Category Archives: Birds

Ring-billed Gull

I was walking the beach at ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (often known as A Bay, for obvious reasons) when I noticed this bird walking in the same direction as me. I was idly wondering what kind of gull it was, when I suddenly realized, ‘it’s a gull.’

Unlike most places, a gull sighting in Hawaii is a rarity. I know people who’ve never seen one here. Gulls prefer shallow tidal areas and tropical islands don’t have those, so they’re not gull-friendly. But a few get blown in every year and some arrive as stowaways on ships

This one is a Ring-billed Gull, and it’s the second I’ve seen in my time here. The first, I saw catching a fish (here). I rather liked how this one was strutting its stuff on the beach.

Also posted for Bird of the Week LII. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #9

A Black-Crowned Night Heron juvenile in Hawaii — A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron on alert.

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 130. You can see more responses here.

A passion vine butterfly lays an egg. — A Passion Vine Butterfly lays an egg.

Webs on the ground catch the early morning sunlight. — A Passion Vine Butterfly lays an egg.

A V22 Osprey aircraft at Upolu Airport, Hawaii — A V22 Osprey aircraft…and how it works!

A V22 Osprey aircraft at Upolu Airport, Hawaii showing how it is operated — A V22 Osprey aircraft…and how it works!

The Numbers Game #8

A cattle egret stands on a sleeping cow in Hawaii — A Cattle Egret stands on a resting cow. No, it’s not dead!

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 129. You can see more responses here.

A Mourning Gecko on a Bird of Pardise flower.

A gold dust day gecko licks moisture off a bird of paradise flower in Hawaii — A Mourning Gecko on a Bird of Pardise flower.

A black stink bug next to a black strap on a red shirt. — This stink bug landed on my shirt as I was trying to photograph it.

A dive boat anchored off the Kona Coast in Hawaii — A dive boat off the Kona Coast.

A pair of zebra doves resting on a branch — A dive boat off the Kona Coast.

Sunset over Kohala — Sunset from the lanai.

Pueo on the wing

A pueo flies over pasture land in Hawaii

I was driving home from Waimea when I noticed a movement off to my left. I thought it looked like a Pueo, the Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, endemic to the islands. Sure enough, it proved to be one, gliding over the pastureland, looking for an evening meal. I watched it for some time, going back and forth over the pasture looking for movement and a meal below.

Unlike most owls, Pueos are active during the day, and so are easier to spot. The bottom photo is an older photo that’s run before (here), but gives a clearer view of the bird and what it eats!

Posted for Bird of the Week LI. See more responses here.

The Numbers Game #7

A gray francolin ventures into the territory of some cats in Hawaii — A Gray Francolin ventures into the territory of some cats.

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 128. You can see more responses here.

Two painted lady butterflies in a kiawe tree in Hawaii — Two Painted Lady Butterflies in a Kiawe tree.

An Undulated Moray Eel in the waters off Hawaii — An Undulated Moray Eel looking grouchy, as per usual.

Koi swim in Lily Lake at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Gardens — Koi swim in Lily Lake at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden.

Feed me

A baby bird calling for food in Hawaii — A baby African Silverbill cries for food.

A Nutmeg Mannikin feeds on cane grass seeds in Hawaii — A Nutmeg Mannikin stuffing itself with cane grass seeds

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Feed the Birds.’ See more responses here.

I don’t feed the birds here, but they seem to have no trouble feeding themselves, with the notable exception of the one in the top photo. Here’s a selection.

A Hawaiian Stilt snags a meal in Hawaii — An Hawaiian Stilt prepares to eat a tasty morsel fished form the water.

A Hawaiian Amakihi feeds at a mamane flower in Hawaii — An Hawaiian Amakihi feeds at a Mamane flower.

A cattle egret catches an anole in Hawaii — An Hawaiian Amakihi feeds at a Mamane flower.

The Numbers Game #6

Lake Waiau near the summit of Mauna Kea.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar and then post a selection of the photos that turn up.

This week’s number is 127. As with last week’s post, three of these photos haven’t run before.

You can see more responses here.

An adult Black-crowned Night Heron in Hawaii — An adult Black-crowned Night Heron.

A pair of Saffron Finches in Hawaii — An adult Black-crowned Night Heron.

Hawaii Elepaio

The Hawaii Elepaio is a small, endemic bird found only on the island of Hawaii, though it has close relatives on Oahu and Kauai. It’s found mostly in the higher elevation forests on the island. This one was on the Pu’u O’o Trail off Saddle Road, a good spot for seeing these birds, at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet.

The Elepaio is a member of the flycatcher family and feeds on insects it catches on the wing or by probing tree trunks and branches.

Posted for Bird of the Week XLVIII.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii