Category Archives: Birds

Great frigatebirds meet Tropical Storm Darby

Tropical Storm Darby reached the Big Island yesterday. It was due to pass over this corner of the island during the night. The predicted track followed the north coast and since it was packing 60 knot winds on its approach, storm warnings were issued.

The power went out here Friday, getting the jump on the storm, but luckily it was just for an hour or so. Saturday dawned dark and windy with sudden, intense downpours, but in the early afternoon the weather broke for a short while and I went down to the coast to see how things looked. In truth, while it was very windy, it didn’t look that much worse than it often does around here.

On the way back from a short walk, some movement caught my eye. A large bird angling along the coast. Then another. In all, three great frigatebirds headed east, into the teeth of the storm. They made slow progress, sliding toward the coast, then away. Even though it was slow going, their progress looked effortless. They glided on the air currents, beating their wings only occasionally. The nice thing about their slow progress was that they remained in view for some time.

Returning home, the power was out again, but as the afternoon progressed the winds died to nothing (the storm had tracked farther south than anticipated). The early evening was tranquil enough that when I stepped outside, mosquitoes quickly buzzed around me. Mosquitoes do not do tropical storms.

Around 8:30 in the evening a decision needed to be made. Power had been out for seven hours or so and the contents of the refrigerator weren’t likely to last the night. It was time to pack the essentials into a cooler while trying not to lose whatever cold air survived in the fridge.

A smooth, military-style operation was worked out. Doors opened, items whisked from shelf to cooler, ice blocks rearranged. The operation was a success. I snapped the lid down on the cooler and the exact instant I did so, the microwave beeped and the power returned.

A flock of finches

I watched this flock of finches take off, settle, take off again, settle again. Saffron finches predominated, but there were several house finches, and I think I also glimpsed a couple of other types.

Chilly Japanese white-eye?

I came across this bird during a hike. Hunched on the branch with feathers fluffed up, I thought it wouldn’t look out of place on a Christmas card, if snow coated the branch and leaves. Not the case here though. The temperature was in the high 70s and I was sweating accordingly.

African silverbill

These birds were first seen in Hawaii back in the 1970s. No prizes for guessing where they came from originally.

Sheep herding

I just like the anxious look over the shoulder as if the sheep is seeing if that pesky cattle egret is still following them.

Bristle-thighed curlew

Bristle-thighed curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) isn’t the most flattering bird name I’ve ever heard. In Hawaii it’s called Kioea, which sounds nicer. In May, these curlews migrate to Alaska (a jaunt of 2480 miles) to breed. They return to Hawaii (and other Pacific islands) in July and August. Since this particular bird was still around at the end of May, it may not be making the trip north this year.

For more information about bristle-thighed curlews, go to dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2013/09/Fact-Sheet-Bristle-thighed_Curlew.pdf.

Northern Cardinal

Northern cardinals are an easy bird to identify, especially the males, which are a vibrant red. They are also distinctive in their calls, which are loud and varied. I know this because the pair that live near the house are among the first birds to rise and, around five in the morning, their calls cut through the relative quiet like tsunami warning sirens.

Cattle egrets

Cattle egrets are a common sight, particularly in rural areas. The name comes from their tendency to spend a good deal of time with cattle and other large mammals. Not only do they feed on insects and other small creatures disturbed by the cattle, but they also eat ticks and flies on the cattle themselves.

They’re not tied to cattle though. I’ve seen them trailing people mowing lawns for the same reason. That’s to snap up the insects disturbed by the activity, not peck for ticks on the person driving the mower.

When I see them in a field, by themselves, such as in the photo below, I always imagine them saying something along the lines of, ‘Hey, where did the cattle go?’

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii