Category Archives: Photo Challenges

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!

Hawaiʻi on Fire

Daybreak reveals the onlookers gathered at the Jaggar Museum viewing point. — Daybreak reveals onlookers gathered at the Jaggar Museum viewing point in April 2016 (Original post here).

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Iconic Places and Spaces.’ See more responses here.

I wasn’t sure what to post for this, but Kilauea is about as iconic as anything on the island, so I thought I’d post some photos from volcanic activity that I’ve seen since I moved here. Captions on the photos with a link to the original post.

Kilauea lava pours into ocean as people watch from the cliff — Lava from the Pu’u O’o vent reaches the ocean in July 2016 (Original Post here).

A lava breakout from the Kilauea lava flow. — A hike to the July 2016 flow revealed surreal scenes like this one (Original post here).

Lava from Kilauea Volcano’s Pu’u O’o vent enters the ocean as if from a firehose. — This fire hose of lava was a short-lived feature of the 2016 flow (original post here).

In April 2018, lava in Halema’uma’u Crater spilled onto the crater floor. (Original post here).

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.

In the pink, or in the red

A Pink hibiscus in Hawaii — A pink hibiscus.

This week’s Sunday Stills Color Challenge theme is ‘Pink and/or red.’ See more responses here.

A firecracker plant in Hawaii — I thought this was a firecracker plant, but I’m not sure now. Either way, it’s red!

Kamehameha Day parade at Kapaau in Hawaii — I thought this was a firecracker plant, but I’m not sure now. Either way, it’s red!

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.

Windows in Hilo

I like Hilo. It’s the largest town on the island, the seat of county government, and it’s been around a good while. I noticed these windows in the Volcano Block while I was eating at a restaurant across the street.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii