re: R WE listening or looking at the entry phase
As far as telemetry, no. Due to the shoestring budget and mass constraints, they have a not very powerful battery that must power everything (including unfolding the solar panels) till the solar panels come online. There is not a watt to spare. Likewise, the hardware changes granting the ability to broadcast a signal while "folded up" would have added weight and cost.
As far as eyeballs, nothing from earth can see it because of the distance. I don't think any of our assets at mars have the capability to track something that tiny, changing its vector that quickly.