Category Archives: Birds

A look back at 2021

A Hawaiian monk seal resting — January: Hiwahiwa, a male Hawaiian Monk Seal born in 2020, rests at Upolu. Haven’t seen any monk seals since this encounter. (Link)

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘2021 in Your Rear-View Mirror.’ See more responses here. I’ve gone with a favorite photo from each month of 2021, with a caption and link to the post the photo first appeared in.

Wainanali’i lagoon at Kiholo, Hawaii at Kiholo, Hawaii — February: I love hiking at Kiholo Bay. There’s plenty to see and shady spots to rest awhile. (Link)

Spinner dolphins in the waters off the Big Island, Hawaii — March: Swimming with dolphins! Need I say more. (Link)

An I'iwi calls in a forest off Saddle Road, Hawaii — April: Another favorite hike, on Pu’u O’o Trail off Saddle Road, and an endemic I’iwi singing its heart out. (Link)

Close up of a coastal manta ray approaching — May: This inquisitive Manta Ray kept returning, probably wondering how something so clumsy-looking could survive in the water. (Link)

A Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly perched on a twig — June: I like seeing little creatures, such as this Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly, and I’m thrilled when the photos turn out. (Link)

Three palm trees in Hawaii — July: I like palm trees and word play so this was too tempting to pass up for Becky’s Tree Squares. (Link)

A school of mackerel scads, or Opelus being hunted by a rainbow runner off Hawaii — August: An instant in the water – a school of Mackeral Scads chased by a Rainbow Runner. They went by in a matter of seconds. (Link)

Red-masked parakeets at Kohanaiki Beach Park. — September: These Red-Masked Parakeets are not native, but they’re oh so tropical. (Link)

Early morning lights at the port of Kawaihae, Hawaii — October: When I have time, on my way to work, I stop at Kawaihae. I might see anything from a glorious sunrise, to a tiny crab on the beach, to these port lights. (Link)

The lava cone and lake at Kilauea Volcano in late 2021 — November: Kilauea erupted again so I had to go look. The eruption is still going, but a little erratically these days. (Link)

A Green turtle, with a slender remora on its shell, checks out the photographer — December: A recent encounter and maybe my favorite Hawaiian Green Turtle photo. (Link)

Saffron finches in a kiawe tree

Two Saffron finches perched in a kiawe tree in Hawaii

A pair of saffron finches perched in a kiawe tree. The wicked thorns of the tree will penetrate footwear if stepped on so the birds have to be careful!

Radio-controlled nene?

Two nenes stand in a puddle with some myna birds

A nene with a tracking device on its back

I saw these two nenes sharing a puddle with some myna birds alongside the runway at Upolu Airport. A closer view (second photo) shows the identifying tags on the birds’ legs. These are the same two birds that had a gosling in this location last year, which I posted about here.

The third photo reveals a box on the back of the male of this couple. This is a tracking device that was placed on the bird by the East Hawai’i Division of Forestry and Wildlife. They track the birds to help them understand their behaviors and movements. I thought it looked a bit big, but the bird didn’t seem bothered by it.

I had written here, ‘In due course, and probably after not too long a time, the box will fall off and the bird will be unencumbered again.’ but then I saw this pair again yesterday and the box was still there. On the plus side, both birds continued to look in great condition.

Black-crowned night heron on watch

An adult black-crowned night heron keeps watch

I saw this adult black-crowned night heron in a watchful pose on the edge of the lagoon behind the beach at Kawaihae. I liked how the stick matches the heron’s colors. It looks like it could be the antenna of the heron’s fish detector instrument.

Red junglefowl

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Fur and Feathers.’ See more responses here.

This bird is probably a red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) or Moa in Hawaii. I say probably, because some regular chickens (Gallus domesticus) can have a similar look and there is considerable interbreeding between the two species.

The red junglefowl is considered to be the first introduced bird species in Hawaii, since it was brought here by early Polynesian settlers.

Baby goat and myna bird

This young goat was looking particularly bright-eyed and ready for action, as they tend to do. The myna bird, watching the kid, looked grumpy and unimpressed, as they tend to do.

Parrot bench

A bench at Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens in Hilo, Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Indoor/Outdoor Decor.’ See more responses here.

I don’t have a lot of ‘decor’ photos, but I think this sort of fits the bill. It’s one of several fun benches at Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo. Probably less fun to sit in, but you can’t have everything!

Also posted in response to Becky’s October Squares challenge theme of ‘Past Squares – Blue/Bright.’ See more responses here.

Pueo on a line

I saw this pueo on a power line alongside Old Saddle Road. He kept a close eye on me as I moved around taking photos.

Posted in response to Becky’s October Squares challenge theme of ‘Past Squares – Lines.’ See more responses here.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii