land on the North end of the island while he was watching seals there. Set the Rat traps at 1530, and then summarized the data for today's watching before supper. In the morning at 1030 I noted four seals cavorting within a few feet of shore. They were distinctly split into two pairs and in one with the telescope to bring me close I could see it was a male, and its partner a female. This pair rolled about the sun for 25 minutes, and then the female (who was a good 500-600 pounds) hauled up on the beach followed by the male who attempted to mount her. She refused several times and then beat the with flippers and bit him about the neck: The ♂ endured this several times, and then both retreated to the water where they resumed cavorting with much playful slapping of flippers, some grunts, and water splashing. Often the seals bodies contacted each other, but unless one tried to actually mount another, this contact elicited no defensive or hostile behavior. This may be the beginning of the mating season now, and the cavorting may serve to synchronize the breeding of individuals in this population: Besides that it looked like fun. In the evening we toured the island again looking for new goonies: 1 new Laysan, about 50 new Black-foot s, 10 Frigates, and 14 Red-foots. Began a new bottle of preserved Red-foot foods tonight. In bed by 1130. 11-06-63 Up early again and in the Radar tower observing by 0740. Today I was impressed by the soaring of the Frigates. Apparently this species uses the thermals for soaring produced by the heated up island during the midday. Today was virtually windless and very hot until 1400. From 1000 to 1400 the Frigates soared constantly and some were very high, I would estimate at least 4,000 feet, and perhaps as high as 6,500 feet up: It was often difficult to see the frigates with the 7x binoculars. A number of Black-foots left the island today in the morning. I watched seven take off and fly off to the SouthWest. Several came in from the South East after 1500. Noddys were virtually inactive today as were the shorebirds. In the evening we started out to band gooneys, but we were washed out before getting at it.