Category Archives: Birds

Whittington Beach Park

Whittington Beach Park sits on Honuʻapo Bay, a few miles northeast of the island’s southern tip. There’s no beach at the park, but there are old fish ponds and a lagoon where it’s relatively safe to get in the water. This makes it popular with locals, since such places are few and far between on this wild and rocky stretch of coast.

The early Hawaiians established a fishing village here that lasted until the mid-1800s, when drought, earthquakes and a tsunami brought about its demise. Some years later, a port was reestablished where goods could be brought to and from the surrounding area, which was home to a large sugar plantation.

The remains of a concrete pier, built in 1910, can still be seen at the southeastern end of the park. I’ve read conflicting accounts of the cause of it’s demise, including a tsunami and bombing by U.S. planes in 1942 to prevent it being used by the Japanese in WWII!

The old pier at Whittington Beach Park, Hawaii

These days, it’s a good spot to watch the waves, and the noddies, twirling through the air as they go to and fro from their homes on the nearby cliffs.

Hawaiian Noddys on the old pier at Whittington Beach Park, Hawaii

Sanderling

Sanderlings are common winter visitors to Hawaii and are found mostly on the many beaches here. I saw a couple at Hapuna, probing the sand around a lagoon left by the floods earlier this year.

It’s all there in black and white

A sailboat travels along the coast in front of palm trees in Hawaii — A sailboat off the Kohala coast.

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge is ‘Black (and/or) Black and White.’ See more responses here. Captions on the photos.

Holei Arch in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Concrete steps at Hapuna Resort in Hawaii — A staircase at Hapuna Resort.

A goat on a rock in Hawaii — A staircase at Hapuna Resort.

A close up of Nene feathers in Hawaii — Nene feathers.

A Northern Mockingbird sings out on a snag in Hawaii — Nene feathers.

Bird bath mayhem

Feathers left in a bird bathing area in Hawaii

I’ve posted before about this rock at Mahukona where the birds like to drink and bathe. I’ve also mentioned (here) that it’s not a place where the birds can relax because of feral cats in the area. This photo, taken last month, is a graphic illustration of that.

I’m running this today because yesterday, toweling off after my swim, I noticed one of the cats hurrying towards this spot. Several small birds were gathered in this pool when the cat launched itself from below. The birds scattered, but one of them left with the cat, if you get my drift. First time I’ve seen that happen there.

Pueo takeoff

A pueo watches from a hillside in Hawaii

I was driving the mountain road back to Hawi, when I saw this Pueo flying. I pulled over, but didn’t see it again, until I realized it was perched on a rock on the hillside above. It was watching me.

A pueo takes off from a hillside in Hawaii

I took some photos and was lucky enough to catch the bird taking off, before heading over a ridge and out of sight.

The Numbers Game #41

A small plane flies low over Upolu Airport, Hawaii. — A fly-in at Upolu Airport.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 162. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A praying mantis and a fly — A fly on a praying mantis.

Street art in Hawi, Hawaii — A fly on a praying mantis.

A dry cow pasture in North Kohala, Hawaii — Dry pasture at Upolu.

Irrigation in North Kohala, Hawaii — Dry pasture at Upolu.

The final seven

Seven rings on a manhole cover in Hawaii — A Water Department manhole cover.

The final posted for this month’s Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here. I had some left over and couldn’t decide what to leave out, so I put them all in. Captions on photos.

Seven power lines in Hawaii — Power to the people.

Seven Wind Turbines at Hawi Wind Farm in Hawaii — Power to the people.

Seven Motorbikes parked in Hawi, Hawaii — I saw these, parked under the banyans, on my way to the post office.

Mile marker 7 on Akoni Pule Hwy, Hawaii — I saw these, parked under the banyans, on my way to the post office.

Seven Nenes

I was down at Spencer Beach Park one recent morning, and the place was crowded with Nenes, 15 or more of them. It was tricky getting just seven in a shot, but this is the best of them. I believe they were drawn there by the park’s sprinkler system being in operation, as it often is at that time of day. Something to drink and assist with morning clean up, and fresh green grass for breakfast.

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii